The Australian Automotive Dealer Association says it is pleased NSW Labor’s proposed taxation of so-called luxury cars won’t see the light of day.
Now former NSW Labor leader Michael Daley, who has stepped down from the role since losing the state election on Saturday to Liberal premier Gladys Berejiklian, declared he would tax vehicles costing over $100,000 to pay for nursing increases.
AADA chief executive David Blackhall, in the lead up to the election, described the ideas as “poor policy”.
David Blackhall, AADA.
“We are relieved that the industry will not be hit by yet another new tax,” he tells AutoTalk.
“This tax would have come at a time when the industry could ill afford it,” Blackhall says in the wake of three consecutive months of sales declines across the new retail automotive sector.
The AADA says the tax would have not only been gauging of farming communities and heavy vehicle owner-drivers, but also ordinary vehicles like LandCruisers, and electric cars.
“It would have fallen on safe, clean, efficient cars and it would have hurt certain dealers and their employees,” Blackhall says.
Daley received widespread criticism of the policy from governments and industry, and was forced to back down on the proposed legislation which could have threatened the affordability of farming machinery, utes and trucks.
Blackhall advises other state governments from trying to sting a vulnerable industry.
“The Queensland Government adopted a similar tax last year and we would urge any other Government to refrain from targeting an industry which is already heavily taxed”
