Land Tax

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (14:24): Supplementary in response to the answer given: can the Treasurer advise whether he considers medium-sized business owners as people who are taking advantage of the aggregation measures as they currently stand?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (14:25): The government's proposal in relation to the land tax reform, which I should say is a combination of packages, that is, an increase in the threshold, will see a significant benefit to some thousands of previously land tax payers in South Australia, a reduction in the top rate of land tax from 3.7 per cent to 2.9 per cent, which will again benefit a significant number of land tax payers. On the other hand, changes to aggregation provisions, which I outlined in response to the first question, are seeking to prevent that sort of circumstance occurring in South Australia when it is already prevented from occurring in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.

In response to the member's question, it will apply to all individuals and businesses—individuals, small businesses, medium-sized businesses or, indeed, large corporates—in relation to the land tax. From that viewpoint, it doesn't define the size of the business other than through the size of the landholding that an individual or a business or a company might hold or own.