❓ Opposition questions the Treasurer regarding commitments made about land tax aggregation changes following significant public outcry over recent increases. The Treasurer acknowledges the concerns and reiterates a commitment to review the aggregation issue.
AnsweredQoN 290Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
LAND TAX —
INCREASES
290. Mr B.S. WYATT to the
Treasurer:
I refer to the significant outrage over the Treasurer's
three increases in land tax being communicated by the business community and
landowners.
(1) Did the
Treasurer give commitments to anyone that he would make any changes to the land
tax aggregation contained in this year's budget?
(2) If not,
why are some of his parliamentary colleagues telling people outside Parliament
that that is indeed the case?
INCREASES
290. Mr B.S. WYATT to the
Treasurer:
I refer to the significant outrage over the Treasurer's
three increases in land tax being communicated by the business community and
landowners.
(1) Did the
Treasurer give commitments to anyone that he would make any changes to the land
tax aggregation contained in this year's budget?
(2) If not,
why are some of his parliamentary colleagues telling people outside Parliament
that that is indeed the case?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2)
If the member had listened to the budget speech, he would have heard what I said:
going forward we will look at the aggregation issue and make decisions.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Dr M.D. NAHAN :
That is the commitment we made and that is what we have done. My colleagues are
out there in the community and, of course, a large number of private investors
vote for the Liberal Party. They have had increases in their land tax and they
are expressing concern about it; that is a statement of fact. My colleagues are
listening to them, as they should and as they do. They are reiterating to them
carefully the justification—the reason that we increased the land tax—and
also —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Dr M.D. NAHAN :
They are bringing feedback to us.
Several members interjected.
Dr M.D. NAHAN : I am
not running from the fact that we have increased land tax; it is a reality. It
was the appropriate thing to do; it was a necessity, given the collapse of
revenue, and we are using it appropriately to fund schools, hospitals and other
things. They have to be funded. That is the view that we are putting to the public.
We made a commitment in the budget paper to look at aggregation. Aggregation is
a central aspect of much taxation. It is not an easy thing to walk away from,
but we will be true to our word and look at it over the next few months.
If the member had listened to the budget speech, he would have heard what I said:
going forward we will look at the aggregation issue and make decisions.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Dr M.D. NAHAN :
That is the commitment we made and that is what we have done. My colleagues are
out there in the community and, of course, a large number of private investors
vote for the Liberal Party. They have had increases in their land tax and they
are expressing concern about it; that is a statement of fact. My colleagues are
listening to them, as they should and as they do. They are reiterating to them
carefully the justification—the reason that we increased the land tax—and
also —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Dr M.D. NAHAN :
They are bringing feedback to us.
Several members interjected.
Dr M.D. NAHAN : I am
not running from the fact that we have increased land tax; it is a reality. It
was the appropriate thing to do; it was a necessity, given the collapse of
revenue, and we are using it appropriately to fund schools, hospitals and other
things. They have to be funded. That is the view that we are putting to the public.
We made a commitment in the budget paper to look at aggregation. Aggregation is
a central aspect of much taxation. It is not an easy thing to walk away from,
but we will be true to our word and look at it over the next few months.
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