Mr STIRLING - 1995-05-24
The Treasurer claimed yesterday, by way of interjection, that the casino tax had been increased in the budget. What is the new rate for casino taxation? By how much did it increase? Is the reason that there has been, in reality, no increase related to the fact that the Darwin casino provided a $70 000 donation to the CLP's election campaign last year?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, if that is the insinuation, the reward for that is that the casino tax has increased to about 24%. It has trebled from the 8% that the casinos are paying now. Thus, it is clear that there is little by way of reward for contributing to the CLP's coffers, if that is what the member is trying to insinuate. The increased taxation level is a matter that is outlined in the heads of agreement. Those heads of agreement came about because the casinos relinquished their exclusivity in regard to poker machines 4 or 5 years in advance of the time at which they
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could have been accessed by the hotel and club industries in the Northern Territory. When the heads of agreement documentation is signed, and it will be signed in the very near future, that increased taxation will be available for the benefit of Territorians.
In his response to the budget yesterday, I noted that, while the Leader of the Opposition talked about casinos in Sydney, Melbourne or Hobart etc, he never mentioned a comparable casino. Examples are those at Townsville or even Cairns. If he looks at a comparative analysis of those taxation regimes ...
Mr Ede: We gave you the figures!
Mr COULTER: Not for those of like size.
Mr Ede: Yes. It pays $350 000 a quarter in licence fees.
Mr COULTER: When the ACT first brought theirs out, it was paying an exorbitant fee, something like 36%. I heard your speech. We have copies of it. You are wrong. You have not selected a casino of comparable size.
Mr Ede: I took them out of your book.
Mr COULTER: I have informed members that, as soon as the heads of agreement are executed with the casinos, their taxation rates will increase quite dramatically. That is a result of the agreement that has been reached between the government and the casino operators.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, if that is the insinuation, the reward for that is that the casino tax has increased to about 24%. It has trebled from the 8% that the casinos are paying now. Thus, it is clear that there is little by way of reward for contributing to the CLP's coffers, if that is what the member is trying to insinuate. The increased taxation level is a matter that is outlined in the heads of agreement. Those heads of agreement came about because the casinos relinquished their exclusivity in regard to poker machines 4 or 5 years in advance of the time at which they
Page 593
could have been accessed by the hotel and club industries in the Northern Territory. When the heads of agreement documentation is signed, and it will be signed in the very near future, that increased taxation will be available for the benefit of Territorians.
In his response to the budget yesterday, I noted that, while the Leader of the Opposition talked about casinos in Sydney, Melbourne or Hobart etc, he never mentioned a comparable casino. Examples are those at Townsville or even Cairns. If he looks at a comparative analysis of those taxation regimes ...
Mr Ede: We gave you the figures!
Mr COULTER: Not for those of like size.
Mr Ede: Yes. It pays $350 000 a quarter in licence fees.
Mr COULTER: When the ACT first brought theirs out, it was paying an exorbitant fee, something like 36%. I heard your speech. We have copies of it. You are wrong. You have not selected a casino of comparable size.
Mr Ede: I took them out of your book.
Mr COULTER: I have informed members that, as soon as the heads of agreement are executed with the casinos, their taxation rates will increase quite dramatically. That is a result of the agreement that has been reached between the government and the casino operators.
Page 594
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016