Aussie land tax ‘outrageous'

The Australian Treasurer Troy Buswell has described recent rises in land tax bills as outrageous and says he will work to design a better property tax system...

The Property Council of WA says it has been inundated with calls from owners complaining of tax bills more than doubling since last year due to increased valuations.

Policy Manager Lino Iacomella says some owners have been slugged with increases of up to 400 per cent from last year due to increased land valuations.

He says the Council hopes to meet the Treasurer this week to ask him to consider several issues.

"Reconsider the current round of land tax assessments and apply a cap on the increases so that at least the very large increases wouldn't apply," he said.

Mr Buswell described the changes as former Treasurer Eric Ripper's parting gift to tax payers.

He says he has already made some cuts but will work with the Property Council to develop a better land tax system.

"We've already tried to cut land tax where we could by £17.6 million in this financial year and I'm very happy to meet with them and to work with them to examine options available to Government to stop these sort of outrageous increases happening in the future," he said.

Mr Buswell says discussions will focus on future reform.

Source: www.abc.net