WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1983
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THE MAIN DISADVANTAGE OF THE PRESENT SYSTEM IS THAT IT CANNOT RESPOND WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME TO SUDDEN CHANGES IN THE GENERAL LEVEL OF RENTS AS REVALUATION OF RENTS IS A MAJOR COMMITMENT THAT CAN ONLY BE UNDERTAKEN AT INTERVALS OF SEVERAL YEARS, MR BREMRIDGE POINTED OUT.
THE PROPOSED SYSTEM, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS MORE EQUITABLE AND CAN RESPOND MORE SWIFTLY TO THE CHANGING LEVELS OF RENTS ACTUALLY CHARGED, HE SAID.
CLAUSE 6 OF THE BILL PROVIDES THAT, FROM THE YEAR OF ASSESSMENT 1983-84 ONWARDS, PROPERTY TAX WILL BE DETERMINED BY REFERENCE TO THE RENT PAYABLE IN THAT YEAR, INCLUDING MANAGEMENT CHARGES,
THE CLAUSE ALSO ALLOWS FOR THE INCLUSION OF LUMP SUMS, SUCH AS LEASE PREMIUMS, BUT ALLEVIATES THE FULL IMPACT OF THE CHARGE IN THE YEAR OF RECEIPT BY SPREADING THE SUM OVER THE PERIOD OF LETTING OR OVER THREE YEARS, WHICHEVER IS THE LESS, MR BREMRIDGE EXPLAINED.
RELIEF IS PROVIDED WHERE RENTS RECEIVABLE ARE IRRECOVERABLE.
THE NEW SYSTEM WILL REQUIRE PROPERTY OWNERS TO SUBMIT ANNUAL RETURNS OF RENTAL INCOME.
AS THESE RETURNS CAN NOT BE SUBMITTED UNTIL SOME TIME AFTER THE END OF THE ASSESSMENT YEAR, CLAUSE 18 OF THE BILL PROVIDES FOR A PROVISIONAL PAYMENT WITHIN THAT YEAR, BASED ON THE INCOME FOR THE PRECEDING YEAR, MR BREMRIDGE SAID.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
NEW ID CARDS WILL BE DOUBLY SECURE
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TO MAKE THE NEW IDENTITY CARDS DOUBLY SECURE, THEY WILL HAVE A FIXED PERIOD OF VALIDITY, IN CONTRAST TO THE INDEFINITE LIFE OF THE CARDS CURRENTLY IN USE, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON D.G. JEAFFRESON, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
THE FIRST COMPLETE ISSUE OF THE NEW CARDS WILL START IN THE COMING SPRING AND SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY 1987, MR JEAFFRESON SAID, IN MOVING THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983 THROUGH A SECOND READING.
THE ISSUE WILL PROGRESS ON A GROUP BY GROUP BASIS, AND MEN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND 35 WILL BE THE FIRST TO BE TACKLED, AS MOST ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARE FOUND IN THIS GROUP, HE SAID.
THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THE BILL IS TO PROVIDE THE STATUTORY FRAMEWORK NECESSARY TO ENABLE THE NEW AND MUCH MORE SECURE
IDENTITY CARDS TO BE ISSUED TO REPLACE THOSE ALREADY HELD AND TO INVALIDATE EXISTING TYPES OF CARDS, HE STATED.
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION WILL SET OUT IN DETAIL THE REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURE TO BE FOLLOWED FOR THE REPLACEMENT PROGRAMME AND THE PENALTIES FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY, MR JEAFFRESON SAID.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
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