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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 3 Hansard (28 May) . . Page.. 684 ..

MS CARNELL (continuing):

required in the principal Act. The amendments also add to Schedule 3 a number of consumer protection laws in each jurisdiction which were omitted from the principal Act and clarify the powers of the Governor-General to amend Schedule 3 in certain circumstances.

Mr Speaker, the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Arrangement commenced operation on 1 May this year. The amendments outlined in this Bill have been incorporated into both the Commonwealth and the New South Wales Acts. This amending Bill will remove any doubt about the status of the ACT as a participating jurisdiction within the meaning of the Commonwealth Act and will ensure that there is national uniform legislation as contemplated by the 1996 Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Arrangement.

Debate (on motion by Mr Stanhope) adjourned.

MR SPEAKER: I recognise the presence in the gallery of Mr Ian McNeill, Clerk of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly. Welcome.

MS CARNELL (Chief Minister and Treasurer) (10.36): I present the Subsidies (Liquor and Diesel) Bill 1998, together with its explanatory memorandum.

Title read by Clerk.

MS CARNELL: I move:

That this Bill be agreed to in principle.

Mr Speaker, the Subsidies (Liquor and Diesel) Bill 1998 provides a legislative framework for the payment of subsidies. This will ensure that consumers of low-alcohol products and pensioners and primary producers using diesel fuel continue to pay lower taxes on these products. Prior to August 1997 the ACT, under its business franchise legislation, imposed licence fees on the wholesaling of liquor, tobacco, and petrol and diesel products in the Territory. To encourage the shift in consumption to low-alcohol products - that is, beer and wine with an alcohol content of less than 3.5 per cent - the ACT imposed no licence fees on these products. This compares with a 13 per cent fee on the value of full-strength products. In relation to diesel, Mr Speaker, the ACT provided an exemption from licence fees payable on diesel sold to pensioners for the purpose of home heating, and to primary producers in respect of diesel fuel used in their primary production activities. This was achieved by means of a diesel exemption certificate scheme, saving these persons 7.55c per litre on diesel fuel they purchased.

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