Page 3588 - Week 12 - Thursday, 19 September 1991
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am not going to say "far better off than they were under the Alliance Government". That would be entirely irrelevant, because, although the timing happens to be correct, it has to do with the fact that interest rates are falling, which is a Federal Government matter.
Coming at this time, people, by and large, are not going to feel it in their pocket at all. What a wonderful situation to have; that we can actually tax people at a time when they will not feel it as a loss from their income.
Mr Humphries: You tell them that.
MR MOORE: I know that they are going to kick up. Of course they are going to kick up. Mr Humphries interjects, "Tell them that". I have told them that, and I have sat down with the representatives of the Real Estate Institute and the Master Builders Association, as all of you have, I imagine. I have told them that that is exactly the way I perceive it. Therefore, I congratulate the Government on bringing down this tax, because I think it is an important thing.
Mr Humphries: You usually do.
MR MOORE: Gary Humphries interjects that I usually do congratulate the Government. I congratulated you in the Alliance Government on many occasions, and I have congratulated this Government on many occasions. I also do not hesitate to give them stick if I believe that it is appropriate. If you look at the Royal Canberra Hospital Bill you will see that, on the same thing that I was battling with you on, I will continue to battle with them. It is the issues that I work on. I work on the issues, not on where you happen to be standing and whether it is your turn in government. It is the issues that I will continue working on. And on this particular issue I happen to be in agreement with the Government that it is a good idea.
Mr Jensen: Mr Acting Speaker, I raise a point of order. Before we go much further, I would seek your ruling in relation to the position of those members of the Assembly who may, in fact, be advantaged one way or the other by a decision taken in this place in relation to this matter before us. I feel that I have to declare that I am, in fact, a landlord, and I just wonder whether, in fact, I have a conflict of interest and whether you would like to make a ruling on that matter.
MR ACTING SPEAKER: I do not think that there would be any real conflicts of interest, Mr Jensen. I think you can rest easy there. I am sure you will exercise all your best judgment in the interests of the people of Canberra.
Mr Humphries: If he votes for it, it does not matter.
MR ACTING SPEAKER: Yes, it does not matter, Mr Jensen. You vote as you think fit.
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