Page 1022 - Week 04 - Thursday, 7 May 2020
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As members are aware, the government’s economic survival plan does include a range of actions to assist households and businesses through these difficult times. This includes a range of tax relief measures, through rebates and waivers and cashflow assistance and through deferrals with interest free periods. The amendments to the Taxation Administration Act 1999 provide the government with a greater set of tools to implement these measures flexibly under changing circumstances and consistently across tax lines. It is important that the government can act with clarity so that all parties know where they stand and what support they are eligible for.
The tools for the minister are directed at measures to provide tax relief, whether by exemption, rebate or deferral. The ministerial powers are to be implemented by disallowable instrument and are subject to a sunset clause. I note the comments of the Leader of the Opposition and can foreshadow government support for the amendment he intends to move.
The measures will apply for a two-year period during which no COVID-19 emergency declaration is in force. This is important because it will allow taxpayers to transition back to regular tax settings. An example of this is: the government has announced a deferral of rates instalment notices for both residential and commercial properties. This is to provide cashflow relief for a four-week period initially. To enable instalments to eventually transition back to their original, or what you could describe as regular, timing, greater flexibility is required in adjusting the period instalments so that we do not have too many bills arriving all at once. It would be a gradual transition over a period. Accordingly, the amendment to section 19 of the Rates Act allows the minister to specify alternative periods. These amendments to tax laws are an important part of the government’s continued efforts to support the community, and I thank Minister Ramsay in particular and his office and the public sector officials for their hard work on this bill.
I will say I had a wry smile on my face when Ms Lawder discussed proxy votes. I think anyone who has been in a political party will have had a discussion about the application of proxy votes at one point or another in their career. I understand the importance of the application of proxy votes and, indeed, how many could be issued at any one time. It was a good issue to raise and an important discussion to have, whether it is in an aged care or retirement village context or, indeed, in any other association.
I thank members for their contribution to the debate and foreshadow that we will be supporting Mr Coe’s amendment and that the Minister for Health, Ms Stephen-Smith, has circulated an amendment in relation to an aspect of the bill that, following discussion with the shadow minister, has been agreed to be omitted from this legislation.
Again, I think this is a good example of this place working effectively. I thank all members for their contributions in the lead-up to the debate today, by way of the earlier briefings and feedback, and the way in which this debate has been conducted. It is, again, a tribute to this place and I commend the legislation to the Assembly.
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