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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 5 Hansard (27 August) . . Page.. 1469 ..

MR MOORE (continuing):

There is a concern we have right across the health system. I became aware of a patient with an Alzheimer's problem who had been in the hospital since early April and was still in an acute bed. Two places were found for this person in appropriate nursing homes and the family said no, they did not want the person to go to those places because they did not like the places in the nursing homes. I have asked the hospital to review this process because it seems to me that if a family decide they do not like a particular place the community ought not to bear the cost of an acute bed and exclude other people from that acute bed when other options are available. Part of the problem associated with this of course is the relationship between the Commonwealth and the Territory and who pays for which service, but we are trying to work our way through those things.

MR RUGENDYKE: I have another question about betterment tax. I have got a fair swag of them but nowhere near as many as on Hall, I can guarantee you, Minister.

Mr Moore: I am glad the crossbenchers are still doing work on change of use charges.

MR RUGENDYKE: Yes, up to date. My question is to the Urban Services Minister, Mr Smyth, and it relates to the change of use charge. In regard to that charge, to enable Casino Canberra to have a licensed club on its premises, the original estimate last year was $75,000. Is it unusual for a change of use charge to be reduced by more than half of the original ballpark estimate?

MR SMYTH: Mr Speaker, I thank the member for his question. As I think I explained to Mr Rugendyke in a response to him, the way in which the change of use charge on this site was originally calculated was changed. A new formula came in quite close to the date that the decision was made. Originally, yes, it was estimated that, I think, $75,000 would be the change of use charge. It was then processed under the new rule at $30,000. That is a valuation that the AVO has made.

MR RUGENDYKE: I ask a supplementary question. Minister, could you let us know how many other change of use charges were reduced by more than half the original ballpark estimate in the period 1997-98?

MR SMYTH: Certainly, I would be delighted to find out. I am unaware but I will find out for you whether there were any more in that period.

Ms Carnell: I ask that all further questions be placed on the notice paper. I have a number of answers to questions that were asked during this week, Mr Speaker.

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