Page 2724 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 20 October 1992
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operating throughout Australia. But we do need, as I am sure Mr Kaine is aware, to closely examine the ACT revenue laws in the light of the decision that has been received, and the Commissioner for ACT Revenue is undertaking that activity in conjunction with the Government Solicitor. In the meantime, Madam Speaker, the commissioner will continue to administer all ACT tax laws on the basis that they are all valid.
MR KAINE: I ask a supplementary question. My question related specifically to liquor, and the Chief Minister and Treasurer did not refer to that specifically in her answer. If it is deemed necessary to move to a collection of tax in arrears rather than in advance, and given the changes that we have made in the taxation of liquor in the last couple of years, does the Chief Minister see any possibility of a loss of revenue as a result of having to make that kind of change?
MS FOLLETT: Madam Speaker, Mr Kaine is quite right in pointing out that the liquor taxing laws, as well as a number of others, do need to be examined in light of the decision. I think it would be premature at this stage to say whether there would be any loss of revenue. Clearly, that examination is going on. At this point we need to be very clear on what the High Court has decided and what it is yet to decide. In the meantime, as I say, that close examination of all of our revenue laws is going on.
Multicultural Children's Service
MS ELLIS: My question is directed to the Chief Minister. Is she aware of the current position of the Multicultural Children's Service? What steps has the Government taken to help the service to obtain suitable and affordable accommodation?
MS FOLLETT: Madam Speaker, this is another very topical question, and I thank Ms Ellis for it. I have also received, late this morning, a letter from the Leader of the Opposition on the same subject. It is clearly an issue which has a great deal of sympathy amongst members of the Assembly. I would like to say that the Multicultural Children's Service has my full support. It is a wonderful service. I have been to visit them. I admire the work that they do, and I am totally supportive of their continuing to do that work.
The service is a Commonwealth-funded service, first and foremost, Madam Speaker, and that is a very important point to make. It is funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health, Housing and Community Services, specifically to promote multicultural awareness in children's services in the ACT. As a Commonwealth-funded service, Madam Speaker, we on this side of the house have, I think, supported the funding of the service to the Federal Government on a number of occasions. I certainly raised with Mr Howe, the Federal Minister at the time, back in March, the question of adequate funding for this service. I know that my colleague Mr Connolly has written in similar vein to Mr Staples.
Madam Speaker, the role of members on this side, the ACT Government, has really been in relation to accommodation for the Multicultural Children's Service. When I first became aware of the service's accommodation needs late last year I asked my colleague Mr Connolly, in his capacity as Minister for Housing and Community Services, to consider the service's request for suitable
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