Page 4022 - Week 13 - Thursday, 6 December 2007

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The final concept introduced by the bill is the use of a designated group employer to claim the appropriate payroll tax-free threshold for the entire group. No other group member will be able to claim a deduction and they will instead pay at the flat rate of tax. If the group does not nominate a designated group employer, the commissioner may do so on behalf of the group.

The introduction of this concept requires amendment to the current formulas used to calculate payroll tax. So that all formulas in the act are similar, the bill introduces an equivalent of all of the Victorian formulas used to calculate payroll tax for individual employers, groups with a designated group employer, and groups without a designated group employer.

Mr Speaker, I am delighted that the government has been part of this national project that demonstrates tax reform in the national interest and provides benefits for employers who operate across jurisdictions. If investigations show that the ACT and ACT employers would benefit from further reform, I hope to be in a position to present another bill to the Assembly in the coming year. Mr Speaker, I commend the Payroll Tax Amendment Bill 2007 to the Assembly.

Debate (on motion by Mr Mulcahy) adjourned to the next sitting.

Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Bill 2007

Ms Gallagher, pursuant to notice, presented the bill, its explanatory statement and a Human Rights Act compatibility statement.

Title read by Clerk.

MS GALLAGHER (Molonglo—Minister for Health, Minister for Children and Young People, Minister for Disability and Community Services, Minister for Women) (10.42): I move:

That this bill be agreed to in principle.

MS GALLAGHER: Mr Speaker, I am delighted to introduce today the Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Bill 2007. This bill proposes to reform the legislation regulating the supply of medicines, poisons and therapeutic goods in the territory. The Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Bill 2007 seeks to consolidate and clarify the provisions of a number of acts. As a result, it seeks to repeal the Poisons Act 1933, the Poisons and Drugs Act 1978 and the Public Health (Prohibited Drugs) Act 1957. It also proposes to make amendments to the Drugs of Dependence Act 1989, Health Professionals Act 2004 and Public Health Act 1997. Each of these acts regulate one or more aspects of the control of medicines, poisons and therapeutic goods.

The bill is required because much of the current legislation, such as the acts mentioned applicable to medicines and poisons, is out of date, inconsistent or unclear on key issues. For example, the Poisons Act regulates the medicines that are only available on a prescription and most poisons. However, the Poisons and Drugs Act


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