ADJOURNMENT 140 COUNCIL Tuesday, 24 March 1992 should remember that modern science is so exact Amendment L27 would have the effect of causing an that it can detect substances to parts of a trillion. It is area which is unlikely to be sewered to be used for a said that a billion credit cards placed on their sides purpose for which it was not originally intended. would reach from the earth to the moon, so a TIle area of that proposed lot is inadequate to trillionth is an incredibly small proportion and contain all sullage, sewage and effluent on site, makes a needle in a haystack look like a crowbar in a which is inconsistent with the intent of the State wheat sheaf. That is how exact science is. Environment Protection Policy No. W-29 (Waters of the Yarra and Tributaries) section 39, which has been There are clear reasons why we need good supported by both the Environment Protection legislation in this area, but as a community we need Authority and Melbourne Water. to interpret and have some honesty from people who act as proper guardians for the community. If The amendment would be contrary to the intent of we do that we can have good agricultural chemical the proposed Diamond Valley rural residential zone use, together with community safety. under amendment L13 to the Diamond Valley planning scheme. 1 ask that the Minister give serious Motion agreed to. consideration to withdrawing the proposed amendment, which is inconsistent with amendment Read second time. RL141, and which proposes to delete a number of exemptions to the detached house use regarding Ordered to be committed next day. substandard lots. ADJOURNMENT RL141 appears illogical and inequitable in that it prevents a person who owns land comprising a Hon. C. J. HOGG (Minister for Ethnic, Municipal separate tenement prior to 1 December 1971 from and Commwli.ty Affairs) - 1 move: retaining the right to seek a permit for a detached house in contrast to others who own separate That the Council, at its rising, adjourn until tomorrow tenements created under permits issued since then at 10.30 a.m. who are denied that right. Motion agreed to. It appears to be a planning blight which is serious for landowners in that area. 1 ask the Minister to give Hon. C. J. HOGG (Minister for Ethnic, Municipal serious consideration to withdrawing those two and Community Affairs) -I move: amendments. The Shire of Diamond Valley has made that request of the Minister. 1 support it and That the House do now adjourn. ask that it receive urgent consideration. Diamond Valley planning scheme VCE library grants Hon. B. A. E. SKEGGS (Templestowe) - 1 direct Hon. B. A. CHAMBERLAIN (Western) -I direct a matter to the attention of the Minister for to the attention of the Minister for Ethnic, Municipal Conservation and Environment, who represents the and Community Affairs a matter for the Minister for Minister for Planning and Housing in this place. 1 School Education relating to grants recently made ask that the Minister for Planning and Housing be available for Victorian certificate of education library requested to consider the abandonment of material. The Minister will be aware that funds of a amendments L27 and RL141 to the Diamond Valley minimum of $5000 for each secondary school have planning scheme because the Shire of Diamond been made available. Some schools have received Valley is extremely concerned at these two $7000 for library material. amendments. Honourable members know about the strain that the Amendment L27 proposes to rezone part of the VCE has placed on libraries throughout the State, Yarrambat Primary School site to allow for the including the Parliamentary Library. In a press principal's residence to be subdivided and sold off. release by the Minister on 26 January he says: Amendment RL141 proposes to delete a number of dispensations to the detached houses clause within This year's VCE students will have access to the best the non-urban zones within the shire. The council is possible resource materials ... Guidelines are now being opposed to both amendments. ADJOURNMENT Tuesday, 24 March 1992 COUNCIL 141 distributed to secondary schools for a $5 million grant the expiration of 30 days. He then added $3000 to for extra VCE reference material for Term 1 purchases. the original capital for a further 30 days and at the end of the period the duty was charged on the entire It appears 32.4 per cent of secondary school students capital. He then added a further $1000 to that who attend independent schools have been excluded amount and, at the expiration of the deposit period, from this funding - or at least they have not he again paid FID on the total capital involved. received any money. That situation is at odds with the statement made by the Minister. On Elaine My constituent maintains, with some justification, Canty's show on 3LO on 27 January, he spoke about that he was unfairly treated and the duty was this money being made available. He was asked: incorrectly charged on the continuing component of his investment. He protested to the bank and it Is this for all schools across the board? refunded the FID amounts involved, which raises the question of the application of the tax. After he The Minister answered: made protestations he received three letters from the bank in question. The first letter simply said the Absolutely, that's all schools. matter would be investigated and, in fact, it was. A month later he received a letter from the manager I am surprised that Monivae College in Hamilton dated 4 July 1991, which says: has been advised that there is no money for independent or systemic Catholic schools under the We have received advice which confirms this and other program despite the fact that independent schools banks are bound to tax PlD on the full sum of new term save the State of Victoria approximately $700 million deposit under the circumstances you have advised. in funding and given that currently they are under enormous financial pressure, which has led in some We are however pleased to advise the bank is taking cases to doubt about the viability of some schools. It action to determine if a change might be made to is essential that those schools be included in this systems which could alleviate this situation. program. We thank you for bringing this matter to our attention I ask the Minister to take up the matter with her and assure you of our ongoing commitment to our colleague with a view to extending these customers. opportunities to all secondary school students. A month later my constituent received a third letter Financial institutions duty which provided a full rebate of the tax. Hon. R. M. HALLAM (Western) - I direct to the Hon. B. A. Chamberlain - Was that by the bank? attention of the Minister for Manufacturing and Industry Development for the Treasurer the Hon. R. M. HALLAM - Yes, by the bank. The administration by banks of the State's financial point I make is: the decision of the bank to remit the institutions duty (FID) of 0.06 per cent. The duty is tax charged in the first place has complicated the levied on deposits and the question is whether the issue even further because it can be concluded from tax is applicable to roll-over term deposits. the terms of the bank's letter that this was not an ex gratia gesture but a considered decision in light of I do not intend to name the particular banks because the circumstances. In addition my constituent was that may be unfair but the question of whether the told verbally by the bank that if in the first place he tax applicable in certain cases is unfair has been had used separate deposit accounts for the $10 000, asked. I have two specific cases which I shall outline. for the next deposit of $3000 and for the final deposit Firstly, there is confusion and uncertainty about the of $1000 that he would not have had to pay the FID. application of duty and its inequity. Secondly, there is the different interpretation of the rules applied by In my view that is arrant nonsense. In addition my individual banks. constituent was told that if he had used a savings investment account and allowed the capital to The first case I refer to is described in a letter that I accumulate he would have paid the duty on the first have just given to the Minister. It came from a friend deposit and individually on the deposits that of mine who outlines the fact that he invested augmented it. He says, and I concur with his view, $10 000 with a particular bank for 30 days. He paid that that proves the point. the 0.06 per cent FID on the deposit plus interest at ADJOURNMENT 142 COUNCIL Tuesday, 24 March 1992 I have another example, again from a constituent of firewood. There is indiscriminate knocking down of mine, which makes exactly the same complaint trees. about the same bank. 1 am assured in that case that had the circumstances been identified with any bank On contacting the regional office at Alexandra a other than the bank that was involved the financial constituent was informed that although the officers institutions duty would not have been charged, and appreciated what was going on, one of the reasons 1 am told by my constituent that there is clear they could not attend to the problem was a reduced evidence of that fact.