Page 2576 - Week 09 - Thursday, 16 September 2021
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The bill amends the Taxation Administration Act 1999 to facilitate the establishment of a taxation deferral scheme, exemption scheme and rebate scheme outside the COVID-19 emergency. These measures were originally introduced as COVID-19 measures in response to the ACT economic survival package. It was identified that existing tax laws do not provide consistent powers for rebates, deferrals and exemptions across revenue lines, requiring the use of powers under various acts such as the Rates Act 2004 and the Financial Management Act 1996. This bill addresses this gap by providing one consistent set of powers for rebates, deferrals and exemptions across revenue lines, providing greater flexibility for the minister to exercise these powers by making a disallowable instrument.
Lastly, the bill makes one amendment which does not involve permanently adopting a COVID-19 measure. The bill amends the Associations Incorporation Act 1991 to extend the temporary measures previously put in place to allow associations to authorise annual general meetings to be held via methods of communication other than in person and provides the registrar-general with the power to declare a general extension for a period of time for certain requirements to be met under the act, including the holding of annual general meetings. There is no question that the COVID-19 emergency has changed how our community engages, and this is especially true for associations in the territory. Prior to the introduction of the temporary measures, associations were typically required to conduct meetings face to face, something which is simply not practical under the current circumstances.
The bill will extend the expiry of these measures to be the end of a 12-month period during which no COVID-19 emergency declaration has been in force. This extension period will ensure that both measures are in place for as long as they are needed to help associations function appropriately and keep their members safe. We have seen over the last 18 months or so that the pandemic is an ever-evolving situation.
It is necessary to further extend these provisions to ensure associations can continue to adapt to changing circumstances and operate both efficiently and in compliance with public health directions. I recognise that, unlike other measures in this bill, we are only extending the expiry of these provisions rather than making them permanent.
In terms of the registrar-general’s power to provide a general extension of time for certain matters, this is a temporary measure to assist associations with problems they are universally experiencing because of the pandemic, such as needing to delay an annual general meeting. As such, it is not an appropriate candidate for permanency.
The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly been a life-changing experience for all of us. For the past 1½ years we have all been tested and we have had to change the way we live. In that process we have learned so many things. We have had to be resilient, care for each other and stand together as a community.
One thing is for certain, and that is the ACT is adaptable and innovative. We have found different ways to continue doing what needs to be done and, as a result, the measures proposed to be permanently adopted in this bill will be of benefit to our community long after the COVID-19 pandemic is behind us.
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