❓ Hon Robin Chapple questions the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection regarding business registration fees, expressing concern about potential financial burdens on small businesses. The Minister intends to review the fee structure, citing concerns about increased re-registration rates due to the absence of renewal fees.
AnsweredQoN 1221Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
BUSINESS REGISTRATIONS, NEW AND RENEWAL FEES
(1) Does the minister intend to review the Business Names Amendments Regulations (No 2) 2001 and the Business Names Regulations Amendments (No 3) 2001 to establish that no impost or taxation will be placed on business registrations and thereby the small business community? (2) If not, why not? (3) Will the Government either retain the initial registration fee and not charge for renewals, or modify both fees to have fees on a sliding scale between new and renewal? Will it reduce both fees to the level of, for example, $50 for a new registration and $20 for renewal of an existing registration? (4) If not, why not? Hon TOM STEPHENS
(1) Does the minister intend to review the Business Names Amendments Regulations (No 2) 2001 and the Business Names Regulations Amendments (No 3) 2001 to establish that no impost or taxation will be placed on business registrations and thereby the small business community? (2) If not, why not? (3) Will the Government either retain the initial registration fee and not charge for renewals, or modify both fees to have fees on a sliding scale between new and renewal? Will it reduce both fees to the level of, for example, $50 for a new registration and $20 for renewal of an existing registration? (4) If not, why not? Hon TOM STEPHENS
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(4) The minister has advised me that he intends to review the fee structures relating to the lodgment and renewal of business names registrations. He has not yet determined the preferred approach, but he is concerned that the absence of a renewal fee has meant a marked increase in the re-registration rate. This has happened because there is no disincentive for ceased businesses not to retain their name. Additional names on the register make it harder for legitimate new businesses to access the name of their choice.
(2) If not, why not? (3) Will the Government either retain the initial registration fee and not charge for renewals, or modify both fees to have fees on a sliding scale between new and renewal? Will it reduce both fees to the level of, for example, $50 for a new registration and $20 for renewal of an existing registration? (4) If not, why not? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(4) The minister has advised me that he intends to review the fee structures relating to the lodgment and renewal of business names registrations. He has not yet determined the preferred approach, but he is concerned that the absence of a renewal fee has meant a marked increase in the re-registration rate. This has happened because there is no disincentive for ceased businesses not to retain their name. Additional names on the register make it harder for legitimate new businesses to access the name of their choice.
(3) Will the Government either retain the initial registration fee and not charge for renewals, or modify both fees to have fees on a sliding scale between new and renewal? Will it reduce both fees to the level of, for example, $50 for a new registration and $20 for renewal of an existing registration? (4) If not, why not? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(4) The minister has advised me that he intends to review the fee structures relating to the lodgment and renewal of business names registrations. He has not yet determined the preferred approach, but he is concerned that the absence of a renewal fee has meant a marked increase in the re-registration rate. This has happened because there is no disincentive for ceased businesses not to retain their name. Additional names on the register make it harder for legitimate new businesses to access the name of their choice.
(4) If not, why not? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(4) The minister has advised me that he intends to review the fee structures relating to the lodgment and renewal of business names registrations. He has not yet determined the preferred approach, but he is concerned that the absence of a renewal fee has meant a marked increase in the re-registration rate. This has happened because there is no disincentive for ceased businesses not to retain their name. Additional names on the register make it harder for legitimate new businesses to access the name of their choice.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(4) The minister has advised me that he intends to review the fee structures relating to the lodgment and renewal of business names registrations. He has not yet determined the preferred approach, but he is concerned that the absence of a renewal fee has meant a marked increase in the re-registration rate. This has happened because there is no disincentive for ceased businesses not to retain their name. Additional names on the register make it harder for legitimate new businesses to access the name of their choice.
(1)-(4) The minister has advised me that he intends to review the fee structures relating to the lodgment and renewal of business names registrations. He has not yet determined the preferred approach, but he is concerned that the absence of a renewal fee has meant a marked increase in the re-registration rate. This has happened because there is no disincentive for ceased businesses not to retain their name. Additional names on the register make it harder for legitimate new businesses to access the name of their choice.
(2) If not, why not? (3) Will the Government either retain the initial registration fee and not charge for renewals, or modify both fees to have fees on a sliding scale between new and renewal? Will it reduce both fees to the level of, for example, $50 for a new registration and $20 for renewal of an existing registration? (4) If not, why not? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(4) The minister has advised me that he intends to review the fee structures relating to the lodgment and renewal of business names registrations. He has not yet determined the preferred approach, but he is concerned that the absence of a renewal fee has meant a marked increase in the re-registration rate. This has happened because there is no disincentive for ceased businesses not to retain their name. Additional names on the register make it harder for legitimate new businesses to access the name of their choice.
(3) Will the Government either retain the initial registration fee and not charge for renewals, or modify both fees to have fees on a sliding scale between new and renewal? Will it reduce both fees to the level of, for example, $50 for a new registration and $20 for renewal of an existing registration? (4) If not, why not? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(4) The minister has advised me that he intends to review the fee structures relating to the lodgment and renewal of business names registrations. He has not yet determined the preferred approach, but he is concerned that the absence of a renewal fee has meant a marked increase in the re-registration rate. This has happened because there is no disincentive for ceased businesses not to retain their name. Additional names on the register make it harder for legitimate new businesses to access the name of their choice.
(4) If not, why not? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(4) The minister has advised me that he intends to review the fee structures relating to the lodgment and renewal of business names registrations. He has not yet determined the preferred approach, but he is concerned that the absence of a renewal fee has meant a marked increase in the re-registration rate. This has happened because there is no disincentive for ceased businesses not to retain their name. Additional names on the register make it harder for legitimate new businesses to access the name of their choice.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(4) The minister has advised me that he intends to review the fee structures relating to the lodgment and renewal of business names registrations. He has not yet determined the preferred approach, but he is concerned that the absence of a renewal fee has meant a marked increase in the re-registration rate. This has happened because there is no disincentive for ceased businesses not to retain their name. Additional names on the register make it harder for legitimate new businesses to access the name of their choice.
(1)-(4) The minister has advised me that he intends to review the fee structures relating to the lodgment and renewal of business names registrations. He has not yet determined the preferred approach, but he is concerned that the absence of a renewal fee has meant a marked increase in the re-registration rate. This has happened because there is no disincentive for ceased businesses not to retain their name. Additional names on the register make it harder for legitimate new businesses to access the name of their choice.
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