Should big employers pay extra payroll tax, and owners of land besides their own home extra land tax, until 2033 under the COVID-19 debt levy?
COVID-19 debt levy
Both houses · 5 votes
Background
The State Taxation Acts Amendment Bill 2023 added a "COVID-19 debt" surcharge on payroll tax (a state tax on employers' wage bills) for 10 years from July 2023, on employers with national wages over $10 million, and a 10-year "COVID-19 debt" land tax surcharge from 2024 that lowered the land tax-free threshold to $50,000 (a flat $500 a year on holdings of $50,000–$100,000 and $975 above that, plus higher rates on holdings over $300,000) (land tax does not apply to a person's own home). The Government said the money would help repay pandemic debt. The same bill also raised the payroll tax-free threshold, phased out duty on business insurance and removed a payroll tax exemption for higher-fee non-government schools; the Shooters voted for the bill but against the payroll surcharge clauses.
What each side said
Summarised from the debate in Parliament, with sources below.
For “agree”
Supporters said the bill "contains a temporary and targeted levy that will apply for 10 years" to repay about $31.5 billion of pandemic debt (Treasurer Tim Pallas, ALP, second reading, 30 May 2023). The Greens called the measures "well targeted at big businesses and property investors" (Samantha Ratnam, Greens, 20 Jun 2023), and Legalise Cannabis agreed the debt had to be paid. Animal Justice also voted on this side.
For “disagree”
Opponents said the higher payroll and land taxes would cost jobs and push up rents, and that debt was rising before COVID; the Coalition's reasoned amendments demanded a fiscal strategy to repay debt without new taxes (Brad Rowswell, Liberal, 31 May 2023; Matthew Bach, Liberal, 20 Jun 2023). The Libertarian said "We are raising taxes on people getting a job" (David Limbrick, 20 Jun 2023). One Nation and Moira Deeming (now Family First) also voted on this side.
How the parties voted
Across the linked votes below. Second and third readings count five times as much as other votes. Parties are in alphabetical order. How this is worked out
| Party | Record | Votes with a party position |
|---|---|---|
| Animal Justice | Consistently for | 3 of 3 |
| Democratic Labour | Did not vote | 0 of 3 |
| Greens | Consistently for | 3 of 5 |
| Labor | Consistently for | 5 of 5 |
| Legalise Cannabis | Consistently for | 3 of 3 |
| Liberal | Consistently against | 5 of 5 |
| Libertarian | Consistently against | 3 of 3 |
| Nationals | Consistently against | 5 of 5 |
| One Nation | Consistently against | 3 of 3 |
| Shooters, Fishers and Farmers | mixed: voted for the bill, against the surcharge clauses | 2 of 3 |
The votes behind this question
Each vote (division) recorded in Parliament that this question is based on, in date order.
31 May 2023 · Legislative Assembly
State Taxation Acts Amendment Bill 2023
- Question put
- Question — That the words proposed to be omitted stand part of the question — put.
- Result
- Question agreed to. Ayes 50, Noes 23.
- Matches “agree”
- An Aye vote
- Weight
- Normal
- Why it's linked
- Assembly reasoned amendment moved by Brad Rowswell; the question was whether to keep the words "be now read a second time". Aye = reject the amendment (let the bill proceed); agree = Aye.
| Party | Aye | No | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greens | 0 | 0 | Did not vote |
| Labor | 50 | 0 | Aye |
| Liberal | 0 | 15 | No |
| Nationals | 0 | 8 | No |
Every name (Ayes 50, Noes 23) in the vote of 31 May 2023
Ayes (50)
Juliana Addison, Jacinta Allan, Daniel Andrews, Colin Brooks, Josh Bull, Anthony Carbines, Ben Carroll, Darren Cheeseman, Anthony Cianflone, Sarah Connolly, Chris Couzens, Jordan Crugnale, Lily D'Ambrosio, Daniela De Martino, Steve Dimopoulos, Paul Edbrooke, Will Fowles, Matt Fregon, Ella George, Luba Grigorovitch, Bronwyn Halfpenny, Paul Hamer, Martha Haylett, Mathew Hilakari, Melissa Horne, Natalie Hutchins, Lauren Kathage, Nathan Lambert, Alison Marchant, Kathleen Matthews-Ward, Steve McGhie, Paul Mercurio, John Mullahy, Tim Pallas, Danny Pearson, Pauline Richards, Tim Richardson, Michaela Settle, Ros Spence, Nick Staikos, Natalie Suleyman, Meng Heang Tak, Jackson Taylor, Nina Taylor, Mary-Anne Thomas, Emma Vulin, Iwan Walters, Vicki Ward, Dylan Wight, Belinda Wilson
Noes (23)
Brad Battin, Jade Benham, Roma Britnell, Tim Bull, Martin Cameron, Annabelle Cleeland, Chris Crewther, Wayne Farnham, Sam Groth, Matthew Guy, David Hodgett, Emma Kealy, Tim McCurdy, Cindy McLeish, James Newbury, Danny O'Brien, Michael O'Brien, John Pesutto, Brad Rowswell, David Southwick, Peter Walsh, Kim Wells, Jess Wilson
Official record: Votes and Proceedings Nos 23 and 24 (LA-60-024-03)
31 May 2023 · Legislative Assembly
State Taxation Acts Amendment Bill 2023
- Question put
- Question — That this Bill be now read a second time and a third time — put.
- Result
- Question agreed to. Ayes 50, Noes 23.
- Matches “agree”
- An Aye vote
- Weight
- Strong: a second or third reading, counted five times
- Why it's linked
- Second and third reading (Assembly). Aye = support the bill; agree = Aye.
| Party | Aye | No | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greens | 0 | 0 | Did not vote |
| Labor | 50 | 0 | Aye |
| Liberal | 0 | 15 | No |
| Nationals | 0 | 8 | No |
Every name (Ayes 50, Noes 23) in the vote of 31 May 2023
Ayes (50)
Juliana Addison, Jacinta Allan, Daniel Andrews, Colin Brooks, Josh Bull, Anthony Carbines, Ben Carroll, Darren Cheeseman, Anthony Cianflone, Sarah Connolly, Chris Couzens, Jordan Crugnale, Lily D'Ambrosio, Daniela De Martino, Steve Dimopoulos, Paul Edbrooke, Will Fowles, Matt Fregon, Ella George, Luba Grigorovitch, Bronwyn Halfpenny, Paul Hamer, Martha Haylett, Mathew Hilakari, Melissa Horne, Natalie Hutchins, Lauren Kathage, Nathan Lambert, Alison Marchant, Kathleen Matthews-Ward, Steve McGhie, Paul Mercurio, John Mullahy, Tim Pallas, Danny Pearson, Pauline Richards, Tim Richardson, Michaela Settle, Ros Spence, Nick Staikos, Natalie Suleyman, Meng Heang Tak, Jackson Taylor, Nina Taylor, Mary-Anne Thomas, Emma Vulin, Iwan Walters, Vicki Ward, Dylan Wight, Belinda Wilson
Noes (23)
Brad Battin, Jade Benham, Roma Britnell, Tim Bull, Martin Cameron, Annabelle Cleeland, Chris Crewther, Wayne Farnham, Sam Groth, Matthew Guy, David Hodgett, Emma Kealy, Tim McCurdy, Cindy McLeish, James Newbury, Danny O'Brien, Michael O'Brien, John Pesutto, Brad Rowswell, David Southwick, Peter Walsh, Kim Wells, Jess Wilson
Official record: Votes and Proceedings Nos 23 and 24 (LA-60-024-04)
20 June 2023 · Legislative Council
State Taxation Acts Amendment Bill 2023
- Question put
- Question — That the reasoned amendment moved by Matthew Bach be agreed to — put.
- Result
- Question negatived. Ayes 14, Noes 20.
- Matches “agree”
- A No vote
- Weight
- Normal
- Why it's linked
- Council reasoned amendment moved by Matthew Bach to stop the bill proceeding. Aye = support the amendment (oppose the bill now); agree = No.
| Party | Aye | No | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Justice | 0 | 1 | No |
| Democratic Labour | 0 | 0 | Did not vote |
| Greens | 0 | 4 | No |
| Labor | 0 | 13 | No |
| Legalise Cannabis | 0 | 2 | No |
| Liberal | 9 | 0 | Aye |
| Libertarian | 1 | 0 | Aye |
| Nationals | 2 | 0 | Aye |
| One Nation | 1 | 0 | Aye |
| Shooters, Fishers and Farmers | 0 | 0 | Did not vote |
Independents, each counted on their own: Moira Deeming (Aye)
Every name (Ayes 14, Noes 20) in the vote of 20 June 2023
Ayes (14)
Matthew Bach, Melina Bath, Gaelle Broad, Georgie Crozier, David Davis, Moira Deeming, Renee Heath, Ann-Marie Hermans, David Limbrick, Wendy Lovell, Trung Luu, Nick McGowan, Evan Mulholland, Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell
Noes (20)
Ryan Batchelor, John Berger, Lizzie Blandthorn, Katherine Copsey, Jacinta Ermacora, David Ettershank, Michael Galea, Shaun Leane, Sarah Mansfield, Tom McIntosh, Rachel Payne, Aiv Puglielli, Georgie Purcell, Samantha Ratnam, Harriet Shing, Jaclyn Symes, Lee Tarlamis, Sonja Terpstra, Gayle Tierney, Sheena Watt
Official record: Minutes of the Proceedings Nos. 23, 24 and 25 (LC-60-023-01)
20 June 2023 · Legislative Council
State Taxation Acts Amendment Bill 2023
- Question put
- Question — That the division heading preceding clause 59 and clauses 59 to 72 be agreed to — put.
- Result
- Question agreed to. Ayes 20, Noes 15.
- Matches “agree”
- An Aye vote
- Weight
- Normal
- Why it's linked
- Council committee vote on clauses 59–72 (the COVID-19 debt payroll tax surcharge), against Matthew Bach's suggested amendment to omit them. Aye = keep the surcharge; agree = Aye.
| Party | Aye | No | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Justice | 1 | 0 | Aye |
| Democratic Labour | 0 | 0 | Did not vote |
| Greens | 4 | 0 | Aye |
| Labor | 13 | 0 | Aye |
| Legalise Cannabis | 2 | 0 | Aye |
| Liberal | 0 | 9 | No |
| Libertarian | 0 | 1 | No |
| Nationals | 0 | 2 | No |
| One Nation | 0 | 1 | No |
| Shooters, Fishers and Farmers | 0 | 1 | No |
Independents, each counted on their own: Moira Deeming (No)
Every name (Ayes 20, Noes 15) in the vote of 20 June 2023
Ayes (20)
Ryan Batchelor, John Berger, Lizzie Blandthorn, Katherine Copsey, Jacinta Ermacora, David Ettershank, Michael Galea, Shaun Leane, Sarah Mansfield, Tom McIntosh, Rachel Payne, Aiv Puglielli, Georgie Purcell, Samantha Ratnam, Harriet Shing, Jaclyn Symes, Lee Tarlamis, Sonja Terpstra, Gayle Tierney, Sheena Watt
Noes (15)
Matthew Bach, Melina Bath, Jeff Bourman, Gaelle Broad, Georgie Crozier, David Davis, Moira Deeming, Renee Heath, Ann-Marie Hermans, David Limbrick, Wendy Lovell, Trung Luu, Joe McCracken, Nick McGowan, Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell
Official record: Minutes of the Proceedings Nos. 23, 24 and 25 (LC-60-025-01)
20 June 2023 · Legislative Council
State Taxation Acts Amendment Bill 2023
- Question put
- Jaclyn Symes moved, That the Bill be now read a third time and do pass.
- Result
- Question agreed to. Ayes 21, Noes 14.
- Matches “agree”
- An Aye vote
- Weight
- Strong: a second or third reading, counted five times
- Why it's linked
- Third reading (Council). Aye = support the bill; agree = Aye.
| Party | Aye | No | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Justice | 1 | 0 | Aye |
| Democratic Labour | 0 | 0 | Did not vote |
| Greens | 4 | 0 | Aye |
| Labor | 13 | 0 | Aye |
| Legalise Cannabis | 2 | 0 | Aye |
| Liberal | 0 | 9 | No |
| Libertarian | 0 | 1 | No |
| Nationals | 0 | 2 | No |
| One Nation | 0 | 1 | No |
| Shooters, Fishers and Farmers | 1 | 0 | Aye |
Independents, each counted on their own: Moira Deeming (No)
Every name (Ayes 21, Noes 14) in the vote of 20 June 2023
Ayes (21)
Ryan Batchelor, John Berger, Lizzie Blandthorn, Jeff Bourman, Katherine Copsey, Jacinta Ermacora, David Ettershank, Michael Galea, Shaun Leane, Sarah Mansfield, Tom McIntosh, Rachel Payne, Aiv Puglielli, Georgie Purcell, Samantha Ratnam, Harriet Shing, Jaclyn Symes, Lee Tarlamis, Sonja Terpstra, Gayle Tierney, Sheena Watt
Noes (14)
Matthew Bach, Melina Bath, Gaelle Broad, Georgie Crozier, David Davis, Moira Deeming, Renee Heath, Ann-Marie Hermans, David Limbrick, Wendy Lovell, Trung Luu, Joe McCracken, Nick McGowan, Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell
Official record: Minutes of the Proceedings Nos. 23, 24 and 25 (LC-60-023-02)
Sources
- EM
- Second reading (Tim Pallas (Treasurer), 2023-05-30)
- Opposition (Brad Rowswell (moved reasoned amendment), 2023-05-31)
- Crossbench (Sam Hibbins (spoke 'on behalf of the Greens'), UNVERIFIED at date of speech (known switcher Greens->Ind; FORMER mapping lists Australian Greens))
- Crossbench (Samantha Ratnam (Greens will support), Australian Greens (party from scripts/analyse.py FORMER mapping (not in current members JSON)))
- Full list: Sources tab (14 items).
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