Land Tax

The Hon. T.T. NGO (15:04): My question is to the Treasurer: will he advise whether he has now reached the final version of the Marshall Liberal government's land tax policy?

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Ngo, I will not answer for the Treasurer—he may wish to answer it—but you are asking about a debate that is about to occur, I expect this afternoon, and the standing orders are not amenable to that. Treasurer, do you wish to provide a response?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (15:05): Not if it is contrary to standing orders, Mr President.

The PRESIDENT: It still doesn't mean that there is no need to respond. I take it that the Treasurer has decided to decline. You can ask that question in the committee phase, the Hon. Mr Ngo, which is why the standing orders exists.