Page 5347 - Week 12 - Thursday, 28 October 2010
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commercial and residential change of use charges. As members would know, rectification has no impact on the assessment of—
Mr Seselja: How much is ressie?
MR BARR: Hear me out. Rectification has no impact on the assessment of change of use charge for a commercial dwelling. All the change of use charge that was paid to September 2010 relating to residential development proposals was assessed before rectification. In other words, no change of use charge for residential development proposals assessed since rectification—that is, since 30 April 2010—has been paid. $2.8 million in charges have been paid since May 2010, but for the residential development these charges were assessed before rectification. So ambiguity lies in when the charge was assessed and then when it was paid.
I realise this is complicated but I will repeat it: no change of use charge for residential development proposals assessed since rectification has been paid. $2.8 million in charges have been paid since May 2010, but for residential development these charges were assessed before rectification.
Taxation—change of use
MR SESELJA (Molonglo—Leader of the Opposition) (5.49): What we have heard there is, I think, an acknowledgement that what we had was a misleading answer. I think we will need more detail from the minister, and I will put it on the record now. The answer to the question was very clear. It said none had been paid since May. The answer did not refer to when it was assessed, whether it was assessed before rectification or after rectification. It simply said that none had been paid for residential since May 2010.
Now we hear that $2.8 million has come in since June, some of that commercial. We have not been told how much is residential. The minister will have to go a fair bit further in clarifying what appears to be a misleading answer that was given to the Assembly. We look forward to getting more detail from the minister so that we can assess whether, indeed, the minister has misled the Assembly in his answer. It is clear, though, that some residential change of use was paid. We do not know how much. He said that there was none. The answer did not say anything about rectification. It did not say anything about whether or not it had been assessed before 1 May.
In light of what is an incomplete clarification there from the minister, we would seek further information as soon as possible. I think it should be provided to the Assembly before the next sitting so that we can assess exactly how much of an incorrect answer the minister has apparently given to the Assembly.
Community gardens
MS LE COUTEUR (Molonglo) (5.51): I rise tonight to talk briefly about one of my favourite subjects, gardens—and, to be precise, community gardens. I was very fortunate earlier this month to attend a conference about community gardens at the University of Canberra put on by the University of Canberra and COGS, the Canberra Organic Growers Society. It had over 100 participants from all around Australia.
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