Page 2731 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 6 June 2012
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impact of the budget on jobs, and I would ask that the minister get to the point of the question, which is about the impact on jobs of the lease variation tax.
MR SPEAKER: Members, we are well in the grey zone here, where the minister does need to address the topic but she does not need to address it in exactly the manner in which Mr Seselja seeks. So, minister, I would ask you to keep focused on the specific matter. I think you were getting there in your last section—
MS GALLAGHER: I was trying to.
MR SPEAKER: Use the remaining time to try and address the question, thank you.
MS GALLAGHER: I will. Thank you, Mr Speaker. The government believes that lease variation charge is a charge that is fair and reasonable, and in terms of our role in supporting jobs in the territory it is done through our infrastructure spend, through our employment, of 18,000 jobs across the territory and growing, and in terms of the urban improvement fund, the construction industry, the housing supply—they are all about jobs. But, yes, we believe that lease variation charge, a return to the community for development rights, is a legitimate policy. And what are you going to do, Mr Seselja? Are you going to abolish it? (Time expired.)
MR SMYTH: A supplementary, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Smyth, a supplementary.
MR SMYTH: Chief Minister, both the Property Council and now the Master Builders Association have said that your tax changes will drive away investment—
MR SPEAKER: Mr Smyth, let us frame it straight to a question, thank you.
MR SMYTH: Why have you delivered a tax policy that will drive away investment and jobs?
MS GALLAGHER: It will not. Indeed, as the Treasurer has outlined today, where there are legitimate issues around transition, the government is happy to look at those. But in terms of moving to a sustainable tax base, this budget starts that journey. It is the right thing to do at this time. In terms of our own capacity to invest in our community, to support jobs, we are doing that. This entire budget is focused on that. It is focused on our own employment through the public service; indeed it is focused through our infrastructure program on supporting construction.
The MBA have not raised concerns with me around driving away investment. Maybe there is an element in the budget that they do not like. Indeed the discussions I have had with them in the last 24 hours have been largely positive. They have been very happy to see us hold our nerve and invest in the construction industry, because that is jobs for their industry, and it has been very positive.
In relation to the Property Council, I understand that there are a couple of instances where they are concerned at one end, in one scale of stamp duty in the commercial
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