❓ A parliamentary question addresses land tax implications for private landholders participating in the Bush Forever program, questioning the disparity with agricultural land exemptions and proposing the removal of land tax on privately held bushland. The Treasurer's response defends the current system, highlighting conservation covenants as a pathway to exemptions.
AnsweredQoN 689Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Regarding the imposition of land tax on privately owned bushland - (1) Is the minister aware that private landholders who retain and preserve bushland as part of the Bush Forever program are required to pay land tax on their property, whereas owners of agricultural land are exempt from land tax? (2) If yes to (1), will the minister remove the land tax on privately held bushland? (3) If no to (2), why not? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Treasurer provides the following response - (1) I am aware that private land under the Bush Forever program is not entitled to a specific land tax exemption like that provided to primary production land. However, not all private landholders who retain and preserve bushland as part of the Bush Forever program are required to pay land tax. In this regard, private land owners who protect their bushland under an approved conservation covenant will be entitled to a land tax exemption, while others are entitled to primary production or principal place of residence exemptions. (2) No. (3) The Government considers that conservation covenants are an appropriate avenue for those committed to the protection of privately owned land to access land tax exemptions. A covenant issued by an approved organisation, such as the Department of Conservation and Land Management or the National Trust, provides sufficient surety for government that the land that is exempt from land tax is set aside for conservation purposes in perpetuity.
(1) Is the minister aware that private landholders who retain and preserve bushland as part of the Bush Forever program are required to pay land tax on their property, whereas owners of agricultural land are exempt from land tax? (2) If yes to (1), will the minister remove the land tax on privately held bushland? (3) If no to (2), why not? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Treasurer provides the following response - (1) I am aware that private land under the Bush Forever program is not entitled to a specific land tax exemption like that provided to primary production land. However, not all private landholders who retain and preserve bushland as part of the Bush Forever program are required to pay land tax. In this regard, private land owners who protect their bushland under an approved conservation covenant will be entitled to a land tax exemption, while others are entitled to primary production or principal place of residence exemptions. (2) No. (3) The Government considers that conservation covenants are an appropriate avenue for those committed to the protection of privately owned land to access land tax exemptions. A covenant issued by an approved organisation, such as the Department of Conservation and Land Management or the National Trust, provides sufficient surety for government that the land that is exempt from land tax is set aside for conservation purposes in perpetuity.
(2) If yes to (1), will the minister remove the land tax on privately held bushland? (3) If no to (2), why not? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Treasurer provides the following response - (1) I am aware that private land under the Bush Forever program is not entitled to a specific land tax exemption like that provided to primary production land. However, not all private landholders who retain and preserve bushland as part of the Bush Forever program are required to pay land tax. In this regard, private land owners who protect their bushland under an approved conservation covenant will be entitled to a land tax exemption, while others are entitled to primary production or principal place of residence exemptions. (2) No. (3) The Government considers that conservation covenants are an appropriate avenue for those committed to the protection of privately owned land to access land tax exemptions. A covenant issued by an approved organisation, such as the Department of Conservation and Land Management or the National Trust, provides sufficient surety for government that the land that is exempt from land tax is set aside for conservation purposes in perpetuity.
(3) If no to (2), why not? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Treasurer provides the following response - (1) I am aware that private land under the Bush Forever program is not entitled to a specific land tax exemption like that provided to primary production land. However, not all private landholders who retain and preserve bushland as part of the Bush Forever program are required to pay land tax. In this regard, private land owners who protect their bushland under an approved conservation covenant will be entitled to a land tax exemption, while others are entitled to primary production or principal place of residence exemptions. (2) No. (3) The Government considers that conservation covenants are an appropriate avenue for those committed to the protection of privately owned land to access land tax exemptions. A covenant issued by an approved organisation, such as the Department of Conservation and Land Management or the National Trust, provides sufficient surety for government that the land that is exempt from land tax is set aside for conservation purposes in perpetuity.
Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Treasurer provides the following response - (1) I am aware that private land under the Bush Forever program is not entitled to a specific land tax exemption like that provided to primary production land. However, not all private landholders who retain and preserve bushland as part of the Bush Forever program are required to pay land tax. In this regard, private land owners who protect their bushland under an approved conservation covenant will be entitled to a land tax exemption, while others are entitled to primary production or principal place of residence exemptions. (2) No. (3) The Government considers that conservation covenants are an appropriate avenue for those committed to the protection of privately owned land to access land tax exemptions. A covenant issued by an approved organisation, such as the Department of Conservation and Land Management or the National Trust, provides sufficient surety for government that the land that is exempt from land tax is set aside for conservation purposes in perpetuity.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Treasurer provides the following response - (1) I am aware that private land under the Bush Forever program is not entitled to a specific land tax exemption like that provided to primary production land. However, not all private landholders who retain and preserve bushland as part of the Bush Forever program are required to pay land tax. In this regard, private land owners who protect their bushland under an approved conservation covenant will be entitled to a land tax exemption, while others are entitled to primary production or principal place of residence exemptions. (2) No. (3) The Government considers that conservation covenants are an appropriate avenue for those committed to the protection of privately owned land to access land tax exemptions. A covenant issued by an approved organisation, such as the Department of Conservation and Land Management or the National Trust, provides sufficient surety for government that the land that is exempt from land tax is set aside for conservation purposes in perpetuity.
(1) I am aware that private land under the Bush Forever program is not entitled to a specific land tax exemption like that provided to primary production land. However, not all private landholders who retain and preserve bushland as part of the Bush Forever program are required to pay land tax. In this regard, private land owners who protect their bushland under an approved conservation covenant will be entitled to a land tax exemption, while others are entitled to primary production or principal place of residence exemptions. (2) No. (3) The Government considers that conservation covenants are an appropriate avenue for those committed to the protection of privately owned land to access land tax exemptions. A covenant issued by an approved organisation, such as the Department of Conservation and Land Management or the National Trust, provides sufficient surety for government that the land that is exempt from land tax is set aside for conservation purposes in perpetuity.
(2) No. (3) The Government considers that conservation covenants are an appropriate avenue for those committed to the protection of privately owned land to access land tax exemptions. A covenant issued by an approved organisation, such as the Department of Conservation and Land Management or the National Trust, provides sufficient surety for government that the land that is exempt from land tax is set aside for conservation purposes in perpetuity.
(3) The Government considers that conservation covenants are an appropriate avenue for those committed to the protection of privately owned land to access land tax exemptions. A covenant issued by an approved organisation, such as the Department of Conservation and Land Management or the National Trust, provides sufficient surety for government that the land that is exempt from land tax is set aside for conservation purposes in perpetuity.
(1) Is the minister aware that private landholders who retain and preserve bushland as part of the Bush Forever program are required to pay land tax on their property, whereas owners of agricultural land are exempt from land tax? (2) If yes to (1), will the minister remove the land tax on privately held bushland? (3) If no to (2), why not? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Treasurer provides the following response - (1) I am aware that private land under the Bush Forever program is not entitled to a specific land tax exemption like that provided to primary production land. However, not all private landholders who retain and preserve bushland as part of the Bush Forever program are required to pay land tax. In this regard, private land owners who protect their bushland under an approved conservation covenant will be entitled to a land tax exemption, while others are entitled to primary production or principal place of residence exemptions. (2) No. (3) The Government considers that conservation covenants are an appropriate avenue for those committed to the protection of privately owned land to access land tax exemptions. A covenant issued by an approved organisation, such as the Department of Conservation and Land Management or the National Trust, provides sufficient surety for government that the land that is exempt from land tax is set aside for conservation purposes in perpetuity.
(2) If yes to (1), will the minister remove the land tax on privately held bushland? (3) If no to (2), why not? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Treasurer provides the following response - (1) I am aware that private land under the Bush Forever program is not entitled to a specific land tax exemption like that provided to primary production land. However, not all private landholders who retain and preserve bushland as part of the Bush Forever program are required to pay land tax. In this regard, private land owners who protect their bushland under an approved conservation covenant will be entitled to a land tax exemption, while others are entitled to primary production or principal place of residence exemptions. (2) No. (3) The Government considers that conservation covenants are an appropriate avenue for those committed to the protection of privately owned land to access land tax exemptions. A covenant issued by an approved organisation, such as the Department of Conservation and Land Management or the National Trust, provides sufficient surety for government that the land that is exempt from land tax is set aside for conservation purposes in perpetuity.
(3) If no to (2), why not? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Treasurer provides the following response - (1) I am aware that private land under the Bush Forever program is not entitled to a specific land tax exemption like that provided to primary production land. However, not all private landholders who retain and preserve bushland as part of the Bush Forever program are required to pay land tax. In this regard, private land owners who protect their bushland under an approved conservation covenant will be entitled to a land tax exemption, while others are entitled to primary production or principal place of residence exemptions. (2) No. (3) The Government considers that conservation covenants are an appropriate avenue for those committed to the protection of privately owned land to access land tax exemptions. A covenant issued by an approved organisation, such as the Department of Conservation and Land Management or the National Trust, provides sufficient surety for government that the land that is exempt from land tax is set aside for conservation purposes in perpetuity.
Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Treasurer provides the following response - (1) I am aware that private land under the Bush Forever program is not entitled to a specific land tax exemption like that provided to primary production land. However, not all private landholders who retain and preserve bushland as part of the Bush Forever program are required to pay land tax. In this regard, private land owners who protect their bushland under an approved conservation covenant will be entitled to a land tax exemption, while others are entitled to primary production or principal place of residence exemptions. (2) No. (3) The Government considers that conservation covenants are an appropriate avenue for those committed to the protection of privately owned land to access land tax exemptions. A covenant issued by an approved organisation, such as the Department of Conservation and Land Management or the National Trust, provides sufficient surety for government that the land that is exempt from land tax is set aside for conservation purposes in perpetuity.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Treasurer provides the following response - (1) I am aware that private land under the Bush Forever program is not entitled to a specific land tax exemption like that provided to primary production land. However, not all private landholders who retain and preserve bushland as part of the Bush Forever program are required to pay land tax. In this regard, private land owners who protect their bushland under an approved conservation covenant will be entitled to a land tax exemption, while others are entitled to primary production or principal place of residence exemptions. (2) No. (3) The Government considers that conservation covenants are an appropriate avenue for those committed to the protection of privately owned land to access land tax exemptions. A covenant issued by an approved organisation, such as the Department of Conservation and Land Management or the National Trust, provides sufficient surety for government that the land that is exempt from land tax is set aside for conservation purposes in perpetuity.
(1) I am aware that private land under the Bush Forever program is not entitled to a specific land tax exemption like that provided to primary production land. However, not all private landholders who retain and preserve bushland as part of the Bush Forever program are required to pay land tax. In this regard, private land owners who protect their bushland under an approved conservation covenant will be entitled to a land tax exemption, while others are entitled to primary production or principal place of residence exemptions. (2) No. (3) The Government considers that conservation covenants are an appropriate avenue for those committed to the protection of privately owned land to access land tax exemptions. A covenant issued by an approved organisation, such as the Department of Conservation and Land Management or the National Trust, provides sufficient surety for government that the land that is exempt from land tax is set aside for conservation purposes in perpetuity.
(2) No. (3) The Government considers that conservation covenants are an appropriate avenue for those committed to the protection of privately owned land to access land tax exemptions. A covenant issued by an approved organisation, such as the Department of Conservation and Land Management or the National Trust, provides sufficient surety for government that the land that is exempt from land tax is set aside for conservation purposes in perpetuity.
(3) The Government considers that conservation covenants are an appropriate avenue for those committed to the protection of privately owned land to access land tax exemptions. A covenant issued by an approved organisation, such as the Department of Conservation and Land Management or the National Trust, provides sufficient surety for government that the land that is exempt from land tax is set aside for conservation purposes in perpetuity.
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