Greek Orthodox schools in Victoria exempt from government’s payroll tax change

·

The Victorian government has backtracked on an election plan to hit hundreds of independent schools with payroll tax.

The top 60 private schools in Victoria will still lose their exemption to payroll tax, with only schools with annual fees of $15,000 or more set to pay the tax from July 1, 2024.

This decision comes after May’s state budget outlined a three-year $422-million plan to remove the payroll exemption for 110 schools with fees of more than $7,500.

The proposal was hit with widespread backlash, especially from lower fee independent Greek Orthodox schools such Oakleigh Grammar and St John’s College Preston.

Fees at Oakleigh Grammar start at around $9,000 for Prep students, and climb to more than $12,000 for Year 12 students. St John’s College Preston charges fees of $8,772 in years 11 and 12.

According to the SMH, St John’s College Preston has also been under review by the education regulator since last year due to fears the school is financially unviable. The school posted a $1.79 million loss in 2021 and a $1.07 million loss in 2020.

The Victorian Budget was handed down in May.

In a letter sent to Victorian Members of Parliament in late May, school leaders at Oakleigh Grammar and St Johns College Preston said the proposed payroll tax “would jeopardise in the worst case scenario, the ongoing viability of our schools.”

“At the very least, it would impact our schools’ current curricular and co-curricular offerings and negatively impact staffing levels to continue to deliver value-for-money high quality educational programs,” the school leaders said.

Now, the Victorian government’s backtrack means Oakleigh Grammar and St Johns College Preston are exempt from the payroll tax.

Oakleigh Grammar’s business manager Tim Grandy told ABC News this was “a big relief for our school community.”

“Our chairman will be able to sleep at night again,” he said.

Schools still subject to payroll tax includes some of Melbourne’s most elite including Scotch College, Xavier College and Methodist Ladies College.

Source: ABC News.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

From crisis to compassion: Timos Roussos and his family’s mercy mission in war-torn Cyprus

When Turkish troops landed on Cyprus on 20 July 1974, six-year-old Timos Roussos was sitting on the floor of his family’s home in Lemesos.

A granddaughter returns: Georgia Georgiou retraces her yiayia’s occupied village in Cyprus

When Georgia Georgiou handed over her Cypriot ID at the border checkpoint to cross into occupied northern Cyprus, she felt an ache.

‘You never get over it’: A childhood shattered by the Turkish invasion of Cyprus

On a warm July morning in 1974, 10-year-old Anastasia Di Loreto (née Karatzia) was jolted awake by the sound of bombs falling on Kyrenia.

Cyprus: The paradox of tolerance and impunity for Turkey

The lack of a unified, systematic and practical strategy on the part of Greece has led the Cyprus crisis into national disarray.

Lost homes and lingering hope: Greek-Cypriots reflect on Turkish invasion and its aftermath

From hidden stories to haunting memories, two Greek-Cypriot men share what it means to carry the burden of Cyprus’ past.

You May Also Like

‘Greece is the Word’ at Canberra’s first ever Celebration of Languages event

The Greek language was on full display in Canberra on Saturday as the capital city held it's first ever Celebration of Languages event.

Behrouz Boochani returns to Melbourne’s Greek Centre for annual John Berger lecture

Tickets were sparse for the annual John Berger lecture, as Melbournian’s flocked to the Greek Centre to see Behrouz Boochani and Hoda Afshar. 

Queensland election 2024: Meet the Greek Australian candidates vying for a spot

With Queensland's 2024 State General Election coming up on Saturday, October 26, The Greek Herald listed the candidates of Greek heritage.