Page 3945 - Week 13 - Thursday, 17 October 1991
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Well, well, well! I wonder what has happened to that promise, Mr Berry. Of course, it has gone out the window. I will not embarrass the Government any more on this matter. There is plenty of embarrassment left in the select committee, and I am looking forward to that particular exercise - - -
Mr Berry: That is right, because it is a big stunt.
MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Berry says that it is a stunt. When he sees what comes out of it he will probably be looking for excuses, and I suggest that Mr Berry save his excuses for the report, not give them now.
This Government - in particular its leader, the Chief Minister - has relied on a series of distortions to make its case, such as it is, today. I want to touch on a couple of those things before I sit down. Ms Follett claimed that payroll tax was increased by the Kaine Government to 7 per cent. That is a distortion. The fact of life is that our Government, quite wisely, rounded off payroll tax to make it more equitable in its application to businesses in this Territory. In fact, previously payroll tax had ranged between 6 and 8 per cent, and we rounded it to 7 per cent. We also raised the threshold on payroll tax, again relieving the burden on business.
The petrol tax that Ms Follett had the nerve to refer to, of course, was the temporary petrol tax introduced by the Alliance Government, which we faithfully promised would be a temporary tax for two years. It was a tax for two years only. Ms Follett at that time said, "We do not believe you. You are going to make this tax permanent. We can see what you are up to". She attacked the Government and won some brownie points on that basis. What did she do when she took office herself? Of course, she announced that the petrol tax of 3c a litre would now be permanent, not temporary at all.
We see the kinds of hypocrisy and double standards which have now become the hallmark of this Government. Openness is not a feature of this Government. Consultation is not a feature. Being prepared to debate the issues facing this Territory in this Assembly, in the Estimates Committee or whatever is also not a feature of this Government.
MR COLLAERY (3.47): Mr Deputy Speaker, I was surprised that this MPI was put on in the terms that it was, because it was capable of being turned against us on the non-government side. I believe that its wording was somewhat unfortunate, simply because I am on record as saying that much of the budget development work done for this budget was done by the Alliance Government, as indeed it was.
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