❓ Opposition questions Treasurer about stamp duty on replacement reinsurance policies after the HIH collapse, alleging 'double-dipping'. Treasurer deflects, highlighting HIH's debt to WA and Liberal Party donations.
AnsweredQoN 50Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HIH INSURANCE, REINSURANCE POLICIES STAMP DUTY
Mr Speaker - Mr Ripper: At last we are getting a question from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr BARRON-SULLIVAN: The Government will hear lots from me shortly. Mr Ripper: We thought you had been gagged. Mr BARRON-SULLIVAN: Just to make the Deputy Premier and Treasurer’s day, the question is for him. (1) Does the Treasurer understand that stamp duty is being charged on the full amount of reinsurance policies taken out in the wake of the HIH Insurance collapse, including the period during which each replacement policy overlaps the policy previously undertaken by HIH? (2) Does the Treasurer concede that his Government has been double-dipping? (3) Will the Treasurer give a firm commitment here and now to give stamp duty relief to affected policyholders, as his counterpart in New South Wales has already done, and not just look at it or have a review? Mr RIPPER
Mr Speaker - Mr Ripper: At last we are getting a question from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr BARRON-SULLIVAN: The Government will hear lots from me shortly. Mr Ripper: We thought you had been gagged. Mr BARRON-SULLIVAN: Just to make the Deputy Premier and Treasurer’s day, the question is for him. (1) Does the Treasurer understand that stamp duty is being charged on the full amount of reinsurance policies taken out in the wake of the HIH Insurance collapse, including the period during which each replacement policy overlaps the policy previously undertaken by HIH? (2) Does the Treasurer concede that his Government has been double-dipping? (3) Will the Treasurer give a firm commitment here and now to give stamp duty relief to affected policyholders, as his counterpart in New South Wales has already done, and not just look at it or have a review? Mr RIPPER
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) There is an issue with regard to people required to take out new policies following the collapse of HIH, the company which so generously funded the Liberal Party of Australia, including, no doubt, the Western Australian division. The taxpayers of Western Australia have been victims of the HIH collapse because HIH owed the Western Australian Government about $700 000 in stamp duty. Presumably that has gone south like the rest of the amounts that HIH owes. Of course, if the Liberal Party wanted to return the $800 000 that it received from HIH, perhaps it could help us with that stamp duty problem. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition has raised an issue which is before the Government and will be examined by it. Mrs Edwardes: Another review. Mr RIPPER: No; we will examine that in the normal processes of government. However, on the other side of the ledger, HIH did not pay stamp duty that it should have paid, so the taxpayers are already $700 000 down as a result. Secondly, the situation is a bit different from that in New South Wales because of the measures under the workers compensation system for dealing with those claims. I understand that unlike in New South Wales, people are not required to take out new policies. Thirdly, I introduced a Bill this morning to provide relief for stamp duty on workers compensation insurance premiums. Therefore, the Government is addressing the general issue of stamp duty costs.
Mr Ripper: At last we are getting a question from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr BARRON-SULLIVAN: The Government will hear lots from me shortly. Mr Ripper: We thought you had been gagged. Mr BARRON-SULLIVAN: Just to make the Deputy Premier and Treasurer’s day, the question is for him. (1) Does the Treasurer understand that stamp duty is being charged on the full amount of reinsurance policies taken out in the wake of the HIH Insurance collapse, including the period during which each replacement policy overlaps the policy previously undertaken by HIH? (2) Does the Treasurer concede that his Government has been double-dipping? (3) Will the Treasurer give a firm commitment here and now to give stamp duty relief to affected policyholders, as his counterpart in New South Wales has already done, and not just look at it or have a review? Mr RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) There is an issue with regard to people required to take out new policies following the collapse of HIH, the company which so generously funded the Liberal Party of Australia, including, no doubt, the Western Australian division. The taxpayers of Western Australia have been victims of the HIH collapse because HIH owed the Western Australian Government about $700 000 in stamp duty. Presumably that has gone south like the rest of the amounts that HIH owes. Of course, if the Liberal Party wanted to return the $800 000 that it received from HIH, perhaps it could help us with that stamp duty problem. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition has raised an issue which is before the Government and will be examined by it. Mrs Edwardes: Another review. Mr RIPPER: No; we will examine that in the normal processes of government. However, on the other side of the ledger, HIH did not pay stamp duty that it should have paid, so the taxpayers are already $700 000 down as a result. Secondly, the situation is a bit different from that in New South Wales because of the measures under the workers compensation system for dealing with those claims. I understand that unlike in New South Wales, people are not required to take out new policies. Thirdly, I introduced a Bill this morning to provide relief for stamp duty on workers compensation insurance premiums. Therefore, the Government is addressing the general issue of stamp duty costs.
Mr BARRON-SULLIVAN: The Government will hear lots from me shortly. Mr Ripper: We thought you had been gagged. Mr BARRON-SULLIVAN: Just to make the Deputy Premier and Treasurer’s day, the question is for him. (1) Does the Treasurer understand that stamp duty is being charged on the full amount of reinsurance policies taken out in the wake of the HIH Insurance collapse, including the period during which each replacement policy overlaps the policy previously undertaken by HIH? (2) Does the Treasurer concede that his Government has been double-dipping? (3) Will the Treasurer give a firm commitment here and now to give stamp duty relief to affected policyholders, as his counterpart in New South Wales has already done, and not just look at it or have a review? Mr RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) There is an issue with regard to people required to take out new policies following the collapse of HIH, the company which so generously funded the Liberal Party of Australia, including, no doubt, the Western Australian division. The taxpayers of Western Australia have been victims of the HIH collapse because HIH owed the Western Australian Government about $700 000 in stamp duty. Presumably that has gone south like the rest of the amounts that HIH owes. Of course, if the Liberal Party wanted to return the $800 000 that it received from HIH, perhaps it could help us with that stamp duty problem. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition has raised an issue which is before the Government and will be examined by it. Mrs Edwardes: Another review. Mr RIPPER: No; we will examine that in the normal processes of government. However, on the other side of the ledger, HIH did not pay stamp duty that it should have paid, so the taxpayers are already $700 000 down as a result. Secondly, the situation is a bit different from that in New South Wales because of the measures under the workers compensation system for dealing with those claims. I understand that unlike in New South Wales, people are not required to take out new policies. Thirdly, I introduced a Bill this morning to provide relief for stamp duty on workers compensation insurance premiums. Therefore, the Government is addressing the general issue of stamp duty costs.
Mr Ripper: We thought you had been gagged. Mr BARRON-SULLIVAN: Just to make the Deputy Premier and Treasurer’s day, the question is for him. (1) Does the Treasurer understand that stamp duty is being charged on the full amount of reinsurance policies taken out in the wake of the HIH Insurance collapse, including the period during which each replacement policy overlaps the policy previously undertaken by HIH? (2) Does the Treasurer concede that his Government has been double-dipping? (3) Will the Treasurer give a firm commitment here and now to give stamp duty relief to affected policyholders, as his counterpart in New South Wales has already done, and not just look at it or have a review? Mr RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) There is an issue with regard to people required to take out new policies following the collapse of HIH, the company which so generously funded the Liberal Party of Australia, including, no doubt, the Western Australian division. The taxpayers of Western Australia have been victims of the HIH collapse because HIH owed the Western Australian Government about $700 000 in stamp duty. Presumably that has gone south like the rest of the amounts that HIH owes. Of course, if the Liberal Party wanted to return the $800 000 that it received from HIH, perhaps it could help us with that stamp duty problem. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition has raised an issue which is before the Government and will be examined by it. Mrs Edwardes: Another review. Mr RIPPER: No; we will examine that in the normal processes of government. However, on the other side of the ledger, HIH did not pay stamp duty that it should have paid, so the taxpayers are already $700 000 down as a result. Secondly, the situation is a bit different from that in New South Wales because of the measures under the workers compensation system for dealing with those claims. I understand that unlike in New South Wales, people are not required to take out new policies. Thirdly, I introduced a Bill this morning to provide relief for stamp duty on workers compensation insurance premiums. Therefore, the Government is addressing the general issue of stamp duty costs.
Mr BARRON-SULLIVAN: Just to make the Deputy Premier and Treasurer’s day, the question is for him. (1) Does the Treasurer understand that stamp duty is being charged on the full amount of reinsurance policies taken out in the wake of the HIH Insurance collapse, including the period during which each replacement policy overlaps the policy previously undertaken by HIH? (2) Does the Treasurer concede that his Government has been double-dipping? (3) Will the Treasurer give a firm commitment here and now to give stamp duty relief to affected policyholders, as his counterpart in New South Wales has already done, and not just look at it or have a review? Mr RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) There is an issue with regard to people required to take out new policies following the collapse of HIH, the company which so generously funded the Liberal Party of Australia, including, no doubt, the Western Australian division. The taxpayers of Western Australia have been victims of the HIH collapse because HIH owed the Western Australian Government about $700 000 in stamp duty. Presumably that has gone south like the rest of the amounts that HIH owes. Of course, if the Liberal Party wanted to return the $800 000 that it received from HIH, perhaps it could help us with that stamp duty problem. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition has raised an issue which is before the Government and will be examined by it. Mrs Edwardes: Another review. Mr RIPPER: No; we will examine that in the normal processes of government. However, on the other side of the ledger, HIH did not pay stamp duty that it should have paid, so the taxpayers are already $700 000 down as a result. Secondly, the situation is a bit different from that in New South Wales because of the measures under the workers compensation system for dealing with those claims. I understand that unlike in New South Wales, people are not required to take out new policies. Thirdly, I introduced a Bill this morning to provide relief for stamp duty on workers compensation insurance premiums. Therefore, the Government is addressing the general issue of stamp duty costs.
(1) Does the Treasurer understand that stamp duty is being charged on the full amount of reinsurance policies taken out in the wake of the HIH Insurance collapse, including the period during which each replacement policy overlaps the policy previously undertaken by HIH? (2) Does the Treasurer concede that his Government has been double-dipping? (3) Will the Treasurer give a firm commitment here and now to give stamp duty relief to affected policyholders, as his counterpart in New South Wales has already done, and not just look at it or have a review? Mr RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) There is an issue with regard to people required to take out new policies following the collapse of HIH, the company which so generously funded the Liberal Party of Australia, including, no doubt, the Western Australian division. The taxpayers of Western Australia have been victims of the HIH collapse because HIH owed the Western Australian Government about $700 000 in stamp duty. Presumably that has gone south like the rest of the amounts that HIH owes. Of course, if the Liberal Party wanted to return the $800 000 that it received from HIH, perhaps it could help us with that stamp duty problem. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition has raised an issue which is before the Government and will be examined by it. Mrs Edwardes: Another review. Mr RIPPER: No; we will examine that in the normal processes of government. However, on the other side of the ledger, HIH did not pay stamp duty that it should have paid, so the taxpayers are already $700 000 down as a result. Secondly, the situation is a bit different from that in New South Wales because of the measures under the workers compensation system for dealing with those claims. I understand that unlike in New South Wales, people are not required to take out new policies. Thirdly, I introduced a Bill this morning to provide relief for stamp duty on workers compensation insurance premiums. Therefore, the Government is addressing the general issue of stamp duty costs.
(2) Does the Treasurer concede that his Government has been double-dipping? (3) Will the Treasurer give a firm commitment here and now to give stamp duty relief to affected policyholders, as his counterpart in New South Wales has already done, and not just look at it or have a review? Mr RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) There is an issue with regard to people required to take out new policies following the collapse of HIH, the company which so generously funded the Liberal Party of Australia, including, no doubt, the Western Australian division. The taxpayers of Western Australia have been victims of the HIH collapse because HIH owed the Western Australian Government about $700 000 in stamp duty. Presumably that has gone south like the rest of the amounts that HIH owes. Of course, if the Liberal Party wanted to return the $800 000 that it received from HIH, perhaps it could help us with that stamp duty problem. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition has raised an issue which is before the Government and will be examined by it. Mrs Edwardes: Another review. Mr RIPPER: No; we will examine that in the normal processes of government. However, on the other side of the ledger, HIH did not pay stamp duty that it should have paid, so the taxpayers are already $700 000 down as a result. Secondly, the situation is a bit different from that in New South Wales because of the measures under the workers compensation system for dealing with those claims. I understand that unlike in New South Wales, people are not required to take out new policies. Thirdly, I introduced a Bill this morning to provide relief for stamp duty on workers compensation insurance premiums. Therefore, the Government is addressing the general issue of stamp duty costs.
(3) Will the Treasurer give a firm commitment here and now to give stamp duty relief to affected policyholders, as his counterpart in New South Wales has already done, and not just look at it or have a review? Mr RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) There is an issue with regard to people required to take out new policies following the collapse of HIH, the company which so generously funded the Liberal Party of Australia, including, no doubt, the Western Australian division. The taxpayers of Western Australia have been victims of the HIH collapse because HIH owed the Western Australian Government about $700 000 in stamp duty. Presumably that has gone south like the rest of the amounts that HIH owes. Of course, if the Liberal Party wanted to return the $800 000 that it received from HIH, perhaps it could help us with that stamp duty problem. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition has raised an issue which is before the Government and will be examined by it. Mrs Edwardes: Another review. Mr RIPPER: No; we will examine that in the normal processes of government. However, on the other side of the ledger, HIH did not pay stamp duty that it should have paid, so the taxpayers are already $700 000 down as a result. Secondly, the situation is a bit different from that in New South Wales because of the measures under the workers compensation system for dealing with those claims. I understand that unlike in New South Wales, people are not required to take out new policies. Thirdly, I introduced a Bill this morning to provide relief for stamp duty on workers compensation insurance premiums. Therefore, the Government is addressing the general issue of stamp duty costs.
Mr RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) There is an issue with regard to people required to take out new policies following the collapse of HIH, the company which so generously funded the Liberal Party of Australia, including, no doubt, the Western Australian division. The taxpayers of Western Australia have been victims of the HIH collapse because HIH owed the Western Australian Government about $700 000 in stamp duty. Presumably that has gone south like the rest of the amounts that HIH owes. Of course, if the Liberal Party wanted to return the $800 000 that it received from HIH, perhaps it could help us with that stamp duty problem. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition has raised an issue which is before the Government and will be examined by it. Mrs Edwardes: Another review. Mr RIPPER: No; we will examine that in the normal processes of government. However, on the other side of the ledger, HIH did not pay stamp duty that it should have paid, so the taxpayers are already $700 000 down as a result. Secondly, the situation is a bit different from that in New South Wales because of the measures under the workers compensation system for dealing with those claims. I understand that unlike in New South Wales, people are not required to take out new policies. Thirdly, I introduced a Bill this morning to provide relief for stamp duty on workers compensation insurance premiums. Therefore, the Government is addressing the general issue of stamp duty costs.
(1)-(3) There is an issue with regard to people required to take out new policies following the collapse of HIH, the company which so generously funded the Liberal Party of Australia, including, no doubt, the Western Australian division. The taxpayers of Western Australia have been victims of the HIH collapse because HIH owed the Western Australian Government about $700 000 in stamp duty. Presumably that has gone south like the rest of the amounts that HIH owes. Of course, if the Liberal Party wanted to return the $800 000 that it received from HIH, perhaps it could help us with that stamp duty problem. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition has raised an issue which is before the Government and will be examined by it. Mrs Edwardes: Another review. Mr RIPPER: No; we will examine that in the normal processes of government. However, on the other side of the ledger, HIH did not pay stamp duty that it should have paid, so the taxpayers are already $700 000 down as a result. Secondly, the situation is a bit different from that in New South Wales because of the measures under the workers compensation system for dealing with those claims. I understand that unlike in New South Wales, people are not required to take out new policies. Thirdly, I introduced a Bill this morning to provide relief for stamp duty on workers compensation insurance premiums. Therefore, the Government is addressing the general issue of stamp duty costs.
Mr RIPPER: No; we will examine that in the normal processes of government. However, on the other side of the ledger, HIH did not pay stamp duty that it should have paid, so the taxpayers are already $700 000 down as a result. Secondly, the situation is a bit different from that in New South Wales because of the measures under the workers compensation system for dealing with those claims. I understand that unlike in New South Wales, people are not required to take out new policies. Thirdly, I introduced a Bill this morning to provide relief for stamp duty on workers compensation insurance premiums. Therefore, the Government is addressing the general issue of stamp duty costs.
Mr Ripper: At last we are getting a question from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr BARRON-SULLIVAN: The Government will hear lots from me shortly. Mr Ripper: We thought you had been gagged. Mr BARRON-SULLIVAN: Just to make the Deputy Premier and Treasurer’s day, the question is for him. (1) Does the Treasurer understand that stamp duty is being charged on the full amount of reinsurance policies taken out in the wake of the HIH Insurance collapse, including the period during which each replacement policy overlaps the policy previously undertaken by HIH? (2) Does the Treasurer concede that his Government has been double-dipping? (3) Will the Treasurer give a firm commitment here and now to give stamp duty relief to affected policyholders, as his counterpart in New South Wales has already done, and not just look at it or have a review? Mr RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) There is an issue with regard to people required to take out new policies following the collapse of HIH, the company which so generously funded the Liberal Party of Australia, including, no doubt, the Western Australian division. The taxpayers of Western Australia have been victims of the HIH collapse because HIH owed the Western Australian Government about $700 000 in stamp duty. Presumably that has gone south like the rest of the amounts that HIH owes. Of course, if the Liberal Party wanted to return the $800 000 that it received from HIH, perhaps it could help us with that stamp duty problem. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition has raised an issue which is before the Government and will be examined by it. Mrs Edwardes: Another review. Mr RIPPER: No; we will examine that in the normal processes of government. However, on the other side of the ledger, HIH did not pay stamp duty that it should have paid, so the taxpayers are already $700 000 down as a result. Secondly, the situation is a bit different from that in New South Wales because of the measures under the workers compensation system for dealing with those claims. I understand that unlike in New South Wales, people are not required to take out new policies. Thirdly, I introduced a Bill this morning to provide relief for stamp duty on workers compensation insurance premiums. Therefore, the Government is addressing the general issue of stamp duty costs.
Mr BARRON-SULLIVAN: The Government will hear lots from me shortly. Mr Ripper: We thought you had been gagged. Mr BARRON-SULLIVAN: Just to make the Deputy Premier and Treasurer’s day, the question is for him. (1) Does the Treasurer understand that stamp duty is being charged on the full amount of reinsurance policies taken out in the wake of the HIH Insurance collapse, including the period during which each replacement policy overlaps the policy previously undertaken by HIH? (2) Does the Treasurer concede that his Government has been double-dipping? (3) Will the Treasurer give a firm commitment here and now to give stamp duty relief to affected policyholders, as his counterpart in New South Wales has already done, and not just look at it or have a review? Mr RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) There is an issue with regard to people required to take out new policies following the collapse of HIH, the company which so generously funded the Liberal Party of Australia, including, no doubt, the Western Australian division. The taxpayers of Western Australia have been victims of the HIH collapse because HIH owed the Western Australian Government about $700 000 in stamp duty. Presumably that has gone south like the rest of the amounts that HIH owes. Of course, if the Liberal Party wanted to return the $800 000 that it received from HIH, perhaps it could help us with that stamp duty problem. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition has raised an issue which is before the Government and will be examined by it. Mrs Edwardes: Another review. Mr RIPPER: No; we will examine that in the normal processes of government. However, on the other side of the ledger, HIH did not pay stamp duty that it should have paid, so the taxpayers are already $700 000 down as a result. Secondly, the situation is a bit different from that in New South Wales because of the measures under the workers compensation system for dealing with those claims. I understand that unlike in New South Wales, people are not required to take out new policies. Thirdly, I introduced a Bill this morning to provide relief for stamp duty on workers compensation insurance premiums. Therefore, the Government is addressing the general issue of stamp duty costs.
Mr Ripper: We thought you had been gagged. Mr BARRON-SULLIVAN: Just to make the Deputy Premier and Treasurer’s day, the question is for him. (1) Does the Treasurer understand that stamp duty is being charged on the full amount of reinsurance policies taken out in the wake of the HIH Insurance collapse, including the period during which each replacement policy overlaps the policy previously undertaken by HIH? (2) Does the Treasurer concede that his Government has been double-dipping? (3) Will the Treasurer give a firm commitment here and now to give stamp duty relief to affected policyholders, as his counterpart in New South Wales has already done, and not just look at it or have a review? Mr RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) There is an issue with regard to people required to take out new policies following the collapse of HIH, the company which so generously funded the Liberal Party of Australia, including, no doubt, the Western Australian division. The taxpayers of Western Australia have been victims of the HIH collapse because HIH owed the Western Australian Government about $700 000 in stamp duty. Presumably that has gone south like the rest of the amounts that HIH owes. Of course, if the Liberal Party wanted to return the $800 000 that it received from HIH, perhaps it could help us with that stamp duty problem. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition has raised an issue which is before the Government and will be examined by it. Mrs Edwardes: Another review. Mr RIPPER: No; we will examine that in the normal processes of government. However, on the other side of the ledger, HIH did not pay stamp duty that it should have paid, so the taxpayers are already $700 000 down as a result. Secondly, the situation is a bit different from that in New South Wales because of the measures under the workers compensation system for dealing with those claims. I understand that unlike in New South Wales, people are not required to take out new policies. Thirdly, I introduced a Bill this morning to provide relief for stamp duty on workers compensation insurance premiums. Therefore, the Government is addressing the general issue of stamp duty costs.
Mr BARRON-SULLIVAN: Just to make the Deputy Premier and Treasurer’s day, the question is for him. (1) Does the Treasurer understand that stamp duty is being charged on the full amount of reinsurance policies taken out in the wake of the HIH Insurance collapse, including the period during which each replacement policy overlaps the policy previously undertaken by HIH? (2) Does the Treasurer concede that his Government has been double-dipping? (3) Will the Treasurer give a firm commitment here and now to give stamp duty relief to affected policyholders, as his counterpart in New South Wales has already done, and not just look at it or have a review? Mr RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) There is an issue with regard to people required to take out new policies following the collapse of HIH, the company which so generously funded the Liberal Party of Australia, including, no doubt, the Western Australian division. The taxpayers of Western Australia have been victims of the HIH collapse because HIH owed the Western Australian Government about $700 000 in stamp duty. Presumably that has gone south like the rest of the amounts that HIH owes. Of course, if the Liberal Party wanted to return the $800 000 that it received from HIH, perhaps it could help us with that stamp duty problem. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition has raised an issue which is before the Government and will be examined by it. Mrs Edwardes: Another review. Mr RIPPER: No; we will examine that in the normal processes of government. However, on the other side of the ledger, HIH did not pay stamp duty that it should have paid, so the taxpayers are already $700 000 down as a result. Secondly, the situation is a bit different from that in New South Wales because of the measures under the workers compensation system for dealing with those claims. I understand that unlike in New South Wales, people are not required to take out new policies. Thirdly, I introduced a Bill this morning to provide relief for stamp duty on workers compensation insurance premiums. Therefore, the Government is addressing the general issue of stamp duty costs.
(1) Does the Treasurer understand that stamp duty is being charged on the full amount of reinsurance policies taken out in the wake of the HIH Insurance collapse, including the period during which each replacement policy overlaps the policy previously undertaken by HIH? (2) Does the Treasurer concede that his Government has been double-dipping? (3) Will the Treasurer give a firm commitment here and now to give stamp duty relief to affected policyholders, as his counterpart in New South Wales has already done, and not just look at it or have a review? Mr RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) There is an issue with regard to people required to take out new policies following the collapse of HIH, the company which so generously funded the Liberal Party of Australia, including, no doubt, the Western Australian division. The taxpayers of Western Australia have been victims of the HIH collapse because HIH owed the Western Australian Government about $700 000 in stamp duty. Presumably that has gone south like the rest of the amounts that HIH owes. Of course, if the Liberal Party wanted to return the $800 000 that it received from HIH, perhaps it could help us with that stamp duty problem. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition has raised an issue which is before the Government and will be examined by it. Mrs Edwardes: Another review. Mr RIPPER: No; we will examine that in the normal processes of government. However, on the other side of the ledger, HIH did not pay stamp duty that it should have paid, so the taxpayers are already $700 000 down as a result. Secondly, the situation is a bit different from that in New South Wales because of the measures under the workers compensation system for dealing with those claims. I understand that unlike in New South Wales, people are not required to take out new policies. Thirdly, I introduced a Bill this morning to provide relief for stamp duty on workers compensation insurance premiums. Therefore, the Government is addressing the general issue of stamp duty costs.
(2) Does the Treasurer concede that his Government has been double-dipping? (3) Will the Treasurer give a firm commitment here and now to give stamp duty relief to affected policyholders, as his counterpart in New South Wales has already done, and not just look at it or have a review? Mr RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) There is an issue with regard to people required to take out new policies following the collapse of HIH, the company which so generously funded the Liberal Party of Australia, including, no doubt, the Western Australian division. The taxpayers of Western Australia have been victims of the HIH collapse because HIH owed the Western Australian Government about $700 000 in stamp duty. Presumably that has gone south like the rest of the amounts that HIH owes. Of course, if the Liberal Party wanted to return the $800 000 that it received from HIH, perhaps it could help us with that stamp duty problem. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition has raised an issue which is before the Government and will be examined by it. Mrs Edwardes: Another review. Mr RIPPER: No; we will examine that in the normal processes of government. However, on the other side of the ledger, HIH did not pay stamp duty that it should have paid, so the taxpayers are already $700 000 down as a result. Secondly, the situation is a bit different from that in New South Wales because of the measures under the workers compensation system for dealing with those claims. I understand that unlike in New South Wales, people are not required to take out new policies. Thirdly, I introduced a Bill this morning to provide relief for stamp duty on workers compensation insurance premiums. Therefore, the Government is addressing the general issue of stamp duty costs.
(3) Will the Treasurer give a firm commitment here and now to give stamp duty relief to affected policyholders, as his counterpart in New South Wales has already done, and not just look at it or have a review? Mr RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) There is an issue with regard to people required to take out new policies following the collapse of HIH, the company which so generously funded the Liberal Party of Australia, including, no doubt, the Western Australian division. The taxpayers of Western Australia have been victims of the HIH collapse because HIH owed the Western Australian Government about $700 000 in stamp duty. Presumably that has gone south like the rest of the amounts that HIH owes. Of course, if the Liberal Party wanted to return the $800 000 that it received from HIH, perhaps it could help us with that stamp duty problem. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition has raised an issue which is before the Government and will be examined by it. Mrs Edwardes: Another review. Mr RIPPER: No; we will examine that in the normal processes of government. However, on the other side of the ledger, HIH did not pay stamp duty that it should have paid, so the taxpayers are already $700 000 down as a result. Secondly, the situation is a bit different from that in New South Wales because of the measures under the workers compensation system for dealing with those claims. I understand that unlike in New South Wales, people are not required to take out new policies. Thirdly, I introduced a Bill this morning to provide relief for stamp duty on workers compensation insurance premiums. Therefore, the Government is addressing the general issue of stamp duty costs.
Mr RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) There is an issue with regard to people required to take out new policies following the collapse of HIH, the company which so generously funded the Liberal Party of Australia, including, no doubt, the Western Australian division. The taxpayers of Western Australia have been victims of the HIH collapse because HIH owed the Western Australian Government about $700 000 in stamp duty. Presumably that has gone south like the rest of the amounts that HIH owes. Of course, if the Liberal Party wanted to return the $800 000 that it received from HIH, perhaps it could help us with that stamp duty problem. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition has raised an issue which is before the Government and will be examined by it. Mrs Edwardes: Another review. Mr RIPPER: No; we will examine that in the normal processes of government. However, on the other side of the ledger, HIH did not pay stamp duty that it should have paid, so the taxpayers are already $700 000 down as a result. Secondly, the situation is a bit different from that in New South Wales because of the measures under the workers compensation system for dealing with those claims. I understand that unlike in New South Wales, people are not required to take out new policies. Thirdly, I introduced a Bill this morning to provide relief for stamp duty on workers compensation insurance premiums. Therefore, the Government is addressing the general issue of stamp duty costs.
(1)-(3) There is an issue with regard to people required to take out new policies following the collapse of HIH, the company which so generously funded the Liberal Party of Australia, including, no doubt, the Western Australian division. The taxpayers of Western Australia have been victims of the HIH collapse because HIH owed the Western Australian Government about $700 000 in stamp duty. Presumably that has gone south like the rest of the amounts that HIH owes. Of course, if the Liberal Party wanted to return the $800 000 that it received from HIH, perhaps it could help us with that stamp duty problem. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition has raised an issue which is before the Government and will be examined by it. Mrs Edwardes: Another review. Mr RIPPER: No; we will examine that in the normal processes of government. However, on the other side of the ledger, HIH did not pay stamp duty that it should have paid, so the taxpayers are already $700 000 down as a result. Secondly, the situation is a bit different from that in New South Wales because of the measures under the workers compensation system for dealing with those claims. I understand that unlike in New South Wales, people are not required to take out new policies. Thirdly, I introduced a Bill this morning to provide relief for stamp duty on workers compensation insurance premiums. Therefore, the Government is addressing the general issue of stamp duty costs.
Mr RIPPER: No; we will examine that in the normal processes of government. However, on the other side of the ledger, HIH did not pay stamp duty that it should have paid, so the taxpayers are already $700 000 down as a result. Secondly, the situation is a bit different from that in New South Wales because of the measures under the workers compensation system for dealing with those claims. I understand that unlike in New South Wales, people are not required to take out new policies. Thirdly, I introduced a Bill this morning to provide relief for stamp duty on workers compensation insurance premiums. Therefore, the Government is addressing the general issue of stamp duty costs.
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