Anger mounts over emergency service levy hike
Mounting anger at steep increases to the emergency services levy has spilled over in South Australian Parliament.
South Australian Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis has been forced to defend examples of steep increases to the emergency services levy where it has soared by several hundred per cent.
It was the first parliamentary day since the increased bills were sent out, and the Opposition demanded to know how much of the extra $90 million being collected will go to emergency services.
A staggering increase of 733 per cent was presented to the treasurer, but he maintains the average hike if 163 per cent.
“Either we tax too much or we spend too much or we cut too deeply, which one is it?” he said.
Opposition leader Steven Marshall said: “They can’t get their own budget in order, so now they’re inflicting pain on every South Australian.”
The government has again deflected blame over the hike to the federal government.
“We can reverse the increases anytime the Commonwealth reverses its cuts,” Mr Koutsantonis said.
