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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1995 Week 8 Hansard (26 October) . . Page.. 2153 ..

MS FOLLETT (continuing):

It certainly does not guarantee the expenditure of the funds in any way whatsoever. It provides no guarantee for the future, nor any guarantee of consultation with the club industry. The only guarantee is a Liberal promise, and that is not worth much these days, as the proposed clause itself demonstrates.

In an attempt to require this Government to adhere to at least some of their election promises, I urge the Assembly to support my amendment in order to ensure that the ACT tax rate remains at the same level as that in surrounding New South Wales. I think this is a very important point for a government that pretends that it is serious about the ACT's business prospects. The fact of the matter is that the tax that is proposed in Mrs Carnell's Bill in one fell swoop moves every ACT licensed club to a disadvantaged position in regard to the clubs in New South Wales. It is an instant disadvantage to clubs proposing to do business or already in business in the ACT, and Mrs Carnell puts it up barefaced.

Mrs Carnell: What happens if the licensed clubs agree?

MS FOLLETT: I did not make the promise Mrs Carnell made. She made the promise, Mr Speaker. However, I do not believe that it was such a bad promise. When we were in government, it was our general rule that taxes should be in line with those in New South Wales, unless there was a good reason for them not to be. In fact, that was the situation that applied while Labor was in government. It has taken a Liberal government, who made the promise that they would not raise ACT taxes beyond the New South Wales level, to be just about the first to break out of that mould. I think it is a pretty shameful record. Mr Speaker, I commend the amendment to the Assembly. The maintenance of that rate of 22.5 per cent is what the Liberals promised at the election.

Mrs Carnell: It is not.

MS FOLLETT: It is. It is what they should deliver, and it is what the Canberra community, and especially the Canberra local club community, has every right to expect. This kind of walking away from promises at the first available opportunity is part of the reason that politicians get a bad name. This is but one of the many promises Mrs Carnell has simply walked away from. I think it is very regrettable for an industry sector of the ACT economy that has been strong and vibrant and has contributed greatly to our community. This is an unwarranted attack upon them. There is no guarantee either that the return for the extra one per cent will be delivered. Mrs Carnell has already broken the promise on the taxes. What is to stop her breaking the promise on the hypothecation of those taxes as well?

On that subject, I reiterate that there is nothing in the Bill that guarantees that these funds will go to sport. There is no trust fund; there are no arrangements for disbursement of the funds. There is no guarantee other than the Chief Minister's word, and Mr Hird's word, about which I will not say anything further. Anybody who believes this Government's word has rocks in their head. By this very Bill they have introduced they have walked away from a promise. I think the amendment is necessary, and I would urge all members who think politicians should keep their promises to support it.

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