Several flawed land tax assessments across the Wimmera and south-west have prompted The Nationals’ Member for Lowan, Emma Kealy, to call for an investigation.

Ms Kealy said dozens of residents had contacted her office in the past few months regarding errors in their land tax assessments, including incorrect land classifications and relevant exemptions not being applied for primary production land and not-for-profit uses.

Ms Kealy said she and her team had been successful in helping constituents seek more than $120,000 in exemptions and refunds for incorrect assessments.

“So many in our communities are doing it tough with the rising cost of living, difficult seasonal conditions, and Labor’s ever-increasing taxes. The last thing they need is to be lumped with a land tax bill that demands they pay tens of thousands of dollars more than they owe, yet that’s exactly what is happening,” she said.

“In one case, a resident had been overlooked for a primary production exemption for five years, for land they were share farming.

“My office was able to secure a refund of almost $100,000.

“This is money that should never have left the resident’s pocket in the first place.

“It is an incredibly costly error by the State Revenue Office, and who knows how many other locals are in the same situation?

“These errors are further proof that Labor can’t be trusted to manage money, and our communities are paying the price.

“We need a formal investigation into land tax assessments to ensure that hard-working Victorians don’t continue to be unfairly slugged by Labor’s shoddy system.”

Ms Kealy encouraged anyone who believed they should be eligible for a land tax exemption to contact her office on 5382 0097 or email emma.kealy@parliament.vic.gov.au

She said information about exemption categories was available at sro.vic.gov.au/land-tax/land-tax-exemptions

This article appeared in Nhill Free Press & Kaniva Times, 30 July 2025.