Mr Newbury spoke to Committee for Ballarat members about his party’s readiness to govern and their plan for economic reform for Victoria. Underpinning Mr Newbury’s discussion is the Coalition’s policy position for decentralisation and their concerns for the projected population growth of Melbourne.
Mr Newbury quoted Victoria’s ‘long streak’ of poor employment relative to other states and noted business and especially small business, as the key driver of economic growth. His view of growth as the answer to the state’s debt, with targeted policies to “grow the pie” and reduce the tax burden on business and individuals. Mr Newbury quoted 63 new or increased taxes under the state government, 30 of which related to property tax. He spoke directly to Land Tax and unnecessary red tape as major disincentives for investment and key contributors to the state’s housing availability crisis.
The Emergency Services Volunteer Levy was also heavily criticised as “just another Tax on households”. He observed it as a “double dip” that unfairly impacts regional and rural communities. He asked the question where the money has gone that was previously collected to pay for our emergency services?
Mr Newbury invited Committee for Ballarat members to contact him directly should they have questions for the opposition and suggestions as to policy ideas the coalition should consider in the lead up to the November 2026 election.