Ex Gratia Payments

807 The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee) (23 September 2021). Has the Treasurer approved or made any ex gratia payments since 1 January 2021?

(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 1 January 2021. 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 1 January 2021 to 30 September 2021, I have approved ex-gratia payments for the following purposes:

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

Land Tax Reform Aggregation Transition Fund relief;

Land Tax Reform Affordable Housing Concession payments;

Job Accelerator Grants;

Payroll tax general ex gratia payments;

Payroll tax small business rebates;

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

Stamp duty ex gratia payments (e.g. including pre-construction grant and foreign ownership surcharge);

Bushfire relief ex gratia payments;

Support for organisations to help them continue to operate throughout the COVID-19 pandemic (payroll tax and land tax relief).

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

3. Since 1 January 2021 (up to and including 30 September 2021) 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, $466,533;

Land Tax Reform Aggregation Transition ex gratia payments, $992,380;

Land Tax Reform Affordable Housing Concession ex gratia payments, $21,440;

Job Accelerator Grant payments $2,000;

Payroll tax general ex gratia payments, $994,025;

Payroll tax small business rebates, $45,822;

Payroll tax 2017-18 rate reduction administered by way of ex-gratia payments, $111,730;

Stamp duty ex-gratia payments, $962,324;

Bushfire relief ex-gratia payments, $2,463;

COVID-19 payroll tax waiver by way of ex gratia payments, $134,618,643; and

COVID-19 land tax relief for landlords and commercial owner occupiers by way of ex-gratia payments, $9,249,699.

I note this list does not include ex-gratia payments made by agencies other than the Department of Treasury and Finance.

In addition, COVID-19 assistance has also been provided through various grant programs, such as the business support grants for small businesses.