I am opposed to this temporary flood levy because it is a band-aid. IMO, we need a permanent disaster levy based on an increase in the gst.
To give some examples of why I oppose a temporary levy:
. what happens next year, if we have more disasters? More temporary levies?
. and who will be exempt from the levy? Certainly Queensland victims, but of floods or cyclones? And what of Victorian flood victims? And Perth bushfire victims? And other victims, given we are stil in the midst of the bushfire season? It all gets very confusing.
And if you oppose an increase in taxation, surely we can save 10% of the NBN cost of near $40 billion, which is $4 billion. I am surprised that neither the government nor the opposition has targetted the NBN to find the money to fund the disaster recovery. Why is this a sacred cow on both sides?
