Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 6 Hansard (2 September) . . Page.. 1773 ..

MS CARNELL (continuing):

looking at increasing funding to these sorts of organisations. While we continue to have our funding reduced, there is no such capacity. If we have access to a growth tax, we have some capacity. That is one of the reasons I believe that it is in the best interests of the ACT and certainly in the best interests of Commonwealth-State relationships generally.

Community groups, if they are in the system and are input taxed, will get the credits, as I announced initially. If they are in the system charging GST, they will also be able to claim back credits under the system.

MS TUCKER: Thank you, Minister. It sounded like Mr Howard's election speech. My question was specifically about the costs on the community sector and the ACT Government's particular position on that. That was not satisfactorily answered.

MR SPEAKER: I am afraid there is nothing we can do about that.

MS TUCKER: No. I realise that but it is useful to make the point when a question is unanswered. My supplementary question is: Could you also advise us, if you are aware of this, whether the actual services purchased from community groups by the ACT Government would attract a GST?

MS CARNELL: Obviously, if that was the case, that would be supplemented. It is quite simple. Fairly obviously, if there ended up being a tax at that level, that would be the case. The reason that that is not clear at this stage at all is the fact that, as everybody should be aware, local government services such as rates, motor vehicle registration and those sorts of things are exempt from GST.

Ms Tucker: You are saying it is exempt, are you? That was my question.

MS CARNELL: Yes, there are some issues I am happy to take on notice if Ms Tucker is interested. The bottom line here is that if the ACT has access to growth revenue, which we do not have at the moment, then it has to be better for the ACT.

I ask that all further questions be placed on the notice paper.

MS CARNELL (Chief Minister and Treasurer): For the information of members and pursuant to sections 31A and 79 of the Public Sector Management Act 1994, I present copies of Schedule D contract variations made with Beverley Forner (extension), John Robertson (reassignment), Barbara Norman (reassignment), Jane Wolfe (reassignment), Allan Eggins (reassignment), Gordon Davidson (reassignment), Suzanne Birtles (reassignment), Sara Cronan (extension), Glen Gaskill (variation to fixed-term contract - extended).

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .