❓ Hon Peter Collier, on behalf of Hon Dr Steve Thomas, asks about the setting and collection of the Emergency Services Levy (ESL) for the 2020-21 financial year, particularly in light of the COVID-19 economic response and property revaluations. The Minister's response indicates a decision will be made before the end of June 2020.
AnsweredQoN 411Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS —
EMERGENCY SERVICES LEVY
411. Hon PETER COLLIER to
the minister representing the Minister for Emergency Services:
My question without notice is asked
on behalf of Hon Dr Steve Thomas, who is on urgent parliamentary business.
I refer to the government's
COVID-19 economic response, which included a freeze on the emergency services
levy, in a media release of 16 March 2020.
(1) Given that
the rate of the ESL is usually set in the budget process, on what date will the
ESL be set for the 2020–21 financial year?
(2) If this date
is beyond the end of the 2019–20 financial year, how are local
governments expected to manage the ESL collection process, which normally goes
out with the rates in July or August?
(3) Will the
revaluation of property values by the WA Valuer-General's office in
2020 impact on the collection of the ESL; and, if so, in what way?
(4) As part of
the policy announced in March, will individual property owner's ESL
charge be frozen, or will the overall amount collected under the ESL in Western
Australia be frozen?
(5) If each
individual property owner's ESL charge will not be frozen, what will be
the potential impact on individual properties?
EMERGENCY SERVICES LEVY
411. Hon PETER COLLIER to
the minister representing the Minister for Emergency Services:
My question without notice is asked
on behalf of Hon Dr Steve Thomas, who is on urgent parliamentary business.
I refer to the government's
COVID-19 economic response, which included a freeze on the emergency services
levy, in a media release of 16 March 2020.
(1) Given that
the rate of the ESL is usually set in the budget process, on what date will the
ESL be set for the 2020–21 financial year?
(2) If this date
is beyond the end of the 2019–20 financial year, how are local
governments expected to manage the ESL collection process, which normally goes
out with the rates in July or August?
(3) Will the
revaluation of property values by the WA Valuer-General's office in
2020 impact on the collection of the ESL; and, if so, in what way?
(4) As part of
the policy announced in March, will individual property owner's ESL
charge be frozen, or will the overall amount collected under the ESL in Western
Australia be frozen?
(5) If each
individual property owner's ESL charge will not be frozen, what will be
the potential impact on individual properties?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank Hon Dr Steve Thomas for some
notice of the question. The following answer has been provided to me by the
Minister for Emergency Services.
(1)–(5) The
declaration of ESL rates and operating parameters will be made before 31 May
2020, unless an alternative relevant day is
declared by the Minister for Emergency Services. If an alternative relevant day
is declared, this will be before 30
June 2020 to enable local governments to manage ESL collections on behalf of the state government, as part of their
ratings process. The government is currently considering options to deliver
this commitment, balanced with the need to fund our emergency services to
protect the community.
notice of the question. The following answer has been provided to me by the
Minister for Emergency Services.
(1)–(5) The
declaration of ESL rates and operating parameters will be made before 31 May
2020, unless an alternative relevant day is
declared by the Minister for Emergency Services. If an alternative relevant day
is declared, this will be before 30
June 2020 to enable local governments to manage ESL collections on behalf of the state government, as part of their
ratings process. The government is currently considering options to deliver
this commitment, balanced with the need to fund our emergency services to
protect the community.
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