Page 6017 - Week 18 - Thursday, 12 December 1991
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MS FOLLETT: To my knowledge, there is no arrangement for reimbursement part way through. The tax is paid up front.
MR HUMPHRIES: I ask a supplementary question. Does the Chief Minister consider that a fair arrangement, given that people have paid tax in respect of the land that they no longer own and may have owned for only one month of the 12 months of the financial year?
MS FOLLETT: People may not feel that it is a fair arrangement, but it is the arrangement that applies at the moment. I think it would be very difficult to involve the Commissioner for Revenue in making adjustments throughout the year to people's land tax liability. Mr Speaker, as I say, that is the arrangement that applies at the present, and we currently have no reconsideration of that under way.
John Curtin School of Medical Research
DR KINLOCH: My question is addressed to Mr Wood in his role as Minister for Education. I recognise one difficulty in this question; but I want to put the view that there are hundreds, if not thousands, of Canberrans who are present or past graduates or staff of the Australian National University and who are very distressed indeed about actions of the Federal Government, of Mr Dawkins and Mr Baldwin, in relation to the John Curtin School of Medical Research. Is there any way in which our Government, which has been excluded from these relationships with universities, can bring pressure to bear or act or speak directly to help resolve this very unfortunate situation?
MR WOOD: As Dr Kinloch suggests, the Australian National University is under Commonwealth legislation and is very much the responsibility of the Commonwealth Government. I am aware of the concern about the John Curtin School of Medical Research. It is true that, as an important local institution, we could bring some pressure to bear. For example, I recently visited Mr Baldwin concerning enrolments at our universities next year. Whether the Government or I as the Minister would intrude on this occasion is a matter I have not given consideration to, but I will do so.
Member's Facsimile Equipment
MRS GRASSBY: Mr Speaker, I direct a question to you. Could you advise the Assembly whether it is true that Mr Stevenson has special fax equipment in his Assembly office? Could you also tell us the nature of this equipment, whether it is connected to the Assembly telephone lines and whether the Assembly is paying for these lines?
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