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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 6 Hansard (25 May) . . Page.. 1928 ..

Ms Tucker: And it has been increased.

Mr Moore: And it has been increased since then, yes, but it is a relatively new system.

MR QUINLAN: It is not that new, Mr Moore. It is new to Mr Humphries, obviously, but it is not new to some.

Mr Humphries: It started at about $240.

MR QUINLAN: It started at $220.

Mr Humphries: If you insist. If you know the answer, why did you ask me?

MR QUINLAN: The answer I am looking for in the conclusion to this debate is the figure which the government aspires to reach.

Mr Humphries: We have told you-$320.

MR QUINLAN: No, you did not. You told us 40 per cent of gross revenue. The $320 is my calculation. Is that right?

Mr Humphries: Yes. We said that.

MR QUINLAN: I do not remember you saying that. I was going to come to that next. We do not favour the regressive increase of the fixed charge at the expense of the actual valuation factor, which shows a decrease of about 17 per cent this year. We have a regressive slant to the way rates are being applied.

An argument put forward to favour the flatly added tax is that it protects longstanding residents in particular areas against increasing land values as there is redevelopment around them and as city services approach them by sheer development and growth. I have had a quick look at this, and all I wish to put on record is that the ALP, in government, would seek to make the rate system a little more sophisticated to protect those people, while still maintaining progressive taxation. I have mentioned previously-

Ms Carnell: Good luck. That is all I can say.

Mr Humphries: Fat chance, I reckon.

MR QUINLAN: You only have to think laterally. It might be a new experience, but you could do that.

Mr Humphries: Tell us how you would do it. Explain how to do it.

MR QUINLAN: One suggestion I put on the table off the top of my head that I will have to field test or trial is an extended ownership rebate. You charge the higher rate, but if you have been there for a while or it is an undevelopment rebate-those sorts of rebates where you say that if you have been in an area for a long time-

Ms Carnell: I can show you the modelling we did on that and what happened.

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