Payroll tax cut focus for Lib leader visit

LESS than 24 hours after officially kicking off his campaign to become Premier, Opposition Leader Matthew Guy was in Ballarat spruiking his plan for one-per cent payroll tax.

It was the third time in a month the Mr Guy had visited the city, but this time he was accompanied by shadow ministers, a large travelling press pack, local candidates and a big white branded tour bus.

Visiting Findlay Engineering in Mitchell Park, Mr Guy was keen to focus on his plan for a one-per cent payroll tax rate for regional business which is part of a wider pitch to get people to live outside of Melbourne.

“It’s about planning of the next generation, not just the next election,” he said.

“We need to have realistic incentives to decentralise our state, our population, our economy, and payroll tax reductions are an enormous way to do that.”

On how he would pay for the tax cut, Mr Guy said that would be announced later in the campaign.

“We are forecasting the budget hit to be somewhere in the tens-ofmillions,” he said.

“We’re going to have a full costings plan out before the election. It will be clear, it’ll be costed, it is precise, and we are very, very confident, that this announcement is one we can not only pay for but will reap greater dividends for the state by growing more jobs outside of Melbourne.”