Page 1330 - Week 07 - Thursday, 24 August 1989
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The other area that I noticed with interest was the remission power in relation to section 22AA of the Rates and Land Tax Act, where it says that the Minister may remit all or part of an amount of penalty payable by a person. I wonder whether there is some form of delegation provided for this, otherwise there is probably going to be a lot of clutter in the Minister's office if every case for remission has to go that far. I understand, in fact, that there is that provision for delegation, so that certainly solves that particular problem.
Now let me turn now to clause 16. I notice that the Government is very keen to take interest back from those who are recalcitrant payers, and the Rally has no objection to that because I think it is appropriate that those who decide not to fulfil their responsibilities to the rest of the taxpayers of this city should have to do so. However, I would suggest that the Chief Minister may consider some provision for repayment with interest to those who successfully challenge unimproved value determinants. It is something that she might like to consider and take that on board, because I suggest, if the Government is prepared to take it from one hand, it is probably appropriate that, when someone has appealed against his rates valuation and there may be some delay in that particular area, he also gets the benefit of that particular factor.
I now return to the Water Rates (Amendment) Bill and the Sewerage Rates (Amendment) Bill. Once again the Rally has no problems with the introduction of penalties for late payments, as it protects the operations of ACTEW's financial base by ensuring that services are paid for and, if they are not paid for, the unpaid amount attracts interest until paid. Also I note that penalties apply only to rates payable before 30 June 1988 and not paid before 16 October 1988. However, people currently in default have ample warning that continued failure to pay will incur additional costs.
The raising of penalties, however, does bring up a general issue. There is no standing penalty for non-payment of rates other than the interest, and I just wonder whether that is something that should be considered. I also note that interest is calculated on a monthly basis, even when any part of a month is involved. This, Mr Speaker, presumably gives ACTEW the capacity to charge a full month's interest after one day longer than an additional month. I trust that ACTEW will not be inflexible but I wonder whether the Assembly should be giving it the grounds on which to impose such inflexibility if it chooses. So I ask that the Chief Minister discuss it with her advisers in that particular area and ensure that there is some flexibility in this particular matter.
On that particular note, I close my contribution by saying that the Rally supports the Bills as put forward. However, we do also, like Mr Kaine, have some concern about the fact that we may be enshrining in legislation the rate, which
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