Amnesty on land taxes raises eyebrows

Mark Lizarraga

At its last sitting, the House also approved an amnesty programme for land taxes.  Millions of dollars will be written off in taxes owed to government. When the Bill came up in the House, Lake Independence Representative Cordel Hyde pointed out that small land owners will not be benefitting from the programme and that in fact it was the big land owners who will be on the receiving end.  Senator Lizarraga says he is not against amnesty, but notes it should be for those in need. Here is how he put it:

Mark Lizarraga, Business Senator

“Again another amnesty and one has to wonder whether the previous amnesties were not successful, one has to wonder what will be done differently if this amnesty is not a success. The very amnesty legislation is saying and if you don’t agree to this and if you don’t pay it and if you don’t take advantage of this amnesty the laws that we have will apply. It’s the very laws that we have that have not been applied and in the words of the prime minister are hard to implement. I’m very much in favour of supporting and helping the productive sector. If the government had come and say we’re going to give you an amnesty because dry weather, the crops are failing, you know we are having a drought all over the country. All our agricultural items are affected so we’re going to be helping them. Fine I would support right now. We keep borrowing so much money, we need tax revenue. We’re placing burdens on the rest of society and these individuals that have been fortunate to acquire these huge pieces of land and in many instances at very low prices. They can’t contribute six million dollars or an average of two dollars and something an acre. Man please.”