Page 1901 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 14 June 1994
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
To address this issue the Bill provides for the rebate for pensioners to rise from 50 per cent to 65 per cent, in effect to ensure that the great majority of pensioners will not be disadvantaged by the change to the water pricing structure. In fact, Madam Speaker, a significant number of pensioners will be better off. For example, a pensioner user of 200 kilolitres of water per annum would, for their sewerage rate plus the basic water rate, pay $240 under the old scheme and $196 under the new scheme.
Madam Speaker, in pursuing its commitment to improve social justice, the Government has made provision in the Bill for ratepayers who are refused a deferment of their rates, who are dissatisfied with the amount or length of a deferment of their rates, or who have a current deferral of rates varied without their agreement, to appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. Finally, Madam Speaker, the Bill also amends the Act to remove sexist language and enhance the interpretation of the legislation. I commend the Bill to the Assembly. I now present the explanatory memorandum.
Debate (on motion by Mr Kaine) adjourned.
RATES AND LAND TAX (AMENDMENT) BILL 1994
MS FOLLETT (Chief Minister and Treasurer) (4.33), by leave: I present the Rates and Land Tax (Amendment) Bill 1994.
Title read by Clerk.
MS FOLLETT: I move:
That this Bill be agreed to in principle.
Madam Speaker, as I foreshadowed in my budget speech, the rating factor used to calculate municipal rates will be adjusted to ensure maintenance of rates revenue in real terms. This Bill provides for a new rating factor for municipal rates of 0.990c in the dollar. The rating factor for rural properties will continue to be set at half the urban rate. This new rating factor represents a minor increase on that applied in 1993-94. It equates to a 2.5 per cent average increase in rates in 1994-95, which is in line with inflation forecasts, and ensures that rates revenue will be maintained in real terms after taking account of projected growth in the number of rateable properties.
New property values to apply for 1994-95 have been assessed by the Australian Valuation Office. The new valuations indicate that in 1993-94 existing residential property values rose on average by 3.2 per cent, whereas commercial valuations fell on average by 4.9 per cent. This represents an overall increase in existing land values of just on 2 per cent. This increase is somewhat lower than that experienced in recent years. The differential between movements in residential property values and commercial property values is also significantly lower than that recorded in recent years. No changes to land tax are proposed. With the decline in average commercial valuations, this represents a reduction in average land tax payable for existing properties of approximately 5 per cent.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .