1
WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 1988
PNEUMOCONIOSIS LEVY RATE TO BE REDUCED
*
A RESOLUTION TO REDUCE A LEVY WHICH FINANCES COMPENSATION FOR VICTIMS OF PNEUMOCONIOSIS WAS PASSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN ADDITION, A BILL TO ALLOW THE PNEUMOCONIOSIS COMPENSATION FUND BOARD TO MAKE ADVANCE PAYMENTS OF UP TO $20,000 TO THE VICTIMS OF THE OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE AND THEIR DEPENDANTS WAS READ A SECOND TIME.
PNEUMOCONIOSIS IS CAUSED BY INHALING SILICA OR ASBESTOS AND
MAINLY AFFECTS CONSTRUCTION AND QUARRY WORKERS.
IN MOVING THE RESOLUTION, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON RON BRIDGE, SAID THE ACCUMULATED SURPLUS OF THE LEVY ON THE VALUE OF QUARRY PRODUCTS AND ON CONSTRUCTION WORKS HAD REACHED $111 MILLION BY THE END OF FEBRUARY DESPITE REDUCTIONS IN THE LEVY RATE.
CENT IN JANUARY LAST THE INCIDENCE OF THE
HE SAID THE LEVY WAS ORIGINALLY SET AT 0.2 PER CENT BUT WAS CUT TO 0.15 PER CENT IN 1986 AND TO 0.05 PER YEAR AS A RESULT OF THE SUCCESS IN REDUCING DISEASE.
DESPITE THE SHARP CUTS IN THE RATE OF LEVY AND DESPITE THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION IN 1987 TO EXTEND THE SCOPE OF THE FUND TO INCLUDE PREVENTIVE WORKS SUCH AS RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY, THE ACCUMULATED SURPLUS HAD CONTINUED TO INCREASE, HE SAID.
"THE FUND BOARD HAS THEREFORE REVIEWED THE SITUATION YET AGAIN AND HAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE CURRENT 0.05 PER CENT RATE OF LEVY SHOULD BE REDUCED STILL FURTHER TO 0.02 PER CENT, MR BRIDGE EXPLAINED.
ABOUT
"THIS IS EXPECTED TO REDUCE THE SURPLUS TO BY 1993. THIS WOULD STILL BE ABOUT THREF TIMES ANNUAL BUT THIS WILL, OF COURSE, DEPEND ON THE FORTUNES OF THE INDUSTRY DURING THIS PERIOD.
•
$77 MILLION EXPENDITURE, CONSTRUCTION
THE REVISED RATE OF LEVY WOULD TAKE EFFECT 30 DAYS AFTER THE PUBLICATION OF THE RESOLUTION IN THE GAZETTE. WHICH WOULD BE ON JUNE 27.
/MR BEIDGE