Housing Trust - Dividend Payments

MRS CARNELL: In question time today I took on notice a question with regard to payments from the Housing Trust. I would like to answer that question now. The level of payments from the budget to the Housing Trust is determined by Commonwealth-State arrangements, particularly the Commonwealth-State Housing Agreement. Under the Commonwealth-State Housing Agreement, the Government is entitled to recover from housing authorities normal State and local government taxes and charges. At present all such taxes and charges are collected from ACT Housing, with the exception of land tax. This payment is a partial tax equivalent which will increase progressively over time from $750,000 in 1995-96 to $2.1m in 1998-99. Full application of land tax to ACT Housing would cost the budget over $6.5m, so we will not be moving to full tax equivalent at this stage.

ADJOURNMENT

MR SPEAKER: Order! It being 5.00 pm, I propose the question:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

Mrs Carnell: I require the question to be put forthwith without debate.

Question resolved in the negative.

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS - STANDING COMMITTEE

Report on Review of Auditor-General’s Report No. 3 of 1994 -Government Response

MR STEFANIAK (Minister for Education and Training and Minister for Housing and Family Services) (5.01): Mr Speaker, for the information of members, I present the Government's response to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts Report No. 17 of the Second Assembly, which was entitled “Review of Auditor-General's Report No. 3, 1994 - Public Housing Maintenance”, and I move:

That the Assembly takes note of the paper.

Mr Speaker, in June 1994 the Auditor-General presented to the Legislative Assembly Report No. 3 of 1994 on public housing maintenance. The report presents the results of a review of the economy with which the then ACT Housing Trust procured maintenance services for the residences it owns. I am advised that the Public Accounts Committee invited comment from the then Minister for Housing and Community Services. The committee also sought additional comment from the Auditor-General and officers of ACT Housing and the Assets Management Section of ACT Public Works and Services.

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