The amendment extends a land tax exemption on properties that are uninhabited due to damage from natural disasters from two to four years post-event.
Rochester’s Tracie Kyne went to Ms Lovell with concerns over being taxed on her property, despite it being under renovations due to damage sustained from the October 2022 floods.
“When our house was flooded, and it took two years to repair ... I rang and said, ‘we're not in our house’,” Mrs Kyne said.
“And they said, ‘so you were living somewhere else ... then you have to pay the tax’.
“We did not have another option, so now we have the exemption, which is wonderful.
“Wendy Lovell tried to get it that Rochester was permanently exempt ... she is a great advocate for Rochester.”
Ms Lovell raised this discussion with Shadow Treasurer James Newbury, who helped to advocate for the clause, which they unofficially named the ‘Rochester amendment’.
Mr Newbury raised Mrs Kyne’s circumstances in parliament on Wednesday, May 14, supporting the amendment.
“A Rochester resident whose house was damaged by the floods and who was forced to move to a rental property whilst repairs are being undertaken is being charged land tax,” he said.
“She said, ‘Our lives have been turned upside down by the flood, and while we are trying to repair our home, the government is hitting us with land tax.’”
On Thursday, June 19 Southern Metropolitan member David Davis made reference to Rochester when moving the amendment in the Legislative Council.
“This would put in place an arrangement where there is flooding and other natural disasters so that people would not be paying taxes on unusable property for the period,” Mr Davis said.
“It is a very reasonable proposition.
“The deputy president (Ms Lovell) was very strongly, on the basis of Rochester and other examples, the proponent of this idea that there be proper protections.”
The amendment gives land owners a land tax exemption if their residence is uninhabitable “because of damage or destruction caused by an event such as fire, earthquake, storm, accident or malicious damage”.
“We have seen shocking examples of Victorians being sent land tax bills while they are still rebuilding their homes and their lives,” Ms Lovell said.
“I fought hard with my Liberal colleagues to see flood victims exempt from this unfairness in the tax system.
“This change, on behalf of vulnerable Victorians, is a small but desperately needed fix."
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