NSW: Opposition to introduce land tax for large home blocks

AAP General News (Australia)
02-12-1999
NSW: Opposition to introduce land tax for large home blocks

The New South Wales opposition plans to tax homes on land measuring more than 2,100 square
metres if it wins power in March -- contradicting claims it won't tax the family home.

The coalition admits it will revive the tax for big blocks, abolished by the ALP in 1997.

Opposition legal affairs spokesman JOHN HANNAFORD denies the coalition would shift land tax
from harbourside homes to areas such as small towns and fringe suburbs.

NSW Treasurer MICHAEL EGAN says the old tax had been imposed on family homes with a land
value as low as $350,000.

But Mr HANNAFORD says the tax had existed since 1974 for home-land in excess of 2,100
square metres to prevent rorts of land tax.

Mr EGAN says it's insulting to people who want to live on an acre or two in an outer
suburban area or in the country to suggest they are rorters.

Mr HANNAFORD has also repeated the coalition's promise to scrap Labor's tax on homes with
land valued at more than $1 million.

AAP RTV cm/jd/lm/cmm

KEYWORD: POLLNSW LAND (SYDNEY)

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