Newly-released land valuations for Queensland business properties still recovering from natural disaster are unfair and not reflective of the economic environment in Queensland.
Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (CCIQ) and chambers of commerce across the state are calling for a land valuation precedent set following previous natural disasters to be followed, to allow for the financial, physical and emotional impact of the floods to be properly realised.
CCIQ Policy and Advocacy General Manager Amanda Rohan said businesses input costs were already stretching many to their limit.
“Now is not the time to be hitting businesses with potentially higher taxes and costs,” Ms Rohan said.
“To risk a potential increase to more business bills is just not an option.
“Businesses impacted during the recent natural disaster are still recovering and we know from the 2011 floods it took more than a month for impacted businesses to return to normal.
“Any increase in bills, taxes and other costs while businesses are still recovering is unfair and also not reflective of the current business and economic environment in Queensland.”
The new land valuations impact 30 Local Government Areas including Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan and Gympie – regions which were also part of the declared disaster area.
Ms Rohan said following the 2011 floods businesses were afforded some reprieve to increases in land taxes, not handed higher bills.
“The same needs to happen now,” Ms Rohan said.
CCIQ has been calling for a holistic support package since the floods happened to acknowledge the compounded financial, emotional and physical impact of COVID and natural disaster. Read more in CCIQ’s South East Queensland Floods Submission: https://bit.ly/3LupY9U
