The Labor Malinauskas Government is dipping further into the hip-pockets of South Australians, hiking up fees and charges for motor registrations and drivers’ licences.
An average family with two cars could be looking at up to $20 extra on their registration fees, plus another $20 extra per person for a 10-year licence renewal.
Leader of the Opposition, Vincent Tarzia, said this comes on top of the Government’s $85 price hike on the average water bill and the $6.70 increase in the Emergency Services Levy.
“These fees and charges all start to add up and, in a cost-of-living crisis, households are really feeling the pinch,” Mr Tarzia said.
“These few additional pressures add more than $150 to the average household’s bills, just from heartless cost creep from Government fees and charges.”
Some of our youngest drivers will also pay more, with learner permits going up by 4%, which is almost double the ABS inflation rate of 2.4%.
“The Government is already raking in record revenue from stamp duty and mobile phone detection cameras, they shouldn’t need to gouge hard working mums, dads and their teenage kids, to pay for their big spending habits,” Mr Tarzia said.
Shadow Treasurer, Sam Telfer, said the cost creep will also hit farmers hard with heavy vehicle registrations increasing by as much as 8%.
“The Malinauskas is giving with one hand and taking from another for farmers, at a time when they are battling the worst drought in a generation,” Mr Telfer said.
“This shameless cash grab will force families and farmers to tighten their belts, while the Malinauskas Government goes on a spending spree.
“We want to see real cost of living relief in this week’s State Budget, but instead, all we’re seeing is more pain ahead.”
