Page 3576 - Week 12 - Thursday, 19 September 1991
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Statements that tenants are not affected fail to understand the realities. Ms Follett has said that the tenants will not be affected; that the landlord will get it on his tax, anyway. It seems to me that the landlords will, in fact, just reduce the length of the lease term to allow them to have more regular increases in their rents; that is what landlords will do. These sorts of things encourage those activities to take place. We have seen airy-fairy statements made on the effects of this measure on government rent assistance. No indication has been given in this house, in answer to a number of questions, as to what proper assessment was made of the cost to Mr Connolly's budget.
In an answer to a question, Ms Follett said in this house, "I am sure that my colleague Mr Connolly's department had a look at it. They had an opportunity to make those comments and they do not appear to have done so". Did she ever ask whether her colleague, the Minister who is responsible for directing that department, actually asked the question? Did Mr Connolly ask for an assessment of the likely effects of this Rates and Land Tax (Amendment) Bill on his budget? I suspect that the answer would probably be a resounding no. If it is not, I would appreciate it if the Minister would be prepared to share that assessment with the rest of the community in the open consultative manner that we often hear government members speak about in this place.
In conclusion, the Government has once again taken a narrow, ideological view rather than undertaking a reasoned long-term review of the whole process. It is another example of the quick-fix mentality of a minority government continuing to mark time until the next election.
MR COLLAERY (4.54): I would like to add a few words to the excellent address given by my colleague Mr Jensen. When you look at the social impact of this Bill, you realise that the damage is done. Ms Follett, in her classic bungling and naive manner, announced this measure well in advance of the legislation and well in advance of any decision of this Assembly - well before she could determine, as a minority leader, whether she had the numbers to pass the Bill. The fact is that the horse has bolted. Every landlord in town knows that this tax is a possibility. It ranges between a mere possibility and a probability. Either way, anyone in a commercial situation will move, within the constraints of the landlord and tenant legislation, to increase the charge.
What I am hearing in the places that I go to is that this was a bungled affair. The relevant parties, including the advisory groups that advise the Minister, Mr Connolly, should have been consulted; there should have been some sounding out as to what the likely effect of it would be. And it would not have hurt to have spoken to the REI. No doubt, they would have opposed it; but they may well have
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