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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 1 Hansard (17 February) . . Page.. 292 ..


MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

a particular taxpayer cannot be disclosed due to the secrecy provisions of the taxation law.

Nevertheless, I take Mr Kaine's point about the usefulness of the information provided. I have asked my Department to review these measures and the reporting information provided to the Assembly.

(b) As anticipated by the Government, the introduction of a $50.00 objection lodgement fee has resulted in a fall in the number of objection cases received to date. This reduction is in line with Government policy outcomes and does not in any way indicate a failure against the target.

The cost of processing various objections relating to revenue matters is quite high and, before 1 July 1999, there was no mechanism to deter the lodgement of frivolous objections from taxpayers and ratepayers. The introduction of the $50 objection lodgement fee from 1 July 1999 has reduced the high adminstrative costs associated with processing frivolous objections and resulted in more resources being available to review genuine cases.

The $50 objection lodgement fee will be refundable to the taxpayer/ratepayer upon a successful result, either in whole or in part, at the objection or appeal stages.

A similar fee of $190 currently applies to the lodgement of appeals to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

The introduction of the $50 objection lodgement fee for revenue related matters does not in any way compromise the fundamental principles of administrative law whereby taxpayers and ratepayers have the right to apply for a review of an administrative decision or assessment.

PLANNING AND URBAN SERVICES - STANDING COMMITTEE

Report on Motor Traffic (Amendment) Bill (No. 4) 1998 -

Government Response

MR SMYTH (Minister for Urban Services) (4.15): For the information of members, I present the Government's response to report No. 37 of the Standing Committee on Planning and Urban Services, entitled "Motor Traffic (Amendment) Bill (No. 4) 1998". The report was presented to the Assembly on 25 November 1999. I move:

That the Assembly takes note of the paper.

Mr Speaker, in the interests of brevity, I ask for leave to have my tabling speech incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The speech read as follows:


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