House of Assembly Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1) 52 1 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time SA Water Salary Sacrifice SA WATER SALARY SACRIFICE Ms CHAPMAN House of Assembly Bragg SA WATER SALARY SACRIFICE Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg) (16:08): I also have a question for the Minister for Water. Why is the government allowing SA Water employees to salary sacrifice their water rates, when all other South Australian customers cannot? SA Water has a policy to allow 1,500 employees to salary sacrifice their water bills, a tax break not available to any other South Australians. This policy change has come about at a time when South Australians are paying record water costs. The Hon. P. CAICA House of Assembly Colton Minister for Environment and Conservation Minister for the River Murray Minister for Water SA WATER SALARY SACRIFICE The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton—Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for the River Murray, Minister for Water) (16:09): I thank the honourable member for her question. The tax arrangements are those so determined by the commonwealth government but, certainly, as I understand it, the arrangement that has been provided for by the board for SA Water employees to, in essence, salary sacrifice against their water bills is not unusual in relation to other water entities throughout Australia. Notwithstanding that, I would also make the point that there seems to be a view out there that this is like a licence to waste water. They are still going to have to pay for the water they have. Quite simply, it is about being able to salary sacrifice. Ms Chapman interjecting: The Hon. P. CAICA House of Assembly The Hon. P. CAICA: I am sure that, if not in this life, in your previous life, you were salary sacrificing quite a lot. Ms Chapman interjecting: The Hon. P. CAICA House of Assembly The Hon. P. CAICA: No, and if you decide— Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! The Hon. P. CAICA House of Assembly The Hon. P. CAICA: —to resign today—which some people might like; I would not like that—and then go to work for SA Water, you, too, would be able to salary sacrifice against your water bills.