Page 3368 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 12 October 1993
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TREASURER FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTION
Question No.969
Rates Payments - Advertising
MR CORNWELL - Asked the Treasurer upon notice on 14 September 1993:
(1) What was the cost of print media advising ratepayers that they had until 16 August, not 15 August as previously advised, to pay rates instalments.
(2) On how many occasions and in which newspapers did the advertisement run.
(3) Why did rate notices give August 15 - a Sunday - as the first deadline for 1993-94 rates payments.
MS FOLLETT - The answers to the Members questions are as follows:
(1) The Canberra Times advertisements were not run to advise
ratepayers of a change in instalment date but appeared as a
regular client service initiative. It is normal practice
for the Revenue Office to place paid advertisements in
The Canberra Times prior to each instalment to remind
ratepayers of their obligation to pay general rates and land
tax instalments and also to advise them that assistance
might be available if they are having difficulty in paying.
The advertisements cost the ACT Revenue Office $648.
(2) The advertisement appeared in The Canberra Times on 9 August, 11 August and 13 August 1993.
(3) Section 4 of the Rates and Land Tax Act 1926 prescribes instalment days as 15 August, 15 November, 15 February and 15 May. The due date shown on the annual rates notice was 15 August as specified by the legislation. However, section 36 of the Interpretation Act 1967 provides that where a due date falls on a weekend or public holiday then the actual due date becomes the next working day. The Revenue Office publishes the actual due date in the reminder advertisements in order to inform the public of the effect of the Interpretation Act on the final date for their payments.
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