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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 1 Hansard (15 February) . . Page.. 125 ..

MS CARNELL (Chief Minister): Mr Speaker, for the information of members, I present the Government's autumn 2000 legislative program, and ask for leave to make a short statement.

Leave granted.

MS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, I am pleased to present the Government's legislative program for the autumn 2000 sitting period. Mr Speaker, the core of this legislative program lies in financial and business legislation. This Government, as demonstrated by its legislative program, proudly continues to build on its commitment to responsible management of the Territory and administrative reform. I would like to touch briefly on some of the key Bills.

The new budget process, currently being trialled, attests to our commitment to making our parliamentary system as efficient and as responsive as possible. The level of scrutiny of government processes in this trial is a great improvement over preceding years. In this context, the schedules to the Appropriation Bill will be the subject of extensive consultation with all members of the Legislative Assembly before the Bill is tabled for debate.

Two Bills will be introduced during the sittings to amend the Rates and Land Tax Act 1926. The first Bill will provide the new rating factors for 2000-2001. The second Bill will remove the commissioner's discretionary power and prescribe the apportionment of unimproved value for the calculation of land tax on residential properties with multiple dwellings that are rented. The formula will be included in the legislation to provide certainty to taxpayers.

Our commitment to national tax reform will continue, particularly with the introduction of legislation relating to the implementation of the goods and services tax. As part of the intergovernmental agreement on the reform of Commonwealth-State financial arrangements, adjustments will be made to take account of the imposition of the GST on gambling operators through the amendment of various gambling legislation. This will result in an overall reduction in gambling taxes. In addition to this legislation, a Bill will be introduced to cease financial institutions duty and duties on quoted marketable securities from 1 July 2001, and adjust current subsidies on diesel fuel and liquor products, introduced in 1998 under the safety net arrangements with the Commonwealth. A number of Acts will be affected by these adjustments.

The Government will also introduce the First Home Buyers Scheme Bill, which will legislate and regulate administration of the first home buyers scheme. This scheme is a national tax reform initiative for eligible first home buyers, to offset costs associated with the introduction of the GST on 1 July 2000. Some issues to be canvassed in the GST-related legislation are yet to be finalised as the Territory awaits determination on these issues by the Federal Treasurer.

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