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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 5 Hansard (4 May) . . Page.. 1322 ..
MS CARNELL: I move:
That this Bill be agreed to in principle.
Mr Speaker, this Bill provides omnibus legislation to implement a number of the Government's revenue initiatives announced in the 1999-2000 budget speech by amending, where appropriate, the Gaming Machine Act 1987, the Lotteries Act 1964 and the Taxation Administration Act 1999.
Essentially, the Bill will provide for the following fees and charges: Changes to ACT gaming machine tax rates; gaming machine licence application fee; gaming machine licence variation fee; gaming machine repairer certificates fee; interclub link jackpot permits variation fee; lottery permit variation fee; and objection fees.
Mr Speaker, in relation to the ACT gaming taxes, a number of small clubs will now pay no tax, and more than 30 per cent of Canberra clubs, those with annual gross gaming revenue above $600,000, will still only pay a 25 per cent tax rate in the ACT, which includes the one per cent levy to the Academy of Sport. Even with the new increases, the top tax rate in the ACT compares favourably with other jurisdictions - 24.75 per cent to 26.25 per cent tax rate in New South Wales, 33.33 per cent in Victoria, and through to 45 per cent in South Australia and Queensland. In addition, Mr Speaker, in New South Wales and many other jurisdictions, licensed clubs also need to compete with the casino, hotels and taverns for revenue from gaming machines.
Mr Speaker, in regard to the other matters dealt with by this Bill, the fees and charges adopted are based on the principles endorsed by this Government, and that is cost recovery for the service provided, similar levies for similar services in both the private and public sectors, and price indexation in line with expected movements in the CPI. Mr Speaker, I commend the Bill to the Assembly.
Debate (on motion by Mr Quinlan ) adjourned.
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
MR STANHOPE (Leader of the Opposition) (3.48): Mr Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to reflect briefly on the twenty-first birthday of the women's and girls jogalong, if I may.
MR SPEAKER: It is your adjournment debate.
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