LOCAL GOVERNMENT (RATES) AMENDMENT BILL

Introduction and First Reading

Received from the Legislative Council and read a first time.

Standing Orders Suspension

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Planning, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (16:14): I move:

That standing orders be so far suspended in as much as it is required to deal with all stages of this bill forthwith.

Motion carried.

The SPEAKER: An absolute majority not being present, ring the bells.

An absolute majority of the whole number of members being present:

Motion carried.

Second Reading

Second reading.

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Planning, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (16:16): I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

Mr GRIFFITHS (Goyder) (16:16): I will be quick, too. This has been a bill that has been subject to some lengthy debate—there is no doubt about that. I recognise that the member for Port Adelaide has been working on this. I have spoken to members of the Cruising Yacht Club and recreational boat owners for some time about this. The Hon. John Darley has proposed it and has been involved in negotiations with quite a few of us for some time.

The impacts upon local government was an area of my concern initially because, with this change that changes the rating structure in place, so that it is the valuation of a berth multiplied by the rate on the dollar and that is all that will be paid, with no bringing the rates up to the minimum rates, there will be a financial cost to local government where marinas exist. But I come to the very basic thought that there has to be a service available for the amount of money that is being paid. There are serious questions that have been asked about the level of income that has been received, relative to what they have been provided with.

Interestingly, the Port Adelaide Enfield council is one which has some significant interest in this. Mayor Johanson has spoken to me about it in a positive sense, I can assure the member for Port Adelaide, and not just recently—it has occurred in the past.

It is a method of change that has had some really serious debate within the Liberal opposition. We recognise it has some imposts upon local government, but we come back to the fact that those who own these crafts and these marina berths are not all rich people. Many of them are quite humble. It is generational for them and an interest which they have long held and, therefore, a significant cost of up to the range of $800, as I understand it, for a rate, for something that has very little value has been seen as a great concern. So, for that purpose, the Liberal Party indicates its support for the bill.

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Planning, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (16:18): I thank all contributors, and I think we should move it on.

Bill read a second time.

Third Reading

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Planning, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (16:18): I move:

That this bill be now read a third time.

Bill read a third time and passed.