The Victorian Treasurer Kim Wells has announced that the Government’s fire services legislation – the Fire Service Property Levy Bill 2012 – is set to become law after it passed the Victorian Upper House, on Thur 11.10.2012. The changes will see the insurance-based fire services levy abolished from 1 July 2013 and a property-based levy introduced.
Mr Wells said that the “unfair tax-on-tax, which slugged people for GST and stamp duty on the fire services levy component of their bill, will also be abolished”. He said that now the Fire Service Property Levy Bill had been passed, legislation would soon be introduced to Parliament to establish new consumer protection powers. Mr Wells said those powers would give the Fire Services Monitor the power to investigate and impose penalties on insurance companies who engage in false, misleading or deceptive conduct or try to exploit customers.
[LTN 197, 11/10]
Fire Services Levy receives Royal Assent
The Fire Services Property Levy Bill 2012 (Vic) on Tues 16.10.2012 received Royal Assent as Act No 58 of 2012. It had passed all stages with amendments made in the Victorian Legislative Council. The Bill implements the Victorian Government’s announcement to impose a fire services property levy on all land in Victoria unless specifically exempted. The new property-based levy will commence on 1 July 2013.
[LTN 201, 17/10]