An amendment to exempt country registered four wheel drive purchasers from the increase to luxury car tax proposed by the Government in the Budget has been moved by the Independent Member for New England, Tony Windsor.
But he said when it came to the vote "the Nationals failed to turn up".
Mr Windsor argued that many people in country areas need a four wheel drive vehicle for work and safety reasons.
He said that many basic four wheel drive vehicles cost more than the proposed threshold of $57, 123 and was astonished that the Nationals did not give their unqualified support for its adoption even though one Country Liberal MP did.
In moving his amendment, Mr Windsor told the Parliament, "… a four-wheel drive vehicle is not a luxury to those people who are trying to look after their families in areas where roads can be quite trying.
"Roads can be very rough. There can be wash-outs, water, mud, corrugations and dust.
"People in country areas do not have the luxuries of public transport, of paved roads, of tollways or of motorways.
"Many people have to purchase vehicles that will withstand the arduous roads they have to drive them on.
"…. I appeal to the government to look at what they are doing with what seems to be rushed taxation legislation.
"If they do not or will not agree with the amendment, I urge them to lift the threshold of $57,000 for those people who require these vehicles because of the circumstances in which they live—that is, in country areas."
Mr Windsor said the tax was on a necessity, not a luxury, in these areas.
"As I said earlier, country people do not have the luxury of opting for something else. …. I ask all members, particularly the Treasurer and the Assistant Treasurer, to look seriously at this amendment."
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