Page 295 - Week 01 - Thursday, 14 February 1991
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for whatever reason. If they do that, then they are quite capable of entering into an arrangement with the rates office and of coming to some mutual agreement as to the period of time within which that money can be paid.
Needless to say, in those circumstances an interest rate is still charged to them, which I think is only fair and reasonable; but if people put their position on the line with the office they will receive a favourable and reasonable attitude from the officers. They can enter into an arrangement to pay any amounts that are owing over a period of time, and that is the way that any sensible and reasonable person would enter into it. If people know that they cannot pay and they simply do nothing about it, they are then instructed that they are required to pay the full amount at once. And, again, I think that that is perfectly reasonable.
MR MOORE: I have a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. Considering that you have said that the rates office would consider a reasonable approach from somebody: Firstly, do you think it is important for that to be added to the printed words that are on the rates notice, so that people realise that that option is available to them? And, secondly, considering that the CPI is running in the order of 7 or 8 per cent, surely you must consider that 20 per cent interest is still excessive.
MR DUBY: You snuck in two supplementary questions there, but I will be glad to answer both of them. In terms of the notice, no, I do not believe that it is unreasonable of the rates office not to put that on the notice. Anyone who has any dealings whatsoever with any financial organisations knows that if the payment cannot be made on time they should contact that organisation and put their case to them. I do not believe that it behoves the rates office to be printing that when other organisations throughout the city, whether they be banking institutions or similar organisations, do not do that and, indeed, would frown upon that practice.
Getting back to the interest rate of 20 per cent per annum, I should point out to Mr Moore that 20 per cent per annum is still cheaper than, for example, the commercial interest rates applying on Bankcard, et cetera, that people would perhaps use to pay their rate instalment off. So, in terms of getting a better deal, they are far better off in getting an agreement with the rates office to pay off their rates than to go and use their Bankcard to get a cash advance and pay it off in one hit.
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