Land Tax in the Australian Capital Territory - is it fair?

Pete's Points

Should you be taxed on land that you don't own?

In every other state in Australia, if there is a land tax levied and imposed, at least the people on whom it is imposed, own the land either in fee simple or some other form of land title.

Only in the Australian Capital Territory has the local government had the cheek to impose a tax on people who lease land that either they or the Commonwealth Government own.

Can a government that owns the land, impose a tax on someone who merely leases it? An interesting question and one that in my view ought to be tested in the courts.

These are questions that every citizen, rate payer and resident in the Australian Capital Territory should be asking its representatives.

More to the point they should be asking the legal fraternity in the ACT to help explain to people how the government of this Territory has the power to levy taxes on people for land that they do not own.

People already pay income tax and GST and a host of other rates and taxes.

Paying a tax for something that is NOT owned by them I think is an affront.

Bring on legislation that permits the land to be owned by the people who place their homes or business on what is now leased land. That way they have the security of ownership. Then, if you must, tax them.

Alternately drop this revenue raising exercise which, at least in my opinion, is a blatant rip off!