MP Attacks ‘Grey Nomad Tax’

June 26, 2018

Opposition Leader and Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington has called on the State Government to scrap what she describes as a “heartless” tax on grey nomads.

The government has extended a 2 per cent tax on luxury cars to all vehicles worth more than $100,000 and weighing less than 4.5 tonnes.

This means it will include most campervans, the transportation option of choice for many grey nomads.

However, it doesn’t affect caravans or camping trailers.

“This is a heartless tax. What makes it worse is that the Premier doesn’t even understand how it works or who she is hurting,” Ms Frecklington said.

“Annastacia Palaszczuk is so out of touch she is still claiming her vehicle tax will only hit luxurious motorhomes but her tax doesn’t affect vehicles over 4.5 tonnes so the top end of town actually escapes scot-free in her tax grab.

“(The) vehicle tax will add thousands of dollars to the cost of a campervan or motorhome under 4.5 tonnes but won’t cost people who buy big motorhomes a cent in extra tax.

“These aren’t the mega-rich Labor is hurting. These are normal Queenslanders who have paid their taxes, and now Annastacia Palaszczuk wants them to pay more.

“Many of these people have worked hard their whole lives to afford a motorhome or have sold their house to fund the purchase.

“Labor is taxing people’s dreams.”

Ms Frecklington said the tax had been rammed through without any consultation.

“Labor slipped this sneaky tax through hoping no one would notice,” she said.

“Industry groups like Caravanning Queensland were ignored, as were the thousands of Queenslanders who’ll be slugged when they go to buy their dream vehicle.

“Many of the motorhomes and campervans that will be taxed are manufactured in Queensland, while the vehicles over 4.5 tonnes that won’t be hit with extra tax are made overseas.

“This is an ill-conceived tax that will hurt grey nomads and Queensland jobs.

“I am calling on the Premier today to scrap this tax on motorhomes and campervans – a simple stroke of a pen to close this silly loophole.”

* * *

Response From Twitter:

  Tourism