Treasurer Curtis Pitt has been caught out misleading Queenslanders, claiming increases to car registration are kept to CPI, which is 1.5 per cent.
Shadow Transport Minister Scott Emerson said the Treasurer’s comments, on the same day he announced new road tolls, are an insult to Queenslanders given they are being hit with increases of more than double the inflation rate.
“Since 1 July, Queensland drivers pay increases of 3.5 per cent, more than double the inflation rate for car registration,” Mr Emerson said.
“While the LNP moved a motion in Parliament to tie car registration increases to inflation, the Treasurer and his Labor colleagues voted to unfairly slug motorists.
“It is concerning the Treasurer doesn’t know what his own Government’s policy is at the same time he is using Queensland drivers as cash cows because he can’t manage the budget.
“Queensland drivers are being taken for a ride by an out-of-touch Treasurer that is putting our State on track to be the most expensive in the country to own and operate a vehicle.”
Mr Emerson said Labor has form when it comes to unfair hikes on car registration.
“It was the former Labor Government under the now Premier, then Transport Minister, Annastacia Palaszczuk that hiked up car registration by 30 per cent in its last four years,” he said.
“While the LNP froze family car registration for three years, this Palaszczuk Labor Government seems determined to go back to the bad old days where Queensland families pay the price.
“Queenslanders are being forced to pay for the failings and incompetence of this Labor Government that has no plan of its own.
“Instead of managing the budget, Labor is more interested in reaching into the back pockets of Queenslanders to fill the State coffers.”