Page 479 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 24 February 1993
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In relation to the playing field and the training field, yes, there is a problem. No, it has not been finished as far as the deliberations are concerned. I understand that Mr Berry's department, on receipt of representations from me, and obviously also from Mr De Domenico who, I gather, has made representations as well before today, is giving the matter attention. The thing that I wanted to make clear to this house is that a great number of members of our community down there have done a great deal of work, also unheralded, and I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate them on their participation and success.
Goods and Services Tax
MR BERRY (Minister for Health, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Sport) (5.21), in reply: I thank Mr De Domenico for mentioning the fact that the Government has come up with some money for the football club that he mentioned. In relation to the GST, Madam Speaker, Dr Hewson is going to have his hand in everybody's pocket, and the same goes for sporting clubs. Every time they go to put their money in their pocket Dr Hewson's hand is going to be in there. When you buy a hot dog at the footy you are going to have to pay it. Not only are you going to have to pay an extra 15 per cent; the club also will have to use their volunteers to do all the paperwork and be responsible for the collection of a Hewson government's tax. If you go to a Raiders game you will be up for an extra 15 per cent on your ticket. If you go over here to the swimming pool there will be 15 per cent on the ticket. So do not tell me that it is going to be cheaper under a GST. It is going to be much dearer; it is going to be much harder.
The ones that are going to be hardest hit are the smaller clubs and the clubs where youngsters are involved. That is where volunteers are so important. Volunteers are going to be frightened away by this taxation system because they are the ones that are going to be responsible for the collection and payment of it. They are the ones that are going to have to do the paperwork. The clubs are going to have either to find people who will take those risks - they will have to collect that tax and pay it or bear the responsibility - or hire managers to look after it. So do not let us kid ourselves that it is going to be cheaper under this GST.
As I have said, Dr Hewson's hand is going to be in everybody's pocket when they get involved in sport. If you want to go to the football it will cost you. When you go to the football it will cost you 15 per cent more; when you go to the swimming pool it will cost you 15 per cent more; when you go to the soccer games it will cost you 15 per cent more; when you buy a hot dog it is going to cost 15 per cent more; and somebody has to collect it. It is the volunteers, in junior sport in particular, who are most important, and they are going to find themselves most vulnerable. So, Madam Speaker, let us not be fooled by all of this rhetoric about a newfound commitment to social justice in taxing. This is a regressive tax that will hit lower income earners hardest, and it will hit sport hard as well.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Assembly adjourned at 5.24 pm
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