Brakes put on cost-of-living measures

Car registration costs

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Queensland car registration costs are set to rise.

The pedal is not coming off the cost of living crisis for Queensland households as they face a $1300 annual cost increase with temporary car registration and energy bill rebates set to end before the state government’s first budget.

The government will in September hike all fees and charges by 3.4 per cent – which on top of the end of the former government’s 20 per cent vehicle registration discount – will increase the cost of registering a vehicle by $134 to about $590.

Also on the way out is the blanket $1000 energy bill rebate, which added $2.5 billion to the Labor government’s last budget last year.

Addressing the cost of living concerns, Queensland Council of Social Service chief executive officer Aimee McVeigh argued struggling families still needed government financial support.

“We definitely know Queenslanders on low incomes are still really feeling the pain of the cost of living and housing crises,” she said.

“The cost of housing hasn’t decreased so people are spending a large proportion of their income on housing, leaving little left over to make ends meet.

“Rebates and concessions didn’t completely take away that pain but they were supporting families … we would advocate those rebates should stay in place.”

Ms McVeigh said, to protect “precious public funds”, the government should target the rebates to go to families who need support.

State Treasurer David Janetzki said the government would deliver structural cost of living relief.

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