Victorian Minister for Jobs and Industry, Natalie Hutchins, has been missing in action and wilfully ignoring the plight of struggling manufacturing businesses.
Since assuming the role, Minister Hutchins has flatly refused calls from the South East Melbourne Manufacturing Alliance (SEMMA) for a meeting to discuss major imposts on business – namely the significant increases to land tax.
Land tax has increased under Labor by $3.6 billion or more than 200 per cent, with some businesses in Melbourne's south-east experiencing rises of over 300 per cent in one year.
Southeastern Melbourne generates some $43 billion in gross regional product and hosts 50 per cent of Melbourne's manufacturing jobs, yet the Minister has been nowhere to be seen.
SEMMA CEO, Honi Walker, has been calling on the Allan Labor Government to come to the table and initiate an inquiry into how Land Tax is valuated for manufacturers and has sought answers around how the process is managed within the Valuer-General Victoria (VGV).
Shadow Minister for Manufacturing, Bridget Vallence said: "The Victorian Liberals and Nationals stand alongside our manufacturers who are seeking transparency from the Allan Labor Government as to why land evaluations and land tax has skyrocketed so quickly and are rightly calling for an inquiry into the process.
"Consumers are paying more due to Labor's economic incompetence. Every time land tax goes up, manufacturers cannot invest in new equipment, cannot hire new staff or put on additional apprentices, but must raise their prices.
"Minister Hutchins must come out of hiding. Stop ignoring the manufacturing sector which is so vital for our economy and jobs, pick up phone to the Treasurer to hold an urgent inquiry into the mess Labor has made."
