Newzyy Home > economy
By Newzyy Staff — Just now
The Victorian opposition leader, Jess Wilson, has strongly criticised the state government over a newly revealed "secret levy" on public transport fares, calling it a breach of trust.
An auditor general report tabled in parliament this morning found that the government introduced a 1% levy on public transport fares on 1 January 2025 without public knowledge. The revenue generated, which will total 60% of the levy’s earnings, is being directed toward the Suburban Rail Loop East project. The levy was approved in 2021 when Premier Ben Carroll served as the public transport minister.
Wilson described the revelation as "the final nail in the coffin" for the government, accusing Carroll of lying to Victorians. "I never expected to see a secret tax imposed on commuters," she said. "This government has repeatedly misled the public, and the premier’s failure to disclose this levy at any point—whether during the 2022 election or since—proves he lacks integrity."
Meanwhile, Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers has defended the Productivity Commission (PC) against criticism from Western Australia’s premier, Roger Cook. Cook previously referred to the PC as "east coast clowns" after it released a critical report on a GST deal that benefited WA.
Chalmers stated that such remarks were inappropriate and emphasised the importance of respecting the PC’s work, even when its findings are disputed. He also downplayed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s earlier description of PC officials as "economic rationalists," calling it a neutral observation rather than an insult.
A separate report noted the discovery of a red fox in an unspecified location, though no further details were provided.