Let me start by saying it is fantastic to be a part of a government that is cutting not one, but two taxes.
The first one that I support is the abolishment of Labors patients’ tax.
The introduction of this tax sent shockwaves through the GP community. I spoke to many practice owners, and they were so grateful that the LNP were listening and advocating for them.
Many of these practices feared they would have been up for thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars in new taxes for their business. Some even received back dated tax bills.
Many had sleepless nights thinking about the options for the future of their practice:
- Pass the tax onto their patients, who are often already struggling to afford to go to a doctor
- Take out a loan to back pay substantial and unexpected tax bills that they received.
- Cut other costs in their businesses, like more doctors, specialists and frontline staff that would grow their business but also grow their payroll tax.
- Make the tough decision to shut down their business, as their medical practice was now appearing financially unviable.
In Barron River alone, we’ve had several local GP Clinics close down in the past 18 months, It is already hard enough to be a small business owner, let alone to have another unbudgeted cost like Labors Patients Tax hanging over your head.
Small businesses have been struggling under Labor for years, and the introduction of this patience tax was the last straw for many of these medical practices.
Across the region in a short time we’ve lost Abbot St Medical, Apple Tree Medical, Trinity Beach Clinic, Cairns GP Medical Clinic, plus others on the Tablelands.
The closure of these practices is piling more pressure on our local hospital.
Patient continuity of care is being compromised in our region.
The brave advocacy of so many GP’s across QLD was heard loud and clear and the LNP Crisafulli government committed to stop this harmful tax.
Jason Christopher from Barr Street Medical in Cairns said “that the abolishment of the Labor Patients tax was a saving grace for General Practices and the continuity of care in our region”.
My heart goes out to those small practices that gave up hope of their small business succeeding, and closed their doors before today.
With the amount of health issues in our community, it concerns me immensely that if a business that can have thousands of repeat patients can’t see a way to make their business work- then small businesses are in a world of pain.
Labor do not care about small businesses, they don’t consult with them, and they don’t think about the knock-on effects when they make decisions like the money grab of introducing the patients tax to our hard-working doctors.
So, I applaud and welcome:
The LNP abolishing Labors patients’ tax as this will
Save Queenslanders paying more to see their GP.
Save medical practices thousands to hundreds of thousands in a terrible thoughtless tax that would decimate an industry that our community relies on.
It will also give hope to more specialist doctors and entrepreneurs to start their own practice.
But there is a lot more work to do to attract and retain more general practitioners to the Far North.
Thank you to all of those specialists, GPS and practice owners who shared their stories and concerns with me, I know how thrilled you are that the LNP are axing Labors Patients Tax today- so I dedicate this to you.
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The other tax that I am thrilled to support is the abolishment of stamp duty for first home buyers.
What an incredible way to give young people and young families another helping hand on top of the first homeowners grant.
In Barron River and across Cairns, housing is a key issue for our region with rental vacancies at less than 1%.
With more land being released in the region, supporting the next generation of homeowners so they can escape the rent cycle, is something I am super passionate about.
The LNP are serious about getting more Queenslanders into homes, that’s why we appointed a Minister for Home Ownership.
Door knocking the electorate of Barron River, it was astounding how many homes are housing 3 generations in them, or mid aged people still living at home with their parents so they can save money to purchase their own home. So many of these people that I door knocked, shared their struggles to find a rental property, and how they are saving to buy their own home one day as they know it’s the best way for them to have more certainty of a home for the long term. Many of these residents were super excited about our announcement to abolish stamp duty for First home owners. This will be a saving of around $12,000 for a $425,000 home or $24,000 for a $850,000 home. This election commitment will now become a reality.
Another thing that is fantastic about this announcement is the fact that this new wave of first homeowners will also be able to rent out a room, something the past government disallowed. A crazy archaic rule which during a cost-of-living crisis is combining to make it difficult for young people to save some money and help Queenslanders ease the housing crisis.
The LNP are proud to abolish the stamp duty tax for first homeowners, and scrap this rule of not renting out a room in your own home!
This policy has dual benefits in alleviating the ongoing housing crisis.
Under Labor, Queensland has become the state with the lowest rate of home ownership.
The LNP have a bold plan to reverse this.
In closing, The LNP are fully committed to getting more people into their own home. We said we’d remove these two taxes, and we’ve done it just like we said we would.
It’s an honor to be a part of a government that does what it says it will do.
The abolishment of Labors patients’ tax is a relief to the medical and local community, and our abolishment of stamp duty for first home owners is great news for young people and families desperate to have their own home.
I commend this bill to the house. Thank you Mr Speaker.
