Support for the Allan government’s plan to dramatically hike car parking levies is crumbling, with key crossbenchers threatening to block the bill they have labelled “another big tax grab”.
Car park operators are warning rents would soar up to 90 per cent under the tax hike, which is set to start in January, and Queen Victoria Market traders say it would deliver the final blow to the struggling Melbourne institution.
With only five sitting weeks remaining before the tax hike is due to take effect, the legislation needed to enact the controversial levy is yet to be introduced to parliament, despite the government already banking $220 million from the tax in its forward estimates.
The changes would implement a 73 per cent increase on the CBD congestion levy on private and public car park