Page 3257 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 17 September 2013

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MR WALL: Minister, can you assure employers that there will be no further increase in the construction industry levy? And are you planning to further increase levies in other sectors?

MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Corbell, before I call you, could I ask Mr Wall to repeat the question.

MR WALL: Minister, can you assure employers that there will be no further increases in the rate of the levy in the construction industry? And are you planning to increase the levy for other sectors?

MADAM SPEAKER: I think I can rule the first bit in order, but I do not think you can answer the second bit, Mr Corbell, because that is asking for—

Mr Wall: Point of order, Madam Speaker.

MADAM SPEAKER: Yes.

Mr Wall: The minister is responsible for the long service leave board—

MADAM SPEAKER: Yes, but you are asking him to announce policy. The minister can answer the first part of the question about the assurances.

Mr Hanson: Madam Speaker, just on your ruling, if I could.

MADAM SPEAKER: Yes.

Mr Hanson: Is a decision of a superannuation board, a long service leave authority board, actually an announcement of policy? I would have thought that that is not actually government policy: that is a matter for a board, and that is not a policy matter.

Mr Corbell: No. The minister increases the rate, not the board.

Mr Hanson: I would have thought that it would be within order.

MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Wall’s wording was something along the lines of “Are you planning any other increases in the other schemes?” That is a responsibility of the minister, and my reading is that that is asking the minister to announce policy one way or the other. I am ruling that part of the question out of order. Mr Corbell.

MR CORBELL: In relation to the construction long service leave fund, the government is not contemplating any further increases to the fund at this time.

MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Ms Porter.

MS PORTER: Minister, what would be the consequences of the ACT government not pursuing this policy?


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