Labor’s new smash and grab land tax policy has been smashed to pieces by the business community.

Tasmanian Small Business Council CEO Robert Mallett described the policy as potentially “discriminatory” and said “rents will go up and small businesses will be forced to the wall under Labor’s land tax,”

Mr Mallett said now is not the time to increase taxes, “when small business is scrambling to regroup…out of the economic darkness created by COVID-19.”

The Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO Michael Bailey has also slammed the new tax and called for “Labor to rethink its policy,”

Mr Bailey said, “land tax policy needs to be aimed at encouraging investment, development and job creation. Unfortunately, Labor’s would do the opposite.”

This shameful $18.6 million land tax on new houses and jobs is yet another embarrassing campaign gaffe for Labor.

These bad reviews prove that only a re-elected majority Gutwein Liberal Government can be trusted to secure the future of small business, the engine room of our rebounding economy.