Page 2237 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 9 May 2012
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Challenges like this make it all the more important for us to have an efficient tax system. The Quinlan report recommends that these inefficient taxes should be reformed. The report is also conscious that reform must take time. Therefore, the report recommends that there has to be an appropriate transition period. The review is not simply about taxes and levying more taxes, however. It is about levying tax differently and it is about making sure that the transition is managed appropriately.
The report also recommends that national activity be progressed on other taxation reforms. In particular, it recommends that we engage the commonwealth government as part of the tax reform. The commonwealth government is obviously a significant part of our economy, but it is exempt from direct taxation, such as payroll tax. Therefore, a discussion with the commonwealth government is important.
We should ensure that the ACT does not lose out because we undertake reform. That would send a very poor message indeed. It would be very unfair if the ACT undertook reform of its tax system and then the benefits were distributed away as part of the GST system. At a time when the GST process is under attack from states such as Western Australia, who have benefited in the process in years gone by, it is important that proposals protect our revenue base.
The review also demonstrates that it is simply not about taxes and figures and payments. We have a high standard of living in the ACT and the government provides high quality services. However, the report recognises that there are some in our community who are not so well off. That is one reason why having a former Treasurer such as Mr Quinlan, who was a significant Labor Treasurer, has led to such a report. The report contains a number of recommendations in relation to concessions. Concessions are important because they recognise that there are barriers for some residents to take full advantage of all that our great city has to offer.
The ACT government has a range of concessions available to assist low income households with many of the costs they face. The concessions mentioned in the report are the homebuyer concession scheme, the pensioner duty concession scheme and the duty deferral scheme. These schemes will assist Canberrans to transition between different types of property and housing tenure. This is important in supporting choices and opportunities for lower income earners and older Canberrans.
The pensioner duty concession scheme in particular allows older Canberrans to access accommodation suitable to their needs. I am pleased to note that the report contains suggestions that there should be additional measures in place to support ageing and measures to allow older Canberrans more choice in their housing options. There are recommendations to cushion the impact of reform through the rebate system and to investigate the extension of rates deferral.
I would like to mention a few things about the gaming tax and the casino proposal. The report recognises that gaming taxes could be increased. However, it would not be fair to raise taxes on the club sector when they are in the middle of the national pokies trial, as members would know.
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