Groups rally to scrap city car park tax
Key industry groups rallied together in the lead up to the State Budget to call on the Government to scrap the Adelaide CBD car park tax and to get on with the business of growing South Australia.
The Property Council of Australia, Business SA, Rundle Mall Management Authority, The Real Estate Institute of South Australia (REISA), The Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) and the Local Government Association (LGA) have come together to voice their collective opposition to the tax.
The Budget is very important for the future of South Australia and the parking tax, expected to be introduced with the State Budget, represents a major road block in the State’s economic recovery.
We call on the Government to drop its proposal to tax Adelaide’s city businesses, workers, shoppers, nurses, students and parents. This tax is a narrowly based ‘ad hoc’ approach to revenue-raising which creates winners and losers on an unfair basis.
Retailers in South Australia are battling surging costs and retail sales growth is down.
The parking tax will add further to business costs and dampen consumer demand.
Our collective organisations believe there is a need for fundamental tax reform where revenue raising is concentrated on robust, efficient and broad based taxes. Taxes must contribute to the economic development of the State and not inhibit it. That is, holistic tax reform of the system is needed.
We firmly believe the Government is making a long-term mistake pursuing this tax and urge the Government to reconsider its introduction.
The car park tax is about more than cars – it is about the State’s best interests in growing the City and its success, and not about a simple revenue grab.
Contact by organisation:
Lino Iacomella, Acting Executive Director, Property Council of Australia
Nigel McBride, Chief Executive Officer, Business SA
Ian Darbyshire, Chief Executive Officer, Rundle Mall Management Authority
Greg Troughton, Chief Executive Officer, Real Estate Institute of South Australia
Terry Walsh, Executive Director, Urban Development Institute of Australia
Wendy Campana, Chief Executive Officer, Local Government Association SA.