Surcharge defended

CURTIS Pitt has defended introducing a 1.5 per cent land tax on foreign landowners.

The move applies to people whose land is valued at higher than $350,000. It follows changes flagged in last month’s federal budget.

It is expected to reap the State $20 million each year.

There will be no changes to Queensland’s 3 per cent Foreign Acquirers Transfer Duty Surcharge.

“This surcharge is an important introduction and is about people who have been away from the country and are not really Queensland citizens.”