Qld: Beattie collides with councils over ambulance levy
BRISBANE, Dec 20 AAP - Queensland Premier Peter Beattie says he will force councilsto collect the new ambulance levy if they go ahead with a decision to boycott it.
A meeting of council representatives in Brisbane yesterday resolved not to take partin the implementation, levying or collection of the tax.
The councils also pledged to wage a campaign against Labor MPs leading up to the state election.
But Mr Beattie said the government remained committed to the levy, which would comeinto force in July, and councils were best placed to collect it.
If necessary, he would legislate to force councils to collect the levy, which was expectedto take about $100 million a year.
Local Government Association of Queensland president Noel Playford said a meeting withMr Beattie had resolved nothing.
"His government created the mess in the ambulance scheme and it's their responsibilityto fix it themselves," Cr Playford said.
He said the scheme, which placed an $85 levy on every property in the state, was grosslyunfair and practically unworkable.
"There are thousands upon thousands of anomalies out there," Cr Playford said.
Queensland Council of Unions general secretary Grace Grace said the state's mayorsshould stop playing political games and agree to collect the levy.
"It is a fair and mature response by the state government to provide total ambulancecover for all Queenslanders, as well as ensuring the quality of that service," Ms Gracesaid.
The levy will replace a government-run voluntary subscription scheme which has seena loss estimated to run to about $100 million a year within five years.
AAP jfs/cjh/de
KEYWORD: AMBULANCE DAYLEAD
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