Governments Choose
Lawyers Above Tax Relief
Preserving the lawyers' monopoly will mean higher taxes for residents of Queensland and A.C.T.
The National Competition Council determined that it was in the interest of consumers that all States permit conveyancers to compete fairly with lawyers by 30 June 2004. This required legislation in Tasmania, Queensland Victoria and A.C.T. Queensland and A.C.T., however have failed to pass that legislation.
The Federal Government provides many millions of dollars in funding to States that comply with the NCC's requirements by removing anti-competitive legislation. Tasmania's share for allowing conveyancers to compete was $2 million . Queensland and A.C.T. will forego considerably more.
Conveyancers are specialists who handle the transfer of real estate. Licensed conveyancers undertake a substantial amount of all transfers in NSW, SA,WA and NT, and recently Tasmania and Victoria. Conveyancers have been operating in SA since 1860.
The AIC council believes that some State Governments have given in to the lawyers' lobby and residents of Queensland and A.C.T. will pay more taxes and higher conveyancing fees as a result.
The AIC would like to see a fair go for consumers, not lawyers, and to know why these governments are putting lawyers' fees before the interests of consumers, particularly the battlers.
Whilst Tasmania may be seen by many as a quaint backwater, when it comes to progressive legislative reform it has clearly beaten Queensland and A.C.T. in the conveyancing area.
The Victorian Government has now caught up with the times and legislation to licence conveyancers in that State came into force on 1st July 2008.
Stamp Duty Rip Off!!!!!
Anyone who knows me knows I am not one to back down when there is a point to be made….
I’m sure you all know my opinion on the ignorance of the Queensland government with their stance on legislation not allowing Conveyancers to practice on their holy ground. I read with interest about the pursuits of fellow conveyancers in Victoria in a recent article featured in ‘The Australian’ battling against the system, and call for all of us to get behind them!
A glaring problem brought to my attention, now I am back practicing in the beautiful Adelaide, is the ridiculous disparity in Stamp Duty levies between the States. What on earth is Mr. Rann thinking?
With the debacle of Mitsubishi, and the call from other States for our locals to take the opportunity to relocate offering more jobs, affordable property, and lifestyle, how can we not raise this issue as a great concern?
As a conveyancer with extensive experience in property transactions in South Australia, Queensland and New South Wales, I am appalled at the exorbitant rate for stamp duty in South Australia and support Mr. Robin Turner, the President of the Real Estate Institute of SA, in his call for the Government to reduce the scale charged. The high stamp duty cost in South Australia is preventing people from moving home and is having a negative effect on people considering a move to this State. It is time for the consumers in South Australia to petition the Government to change the stamp duty rates in line with those set in Queensland.
So come on South Aussies. Let’s make some noise and let the powers that be, hear that we can’t let our “Great State” be left in the wake!
Cheers, Paul