A raft of government fees and charges will rise, including car registration and fines, as a state’s year-long freeze comes to an end.
The former Queensland Labor government froze the state’s fees and charges in the 2024 budget to provide cost-of-living relief for residents.
This meant costs that usually rise each year with inflation, such as licences or car registration, did not increase.
Car registration was also slashed by 20 per cent for a year from September 16, 2024, in Labor’s pre-election sugar hit, but it did not win the party another term in power after a nine-year reign.
However, the fees and charges freeze is coming to an end from July 1, when all costs will rise by 3.4 per cent, the Liberal National government says.
Government products such as driver’s licences will rise under the change, with the five-year option increasing from $198.35 to $205.09.
“The Crisafulli government is working tirelessly to repair the state’s finances after a decade of Labor’s fiscal vandalism and that includes restoring respect for taxpayers’ money,” Treasurer David Janetzki said in a statement on Friday.
The rise is the same as previous increases under the former Labor government before the freeze, but is above Brisbane’s annual consumer price index in the March quarter of 2.7 per cent and the national rate of 2.4 per cent.
The increase will temporarily exclude car registration, with prices to remain cut by 20 per cent until September 16, 2025, before the previously frozen cost increases by 3.4 per cent.
Car registration for a four-cylinder vehicle in Queensland currently costs $708, including compulsory third-party insurance and traffic improvement fees.
The cost to Queensland drivers is not the lowest in Australia, but is cheaper than some other states.
NSW is slugging drivers of a four-cylinder car $718, including registration and the motor vehicle tax, while Victoria costs $906 with CTP.
South Australia comes in at $660, including CTP, while Western Australia is $364 if your car weighs under 1300kg.
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