Melina BATH (Eastern Victoria) (12:18): (1272) My question is to the Treasurer. In 2025 the High Court’s Valuer-General Victoria v WSTI St Kilda Road case ruled that for land tax purposes improvements matter only if they add value at the valuation date; otherwise they are ignored. Yet in LSIO-affected Silverleaves, Phillip Island, the State Revenue Office issued a 2026 land tax notice disregarding the High Court’s decision. Why did your government permit 500 land tax notices to be issued which are at complete odds with the law? Did you know and just turn a blind eye?
Melina BATH (Eastern Victoria) (12:19): Minister, in Silverleaves many property owners did not know to object, while others in identical positions had their 2026 land tax notice reduced once the correct test was applied. For example, owners who objected had their inflated valuations slashed from $775,000 to $175,000 and $340,000 down to $85,000, while residents with the same planning constraints were left unchanged. This is the law, Minister, that the High Court has issued that covers Victoria. Will you now instruct the SRO and the valuer-general to immediately fix all wrongful assessments and repay overcharged Victorians, rather than forcing families to battle your government one by one? These costs are driving people out of their homes.