The great tax grab - 2004-01-10
Kevin Foley is the highest taxing Treasurer in South Australian history, collecting over $1733 for every man, woman and child in the state this year.
The State Government's Treasury is set to accumulate more than $2.65 billion this financial year, a 21 per cent increase over the past two years.
The latest total will swell government coffers to record levels after adjustments were made to take into account the GST and the abolition of state petrol, tobacco and alcohol taxes.
Based on the adjustment, state taxes have climbed from $1.9 billion six years ago to an estimated $2.65 billion in 2003-04.
A stronger economy fuelled by the housing boom has led to the government's growing windfall.
Opposition treasury spokesman Rob Lucas said the figures proved Labor was the "biggest taxing State Government in history".
"They are ripping money out of the pockets of working class South Australians," Mr Lucas said.
"This is a greedy grab for money."
The government has raised more than $73 million in new taxes over the past two years, sparking Opposition claims it has broken its election promise of no new taxes.
A $30 River Murray levy was applied to households in last year's budget, while water rates, bus fares and licences increased by 3.9 per cent, along with a small increase in minor royalties.
In Labor's first budget in 2002, it introduced a $39 million super tax on poker machines and increased stamp duty on homes valued at more than $200,000, slugging homeowners $14 million.
Read the full story at South Australia Advertiser 
