GAIC

The Minister for Planning has approved and is now seeking parliamentary ratification of Amendment VC55. Subject to Parliament’s approval of the Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution legislation it will then come into operation.
25 May is the date on which the government will probably try to bring this bad law (Amendment VC55) in. Mary Drost of Planning Backlash has called these proposed laws, "diabolical".

For a minister who says he wants certainty for developers (but gives not two hoots for making everyone else miserably insecure) Mr Madden must be driving them mad as well. The GAIC tax is subject to endless jerky permutations and increasing secrecy surrounds it. The horror of it all is that this farce is what passes for serious business in Melbourne these days. It is like some faintly similar town, but colonised by alien planners and parliamentarians with agendas that have nothing to do with representative government. Perhaps if we knew what was really going on - something to do with finances perhaps - it would not all be so hard to read.

Organisations unite to oppose GAIC legislation: Angry landowners and Taxed Out supporters will rally against the Brumby Government’s Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution (GAIC) bill, currently before Parliament, tomorrow on the steps of Parliament House (Melbourne) at 1.00pm. The rally has been called by Taxed Out and will be supported by Protectors of Public Lands Victoria, Planning Backlash and the Green Wedges Coalition, who have candobetter.org's support. Note however that the Australian Property Institute, the Property Council of Australia, and the HIA are all profiting from and lobbying for the undemocratic population growth that is the cause of these new taxes. I hope some people carry some signs pointing this out and speak out against these profiteers. In this case, lambs might as well unite with wolves. We do not support these latter organisations. See also: GrowthLobby

Response to Planning Minister Justin Madden's undemocratic and destructive goals and values in his Draft Planning and Environment Amendment (GAIC) Bill by one of Australia's oldest organisations dedicated to native animals.

“The whole rationale for extending the Urban Growth Boundary is to accommodate the unprecedented flood of population to Victoria.” “The State Government is devoid of coherence in these planning matters and its approach to endless population growth.” (Protectors of Public Lands Victoria Inc)

Michael Hocking of "Axe the Tax" writes "Brumby’s Labor Government is stealing our homes. If this tax doesn’t affect you yet, you need to ask 'What if they decide to do a similar thing to the homes in my area?'" The growth areas tax is to be imposed on land rezoned from rural to urban by a stroke of the government pen. Rates and charges for water and power as well as land will skyrocket with the rezoning, driving out any decent person attempting to preserve bushland or produce food or live out retirement on a fixed income. Hocking describes how farmers will not be able to afford to sell, because of the tax, but, when they die, their children will have to pay the tax - $95,000 per ha -. In a divorce settlement, the same thing will apply. What next? A tax on the head of each child?

Shadow Minister for Planning Matthew Guy will today ask the Parliament’s all-powerful Finance and Public Administration Committee to call the Planning Minister and the Growth Areas Authority (GAA) to appear before it to urgently explain the proposed Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution (GAIC) that will have damaging effects on Victorian families. See related articles.

You tube video inside of Michael Hocking's speech about the GAIC tax which Planning Minister Madden wants to inflict on the people who live in the Green Wedges which he wants to rezone for urban development.