This afternoon I raise the Baillieu government’s decision to increase the price of car registration and stamp duty for non-luxury cars from December 2011. When Australian manufacturers, and in particular those in the automotive industry, are facing difficult times this decision is indicative of a government that lacks the knowledge to support manufacturing in Victoria and a plan to create jobs. Figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that for the month of December last year car sales in Victoria dropped by 1.5 per cent, resulting in an overall decline in car sales for 2011 of 4.3 per cent when the national average was 3 per cent.
But what did the Baillieu government turn around and do? It announced a 0.5 per cent increase in stamp duty for non-luxury cars, taking the total stamp duty cost to 3 per cent, as well as a $35 increase in the price of car registration. This decision does nothing to protect Victorian manufacturing and demonstrates that this government is not interested in manufacturing or providing new jobs for Victorians. What the Baillieu government is interested in doing is increasing the price of cars typically purchased by everyday Victorian families, the very cars that are made here in Australia. It does this instead of supporting automotive industry jobs and general manufacturing jobs that flow from this important industry.
I ask, and I will continue to demand of this government, where is its plan for jobs, its genuine plan for manufacturing and its plan for infrastructure in this state? Shame on the Baillieu government!