Mr STIRLING - 1995-05-23
The Treasurer has announced the introduction of a fire service levy, which he expects will raise $3.5m in 1995-96 and $5m thereafter, in what appears to be a `trust me' exercise because he says that those who do not receive a service will not have to pay. I ask the Treasurer to advise us on the position as it relates to the aged, the infirm, the unemployed and self-supporting students. In short, who will pay the levy and who will not?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, at the moment, it is considered that those people will pay who own houses or buildings where there is a fire risk, as happens in every other jurisdiction in Australia with the exception of the Australian Capital Territory. As I said, how this levy is to be collected and the criteria covering it have yet to be confirmed. Those details will be announced when the levy is introduced on 1 January. We are talking about a period of 6 months to allow us proper time to consult with the fire service, insurance companies, local government bodies and a whole range of other people to ensure that we have the most equitable and reasonable fire service levy charges that can be incorporated. Thus, I ask the Leader of the Opposition and other members opposite to be patient and allow us ...
Mr Bailey: It may be $121, but it will not be $120.
Mr COULTER: It is not $120. Have you got that straight?
Mr Bailey: It may be $119 or $121. You have no idea!
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
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Mr COULTER: It is not $120. As I said, there is some variance in the models used throughout Australia in relation to buildings that require special equipment to combat fires.
In the old days, it worked in the following way. Your building was insured with a company such as AMP or National Mutual, and you had a brass plaque on the front of your building. The fire service was owned by the insurance company. Thus, if the AMP fire service turned up when you had a fire, and your building was covered by National Mutual, the fire engine kept going. We do not want that model, but it was utilised in the early days. We do not like some of the systems that are used currently in some other jurisdictions in Australia. We think that they need some modification and improvement in the collection process ...
Mr Ede: Meanwhile, everybody has to hang fire because the government is consulting.
Mr COULTER: That is right. We are telling people to hang fire until we have organised it. Wait until we have completed our consultations and we will be in touch. As I said, we have no intention of implementing this levy until 1 January.
Page 578
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, at the moment, it is considered that those people will pay who own houses or buildings where there is a fire risk, as happens in every other jurisdiction in Australia with the exception of the Australian Capital Territory. As I said, how this levy is to be collected and the criteria covering it have yet to be confirmed. Those details will be announced when the levy is introduced on 1 January. We are talking about a period of 6 months to allow us proper time to consult with the fire service, insurance companies, local government bodies and a whole range of other people to ensure that we have the most equitable and reasonable fire service levy charges that can be incorporated. Thus, I ask the Leader of the Opposition and other members opposite to be patient and allow us ...
Mr Bailey: It may be $121, but it will not be $120.
Mr COULTER: It is not $120. Have you got that straight?
Mr Bailey: It may be $119 or $121. You have no idea!
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Page 577
Mr COULTER: It is not $120. As I said, there is some variance in the models used throughout Australia in relation to buildings that require special equipment to combat fires.
In the old days, it worked in the following way. Your building was insured with a company such as AMP or National Mutual, and you had a brass plaque on the front of your building. The fire service was owned by the insurance company. Thus, if the AMP fire service turned up when you had a fire, and your building was covered by National Mutual, the fire engine kept going. We do not want that model, but it was utilised in the early days. We do not like some of the systems that are used currently in some other jurisdictions in Australia. We think that they need some modification and improvement in the collection process ...
Mr Ede: Meanwhile, everybody has to hang fire because the government is consulting.
Mr COULTER: That is right. We are telling people to hang fire until we have organised it. Wait until we have completed our consultations and we will be in touch. As I said, we have no intention of implementing this levy until 1 January.
Page 578
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016