Page 2656 - Week 08 - Thursday, 14 August 2014

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Let us work with the government and not call for an exemption clause because, according to the government, it is just too hard. The point still remains, whether Mr Barr enforces the changes on 1 July 2014, 1 October 2014 or even 1 January 2105, that contractors who entered into negotiations or had arrangements prior to the announcement of this change have been caught out through no fault of their own. They entered into these negotiations and contracts with no knowledge of this change and therefore are at a disadvantage if they are not quarantined for at least the term of their contract or until 1 July 2015.

By moving this to 1 January 2015, as announced in the government’s response to the estimates committee recommendation, it has, in effect, halved its expected revenue. As it stands now this government is holding to ransom the financial wellbeing of potentially thousands of families for $5 million. As I said previously, the estimate is that it will raise more than $10 million per annum anyway. It is a small price to pay to spare a lot of Canberra families a considerable amount of financial stress and uncertainty, especially in light of the fact that this budget shows that Canberra families will be facing average net increases of up to $327 on their costs of living and, indeed, as in the budget papers, some as high as $706 per annum.

I ask members to reconsider what not passing this amendment today ensures. It ensures that, at least by the Treasurer’s estimates, 1,000, but probably more, Canberra families will suffer because of what they vote for tonight.

Question put:

That the amendment be agreed to.

The Assembly voted—

Ayes 8		Noes 9
Mr Coe	Ms Lawder	Mr Barr	Ms Gallagher
Mr Doszpot	Mr Smyth	Ms Berry	Mr Gentleman
Mrs Dunne	Mr Wall	Dr Bourke	Ms Porter
Mr Hanson		Ms Burch	Mr Rattenbury
Mrs Jones		Mr Corbell

Question so resolved in the negative.

Bill, as a whole, as amended, agreed to.

Bill, as amended, agreed to.

Land Tax Amendment Bill 2014

Debate resumed from 5 June 2014, on motion by Mr Barr:

That this bill be agreed to in principle.

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