Page 859 - Week 06 - Tuesday, 25 July 1989
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The urban services proposals include a feasibility study to consider office accommodation requirements of the ACT Government and the most cost-effective way of achieving these requirements. We also plan to upgrade existing irrigation systems in ACT parks and reserves to eliminate overwatering and achieve better resource management. I have written to the Prime Minister today outlining these proposals. One further major restructuring proposal is the long overdue redevelopment of Canberra's hospitals. At this stage, however, the principal hospital steering committee is yet to finalise its advice to the Government. I look forward to making a statement to the Assembly on this matter once the committee's report has been received and analysed by the Government.
Finally, I would like to discuss the revenue area. The Government has put together a revenue package which matches our economic and social objectives. We have adhered to our election commitment not to increase rates and taxes in real terms on individual citizens and households. The focus of our revenue measures has been to place the ACT's revenue raising capacity on a more comparable basis to that of the States and to redress existing anomalies in the areas of collection and compliance.
Ratepayers will be aware that land valuations have been reassessed in accordance with the triennial statutory requirement, to reflect land values as at 1 January 1988. The municipal general rate will be set at 1.125c in the dollar, compared with 1.18c in 1988-89. This rate provides for an average residential rate increase in line with CPI which honours our commitment in this area. Discounts will be introduced to encourage rate payments in one payment, and there will be penalties for the late payment of rates. Because of the timing of rate payments, I shall be introducing legislation to give effect to these arrangements during these sittings.
In the area of payroll tax, the threshold for the payment of payroll tax will be raised from $400,000 to $432,000 from 1 July 1989. The threshold will be indexed in future in line with New South Wales practice. This will provide security for ACT small businesses. The Government will also provide an amnesty for employers in breach of their payroll tax obligations. For a two-month period from 1 August 1989 no penalties will be imposed on employers who come forward and pay outstanding payroll tax.
Other amendments to the Payroll Tax Act, to be introduced from 1 November 1989, will extend coverage to eliminate anomalies and close off avenues of avoidance. Similarly, two taxation measures in the stamp duty area will take effect from today to close off avenues of taxation avoidance.
The first of these measures relates to stamp duty liability on the acquisition of interests in ACT land. From today duty will be payable on any acquisition of an interest in
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