25 November 2024
Payroll tax
In our recent advocacy survey, a number of members indicated that payroll tax back-taxes and penalties remain of concern. Your ADAVB has been lobbying the government over a protracted period on this issue. Having spent many months stating there would be no exemptions or special treatment for any group or industry, in May this year the government responded to pressure associated with bulk-billing, and granted an exemption for GPs only. We have continued to talk with parliamentarians about the inequitable treatment of dentists in this arrangement.
In November the necessary legislation to enable to exemptions for GPs, the State Taxation Further Amendment Bill 2024, went to parliament. We were pleased to see that two members of Parliament, Mr Brad Rowswell, Shadow Treasurer, and Mr Danny O’Brien, Member for Gippsland South, used the opportunity to voice their concerns about the way the government has cut dentists out of the arrangement for GPs, quoting correspondence from your ADAVB. We have also had productive conversations with Shadow Health Minister Ms Georgie Crozier who holds dentists and the oral health of our communities in high regard.
As a result of our advocacy, on 28 November 2024, members of the Opposition continued to ask specific questions in parliament to hold the government to account on why dentists had been excluded from the GPs’ payroll tax relief provisions. This included extensive questioning by Shadow Minister for Health Ms Georgie Crozier, as well as Mr Mulholland (Northern Metropolitan), the Hon. David Davis (Southern Metropolitan), Mr Trung Luu (Western Metropolitan) and Mrs Gaelle Broad (Northern Victoria).
