Ex Gratia Payments

88 The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee) (4 June 2020). Has the Treasurer approved or made any ex gratia payments since 28 February 2019?

(a) To whom were the payments made?

(b) For what purpose were the payments made?

(c) What is the amount of each payment?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier): I have been advised:

1. The secrecy provisions of the Taxation Administration Act 1996 prevent me from releasing the names of the recipients of state tax related ex gratia payments, including those in receipt of payments approved or made since 28 February 2019. This is consistent with a ruling made under the former government when I sought similar information under the Freedom of Information Act 1991.

2. In the period since 28 February 2019 to 4 June 2020, I have approved ex-gratia payments for the following purposes:

Land tax ex gratia payments (e.g. for deceased estates);

Job accelerator grants;

Payroll tax small business rebates;

Payroll tax 2017-18 in lieu of proposed legislative changes to the statutory rate;

Payroll tax general ex-gratia payments;

Stamp duty ex gratia payments (e.g. including pre-construction grant, foreign ownership surcharge, off-plan concession, bushfire relief and LTO fees relating to conveyance);

Bushfire relief ex gratia payments; and

Support for organisations to help them continue to operate throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

I have also approved ex gratia payments to be made by other ministers to businesses impacted by COVID-19.

3. Since 28 February 2019 (up to and including 4 June 2020) the Department of Treasury and Finance has paid the following ex gratia payments that I have approved for the purpose listed as follows:

Land tax general ex-gratia payments, $730,094;

Job accelerator grants made by way of ex gratia payments, $35,092,600;

Payroll tax small business rebates, $476,319;

Payroll tax 2017-18 rate reduction administered by way of ex gratia payments, $8,787,810;

Payroll tax general ex gratia payments, $1,215,463;

Stamp duty ex gratia payments, $9,974,573;

Bushfire relief ex gratia payments, $56,710; and

Support for organisations to help them continue to operate through the COVID-19 pandemic, $6,501,100.

I note this list does not include ex gratia payments made by agencies other than the Department of Treasury and Finance. A range of COVID-19 support has also been provided through other means, for example grants such as the $10,000 emergency cash grants for small businesses. Full Information on COVID-19 support for businesses has been addressed in other Questions on Notice.