Yahoo Finance Major $180m cost-of-living relief slashes licence and car rego fees for millions in one state
Government fees and charges will be frozen in Queensland for a whole year.
The Queensland Premier has announced a huge cost of living relief measure for residents in the Sunshine State. Steven Miles revealed government fees and charges, which normally go up each year according to the consumer price index (CPI), would be frozen.
The move will apply for the 2024-25 financial year and includes driver's licenses, the emergency management levy, transport and hospital charges, fishing permits and "many more" at a cost of $180 million. Additionally, Queenslanders will also enjoy a 20 per cent drop in the cost of car registration.
"We will not increase costs for Queenslanders already dealing with rising costs on their mortgage, at the checkout and at the bowser," Miles said in a statement.
"It's just one more way our Budget delivers record cost-of-living relief for households.
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The Queensland Budget was unveiled this week and the car rego initiative is expected to save motorists more than $100 each.
Under the changes, a 12-month registration bill for a private-use four-cylinder vehicle will be reduced by almost $85, bringing registration fees down to $338.75, excluding CTP.
For vehicles registered on a pensioner concession, the reduction will be nearly $50 – bringing down the total to $194.50, excluding CTP.
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It will apply to all light vehicle registrations from September 16.
Combined with existing concessions, some car owners will get as much as 70 per cent off.
“This initiative will save the 5.7 million light car owners here in Queensland hundreds of dollars over the 12 months – dollars that could be spent on groceries, rent, the mortgage or put into savings,” Mr Miles said in a statement on Saturday.
The reduction is in addition to a freeze on rego costs in December last year.
Cheaper public transport for Queenslanders
In addition to the cheaper registration and frozen government fees or charges, train, bus and rail fares will be slashed to a 50c fee over a six-month trial.
Premier Miles said the initiative is “as close to free as you can get” – covering trains, buses, CityCat ferries and the Gold Coast light rail.
Under the current fares, people living in Robina on the Gold Coast and commuting to Bowen Hills in inner-city Brisbane four days a week pay $91.68 per week or $11.46 per trip.
Energy bill relief
Queenslanders will also enjoy a $1,000 energy rebate to help with their electricity costs.
From July 1, every household will have the money knocked off their energy bill.
The cash splash was announced before the federal government said it would give all Australian households an extra $300 off over four instalments across the financial year.
Eligible seniors, pensioners and concession card holders will receive a further $372 off.
“Our No.1 priority is providing cost-of-living relief,” Mr Miles said when the policy was first announced.
- with NCA Newswire
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