LAND TAX CONCESSIONS

The Hon. M.D. RANN (Ramsay—Premier, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Social Inclusion, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change) (14:08): I seek leave to make another ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. M.D. RANN: This government is committed to helping the most vulnerable in society and helping mum and dad investors and working families. That is why, from today, we are increasing concessions and implementing cuts to land tax. A number of new concessions to be introduced today will provide eligible seniors with some real financial relief. Today, energy concessions increase from a maximum of $120 a year to $150 a year in 2010-11. This will be further boosted with a 5 percent rise in 2011-12 and another 5 per cent increase in 2012-13. There will also be a 5 per cent increase in the maximum and minimum water concessions, complemented by another 5 per cent increase each year to the 2012-13 financial year. There will also be a 5 per cent increase in the sewerage concession and a further 5 per cent each year to 2012-13.

Eligible seniors will also get an added break with a 5 per cent increase in the emergency services levy fixed property concession, followed by another 5 per cent each year until 2012-13. These initiatives continue Labor's proud record in delivering concessions to South Australians for more than three decades. It is a great contrast to the Liberals' achievements in this area. It would appear that the only concession—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.D. RANN: —they have ever produced to seniors was on a new tax they introduced—the emergency services levy—and only after being forced to do so through this house. I am pleased to inform the house—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for MacKillop and member for Davenport!

The Hon. M.D. RANN: The competition is on. It might not be a beauty contest among the members opposite, but the competition is on; you can see vim and vigour. Who is going to be the next leader of the opposition? Will they please stand up?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.D. RANN: It is a great contrast to the Liberals'—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.D. RANN: —achievements in this area. It would appear that the only concession they have ever produced to seniors was on a new tax they introduced.

The Hon. I.F. Evans: That's not true; you'll have to correct that.

The Hon. M.D. RANN: Well, if I'm wrong, I will correct it; don't you worry. In fact, I will correct it now, if I am wrong.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.D. RANN: I am pleased to inform the house that, for the first time from today, the energy and emergency services levy fixed property concession will be extended to include eligible low income earners. Using the rates applicable from today, the combined maximum payments provided by both the state and commonwealth governments to support aged pensioners who are homeowners will have grown from $519.40 per annum in 2002 to a maximum of $2,019.50 per annum for couples receiving maximum water use remission and maximum pension supplement, or to $1,223.50 for couples on minimum water use remission and minimum aged pension supplement. This is a growth of between—wait for it, breaking news—214 per cent and 434 per cent in support for utilities, telephone and other household costs—a massive saving. Let me give you those statistics again: 214 per cent to 434 per cent.

More announcements today. On top of that, land tax cuts coming into effect today will ensure that nearly 75,000 of the 121,000 investors who currently pay land tax will from today no longer be liable for land tax in the 2010-11 financial year—none, zip, zero; no land tax from today. The main beneficiaries will be predominantly mum and dad investors and small businesses, the people that the Liberals do not care about. The cuts will see almost two-thirds of those currently paying land tax no longer having to pay anything at all this financial year. I will just go back to that. From today—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.D. RANN: —almost two-thirds of South Australians currently paying land tax will no longer have to pay any land tax at all this financial year. From today, we have also increased the tax-free threshold from $110,000 to $300,000. This will provide a major boost to small investors and business, and will assist them to build on their growing confidence in the South Australian economy. This is in addition to payroll tax reforms that also come into force today that make South Australia's payroll tax rates among the most competitive in the country.