Lowest fees and charges rise for more than a decade

Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick has again announced the lowest increase to fees and charges for more than a decade.

The Treasurer said the annual increase of 1.7 per cent will apply from 1 July 2021.

“In 2019, the Palaszczuk Government reduced the annual indexation of fees and charges from the 3.5 per cent introduced under the LNP to 2.25 per cent,” the Treasurer said.

“In 2020, we cut indexation again to 1.8 per cent – almost half the rate at which fees and charges escalated under the LNP”

“This year, indexation will be cut, yet again, to 1.7% “

“By cutting the indexation of Government fees and charges, Queensland maintains its position as one of the most affordable places in Australia to register a vehicle."

The registration costs for a four-cylinder vehicle for private use, excluding CTP insurance, will be $399.55 for 12 months, an increase of just 13 cents a week relative to last year.

“We know many Queenslanders are doing it tough, which is why we committed more than $3.4 billion in transport concessions in our last budget, including registration concessions for more than 653,000 vehicles, an average saving of $285 per vehicle," the Treasurer said.

The 1.7% indexation rate aligns with growth in Queensland’s Consumer Price Index for the year to March 2021, published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics this week.

The Queensland Government also provides more than $6.3 billion in a series of household bill relief schemes and concessions, to assist Queenslanders in managing their day to day budgets.  This includes:

• Concessions on the costs of rates and water;
  
  
• Electricity and gas rebates for eligible people on a Pensioner Concession Card, Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card, Queensland Seniors Card, Commonwealth Health Care Card, and asylum seekers;
  
  
• Medical and disability concessions for items such as medical aids and equipment, dental, optical and hearing services, electricity life support, medical cooling and heating;
  
  
• A series of transport-related concessions such as for the cost of bus, rail, ferry and taxi fares; school transport and vehicle and boat registration;
  
  
• Education and training concession such as childcare fees and benefits, school scholarships and awards, rural and remote support, Indigenous scholarships, further education training and with apprenticeships and traineeships.

Details and eligibility criteria can be found by visiting https://www.qld.gov.au/community/cost-of-living-support/concessions

Media Contact:          Geoff Breusch           0417 272 875