There’s just no telling the Victorian Government when it comes to its astronomical taxes like the fire services levies and stamp duty. The Commonwealth Grants Commission has reported that Victoria’s tax take was 6.7% above the national average throughout 2000/01.

But the state Government has rebutted the findings, claiming that its growing tax take reflects the state’s economic growth surpassing the national average. The property boom has meant that Victoria experienced above-average increases in financial transactions and in the value of commercial and industrial land.