Page 2157 - Week 10 - Thursday, 26 October 1989
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
Question put.
The Assembly voted -
AYES, 5 NOES, 12
Mr Humphries Mr Berry
Mr Kaine Mr Collaery
Mrs Nolan Mr Duby
Mr Stefaniak Ms Follett
Mr Stevenson Mrs Grassby
Mr Jensen
Dr Kinloch
Ms Maher
Mr Moore
Mr Prowse
Mr Whalan
Mr Wood
Question so resolved in the negative.
MRS NOLAN (3.55): The continuation of the debate on the Payroll Tax (Amendment) Bill 1989 will enable the house to see how ineffective the Government's consultation process has been, particularly with the business community.
This Bill has been put forward by the Government, without any consideration of those that it will affect most. The Government has stated on many occasions that the future growth of Canberra's economy will be in the private sector. Indeed, the Chief Minister said in her budget speech that a robust and diverse private sector will provide increased employment and long-term stability for the ACT.
She went on to say that the budget itself contains several proposals to promote economic development. However, what she did not state was that the Government intended to introduce this Bill to the Assembly at the end of September, further adding to the burden of business in the ACT, which would inevitably be passed onto the consumer.
People out there in the community are unaware of the implications of this legislation. They are unaware of the financial implications of increasing payroll tax and unaware that the expansion of the definition of "payroll" will have detrimental effects on the ACT. Did the Government consult with the community effectively on this issue? Of course not. You and I, Mr Speaker, and the community out there, the people who are really hurting because of high interest rates, will bear the burden. Ill-conceived policies at both Federal and local levels are hurting this community - the very people this Government is supposedly representing.
This Government expects the private sector to provide both employment growth and an increased revenue base whilst they insist on continually slugging the business community with
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .