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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 12 Hansard (13 November) . . Page.. 4101 ..

Mr Whitecross: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: My question related to the size of the packages offered, not to how the business incentive scheme operates. It is a simple question. All she has to do is answer a question about the size of the packages that are being offered.

MR SPEAKER: I would think that Mrs Carnell is probably moving to that, because it seems to me that the size of the package offered is probably part of the business incentive scheme; or am I wrong?

MRS CARNELL: It is, Mr Speaker; thank you for that. I understood that Mr Whitecross's committee had actually had public hearings and was supposed to be reporting on the issue about the business incentive scheme on 2 December, which is not far away. I am surprised that he does not actually know how the business incentive scheme works.

Mr Whitecross: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: I do not know much about the size of the Fujitsu package because Mrs Carnell will not tell us.

MR SPEAKER: You will not get a chance. If you keep interjecting all the time, of course you will not be able to hear the answer.

Mr Whitecross: I am looking forward to the answer, Mr Speaker.

MR SPEAKER: Then be patient.

MRS CARNELL: With regard to the size of packages, the amount of money the ACT Government has in our budget for the ACTBIS initiatives is quite clear. My understanding is that it is something like $1.3m or $1.4m for the year. On top of that, the sorts of incentives that can be given in certain cases include payroll tax breaks over the first few years; land, under some circumstances; and sometimes we will waive stamp duty. The basis of those waivers is revenue forgone; they are revenue that we would not have got anyway. We have had this lecture before, but I am happy to do it again. In terms of what it can cost the ACT taxpayer, it is quite clearly in the budget; and I will make sure what the figure is. It is something in the vicinity of $1.3m or $1.4m.

MS REILLY: My question is to the Minister for Housing.

Mrs Littlewood: Another Kick Start question.

MS REILLY: Can I be heard in silence, Mr Speaker?

MR SPEAKER: Proceed. The pause was for effect, I trust, Ms Reilly, was it?

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