Property Council Calls for Equitable Levy Reform

Property Council Calls for Equitable Levy Reform

Property Council NSW Executive Director Anita Hugo said the housing challenge demands an ESL funding model that is fair, transparent and does not undermine feasibility for new homes and investment.

"NSW cannot fix the ESL by pushing the entire bill onto property," Ms Hugo said.

"Property already delivers a significant share of the state's tax take - loading a reformed ESL solely onto property owners would only increase that burden. Emergency services support everyone - including motorists - so funding should be broad-based and more fairly aligned with risk," she said.

Ms Hugo said the Government's options paper and parliamentary inquiry were an important opportunity to get the design right.

"The experience in Victoria, where the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund roughly doubled the variable charge for many residential and commercial assets and lifted charges on industrial properties by 64 per cent, shows how easily reform can unintentionally drive-up costs for owners, tenants and businesses," she said.

Ms Hugo said a well-designed levy can both secure sustainable funding for emergency services and support the delivery of new housing and jobs.

"We support a well-resourced emergency response system - but it has to be funded in a way that doesn't make it harder to build and operate the homes, workplaces and community assets NSW needs," Ms Hugo said.

The Property Council looks forward to engaging with the inquiry and working with the Government, Opposition, and crossbench to deliver a fair, transparent and future-proof ESL framework that funds vital emergency services without putting new blocks in front of housing supply and investment.

https://www.propertycouncil.com.au/media-releases/property-council-urges-fair-broad-based-emergency-services-levy-reform

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