2003
THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

(As presented)
(Treasurer)
Rates and Land Tax Amendment Bill 2003

Contents
	Page
	1	Name of Act	2
	2	Commencement	2
	3	Act amended	2
	4	New sections 12B and 12C	2
	5	Section 13	4
	6	New section 13B	6
	7	Imposition of land tax
Section 22A (3)	7
	8	Multiple dwellings
Section 22DA (3) (b)	8
	9	Section 24A	8
	10	New section 25A	12
	11	New sections 40 to 42	13
	12	Dictionary, note 2	13
	13	Dictionary, new definitions	14

2003
THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

(As presented)
(Treasurer)
Rates and Land Tax Amendment Bill 2003

A Bill for
An Act to amend the Rates and Land Tax Act 1926 

    

The Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory enacts as follows:

1	Name of Act
This Act is the Rates and Land Tax Amendment Act 2003.
2	Commencement
This Act commences on 1 July 2003.
Note	The naming and commencement provisions automatically commence on the notification day (see Legislation Act, s 75 (1)).
3	Act amended
This Act amends the Rates and Land Tax Act 1926.
4	New sections 12B and 12C
insert
12B	Meaning of CPI percentage increase
	(1)	For this part, the CPI percentage increase applying to a rate year is the percentage increase (if any) in the CPI number between the December quarter before the beginning of the rate year and the previous December quarter.
Note	A statement of this percentage increase for a rate year may be found in the publication Consumer Price Index Australia (produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics) for the December quarter before the beginning of the rate year.
	(2)	If the CPI number for the December quarter before the beginning of a rate year is less than the CPI number for the previous December quarter, the percentage CPI increase applying to the rate year is, for this part, taken to be nil.
	(3)	If, at any time, whether before or after the commencement of this section, the Australian Statistician publishes for a particular December quarter a CPI number in substitution for a CPI number previously published by the Australian Statistician for the quarter, the publication of the later CPI number must be disregarded for this section.
	(4)	However, if, at any time, whether before or after the commencement of this section, the Australian Statistician changes the reference base for the Consumer Price Index, then, in applying this section after the change is made, regard is to be had only to numbers published in terms of the new reference base.
	(5)	In this section:
CPI number means the number appearing for Canberra in the Consumer Price Index (All Groups Index) published by the Australian Statistician.
rate year means a year for which rates are to be imposed under this part.
12C	People taken to be long-term owners of land
	(1)	Each of the following people is taken to be a long-term owner of a parcel of land:
	(a)	the commissioner for housing in relation to a parcel of residential or rural land held by the commissioner other than a parcel held under a lease in the year the lease is granted;
	(b)	for a unit within the meaning of the Unit Titles Act 2001 owned because of a transfer for which duty was paid under the Duties Act 1999, section 67 (Conversion of property to unit title)—the person owning the unit because of the transfer;
	(c)	for a parcel of residential or rural land owned, or owned in full, by a former domestic partner of a dead person because of a transfer, consent or transmission application for which duty was paid under the Duties Act 1999, section 69 (Deceased estates)—the former domestic partner of the dead person;
	(d)	for a parcel of residential or rural land held by a person as executor or trustee under the will of a dead person, or as administrator of the estate of a dead person—the executor, trustee or administrator;
	(e)	for a parcel of residential or rural land held because of a dutiable transaction for which duty was paid under the Duties Act 1999, section 71 (Bankruptcy or insolvency)—the person holding the parcel because of the dutiable transaction;
	(f)	for a parcel of residential or rural land owned by 2 people because of a transfer for which duty was paid under the Duties Act 1999, section 72 (Transfer to spouse of interest in principal place of residence)—the people owning the parcel because of the transfer;
	(g)	for a parcel of residential or rural land owned because of a transfer for which no duty was paid under the Duties Act 1999, section 74B (Transfers relating to certain personal relationships)—the person owning the parcel because of the transfer.
Note	The term long-term owner is defined in the dictionary and it is used in s 13 in relation to the imposition of rates.
	(2)	In this section:
former domestic partner, of a dead person, means a person who was a domestic partner of the dead person at the time of the dead person’s death.
5	Section 13
substitute
13	Imposition of rates
	(1)	This section is subject to section 13B (Imposition—rating system 2003-2004), section 24B (Unit subdivisions—rates) and section 25A (Unit subdivisions—rating system 2003-2004).
	(2)	Rates of the appropriate amount mentioned in subsection (3) are imposed for a parcel of rateable land.
	(3)	For subsection (2), the appropriate amount is as follows:
	(a)	for a parcel of residential or rural land owned by a long-term owner—the amount of the rates paid for the parcel for the previous year increased by the CPI percentage increase applying to the year for which the rates are imposed;
	(b)	for a parcel of residential land owned by a new owner, if the land has an average unimproved value of $19 000 or less—$300;
	(c)	for a parcel of residential land owned by a new owner, if the land has an average unimproved value more than $19 000—an amount worked out in accordance with the formula:
$300 + ((AUV-$19 000) x 0.7820%);
	(d)	for a parcel of rural land owned by a new owner, if the land has an average unimproved value more than $19 000—an amount worked out in accordance with the formula:
(AUV-$19 000) x 0.3910%;
	(e)	for a parcel of residential land owned by the holder of a new lease—
	(i)	for the year when the lease is granted, if the average unimproved value of the parcel is $19 000 or less—$300; or
	(ii)	for the year when the lease is granted, if the average unimproved value of the parcel is more than $19 000—an amount worked out in accordance with the formula:
$300 + ((AUV-$19 000) x 0.7820%); or
	(iii)	for the year after the year when the lease is granted—the amount of the rates that would have been paid for the parcel for the previous year if the holder of the new lease had owned the parcel throughout the year increased by the CPI percentage increase applying to the year for which rates are imposed;
	(f)	for a parcel of rural land owned by the holder of a new lease, if the land has an average unimproved value more than $19 000—
	(i)	for the year when the lease is granted—an amount worked out in accordance with the formula:
(AUV-$19 000) x 0.3910%); or
	(ii)	for the year after the year when the lease is granted—the amount of the rates that would have been paid for the parcel for the previous year if the holder of the new lease had owned the parcel throughout the year increased by the CPI percentage increase applying to the year for which rates are imposed;
	(g)	for a parcel of commercial land having an average unimproved value of $19 000 or less—$300;
	(h)	for a parcel of commercial land having an average unimproved value more than $19 000—an amount worked out in accordance with the formula:
$300 + ((AUV-$19 000) x 1.3356%).
	(4)	In this section:
AUV means the average unimproved value of the relevant parcel of land. 
6	New section 13B
insert
13B	Imposition—rating system 2003-2004
	(1)	Section 13 does not apply in relation to a parcel of residential or rural land for the year beginning 1 July 2003.
	(2)	For the year beginning 1 July 2003, rates are imposed for a parcel of residential or rural land in accordance with the formula:
R x 1.032
	(3)	In this section:
R means—
	(a)	for a parcel of land that was rateable for the whole of the previous year—the amount of the rates payable for the parcel for that year; or
	(b)	for a parcel of land that was rateable for only part of the previous year—the amount of the rates that would have been payable for the parcel for that year if it had been rateable for the whole of the year; or
	(c)	for a parcel of land that was not rateable for the previous year—the amount of the rates that would have been payable for the parcel under section 13 for the year if the parcel had been rateable throughout the previous year.
	(4)	This section is subject to section 24B (Unit subdivisions—rates) and section 25A (Unit subdivisions—rating system 2003-2004).
	(5)	This section expires on 1 July 2004.
	(6)	The Legislation Act, section 88 (Repeal does not end effect of transitional laws etc) applies to this section.
7	Imposition of land tax
Section 22A (3)
omit
section 24A (Unit subdivisions)
insert
section 24C (Unit subdivisions—land tax)
8	Multiple dwellings
Section 22DA (3) (b)
omit
section 24A
insert
section 24C (Unit subdivisions—land tax)
9	Section 24A
substitute
24A	Unit subdivisions
	(1)	For this Act, if a parcel of land is subdivided by the registration of a units plan, the land making up the parcel is taken to continue to be a single parcel of land.
	(2)	This section is subject to section 24B (Unit subdivisions—rates) and section 24C (Unit subdivisions—land tax).
24B	Unit subdivisions—rates
	(1)	This section applies to a parcel of land subdivided by the registration of a units plan.
	(2)	If rates imposed for the parcel for the year when the units plan is registered are not paid before the registration of the units plan, they are payable by the person who was the owner of the parcel on the day before the day when the units plan was registered.
	(3)	On and after 1 July after the day when the units plan is registered or, if it is registered on 1 July, on and after that 1 July—
	(a)	the rates imposed for the parcel are payable by the unit owners; and
	(b)	the amount payable by each unit owner is an amount worked out under subsection (4); and
	(c)	no rates for the parcel are payable by the owners corporation.
	(4)	Section 13 applies to impose rates on a unit that is part of the parcel as if—
	(a)	a reference to a parcel of land were a reference to the unit; and
	(b)	a reference to the average unimproved value of the unit were a reference to the value worked out in accordance with the following formula:

	(5)	In subsection (4):
UE	means the unit entitlement of the unit.
TUE	means the unit entitlement of all the units in the units plan.
AUV	means the average unimproved value of the parcel of land.
	(6)	For the application of this Act to the parcel of land—
	(a)	a reference to a parcel of land—
	(i)	in sections 5, 5A, 7, 8, 10, 11 (1) to (3), 12 and 15A (1) and (2)—is a reference to the parcel; and
	(ii)	in sections 12C, 14 (1), 15 (1) to (3) and (8) to (11), 15A (4) to (6), 21A (1), 34B and 34C—is a reference to a unit; and
	(iii)	for the dictionary, definitions of holder of a new lease, long-term owner and new owner—is a reference to a unit; and
	(iv)	in any other provision—is a reference to the parcel or a unit, as the case requires; and
	(b)	a reference to the owner—
	(i)	in sections 10, 12, 15A (3), 28A and 29—is a reference to the owners corporation; and
	(ii)	in sections 14 (1), 15 (1) to (3), (10) and (11), 15A (4) and (6), 17 (1), 19 (1) and (5), 20, 22 (1), 23 (1), 28 (1) and 28A—is a reference to the relevant unit owner; and
	(iii)	for the dictionary, definitions of holder of a new lease, long-term owner and new owner—is a reference to the relevant unit owner; and
	(iv)	in any other provision—is a reference to the owners corporation or the relevant unit owner, as the case requires; and
	(c)	section 26 (1) does not apply to service of a notice on the owners corporation.
	(7)	A term used in this section, and in the Unit Titles Act 2001, has the same meaning as in that Act.
Note 	The following terms are defined in the Unit Titles Act 2001, dict:
·	owners corporation
·	unit
·	unit owner
·	units plan.
24C	Unit subdivisions—land tax
	(1)	This section applies to a parcel of land subdivided by the registration of a units plan.
	(2)	If land tax imposed for the parcel for the quarter when the plan is registered is not paid before the registration of the units plan, it is payable by the person who was the owner of the parcel on the day before the day when the units plan was registered.
	(3)	On and after 1 July after the day when the units plan is registered or, if it is registered on 1 July, on and after that 1 July—
	(a)	any land tax imposed under this Act for the parcel is payable by the unit owners whose units are subject to land tax; and
	(b)	the amount payable by each owner is an amount that bears to the total amount of land tax the same proportion as the unit entitlement of the owner’s unit bears to the aggregate unit entitlement of all the units that are subject to land tax; and
	(c)	no land tax for the parcel is payable by the owners corporation.
	(4)	For the application of this Act to the parcel of land—
	(a)	a reference to a parcel of land—
	(i)	in section 22A—is a reference to the parcel; and
	(ii)	in sections 22B (1), 22C (1), (3) and (4), 22E (1) to (3), (6) and (7), 22EA, 22F, 28 (2), 34B and 34C—is a reference to a unit; and
	(iii)	in any other provision—is a reference to the parcel or a unit, as the case requires; and
	(b)	a reference to the owner—
	(i)	in section 29—is a reference to the owners corporation; and
	(ii)	in sections 21A (1), 22C (1), 22D (2), 22E (1) to (3) and (7), 22EA (2) and (4), 22F, 24 and 28A (2)—is a reference to the relevant unit owner; and
	(iii)	in any other provision—is a reference to the owners corporation or the relevant unit owner, as the case requires; and
	(c)	section 26 (1) does not apply to service of a notice on the owners corporation.
	(5)	A term used in this section, and in the Unit Titles Act 2001, has the same meaning as in that Act.
Note 	The following terms are defined in the Unit Titles Act 2001, dict:
·	owners corporation
·	unit
·	unit owner
·	units plan.
10	New section 25A
insert
25A	Unit subdivisions—rating system 2003-2004
	(1)	This section applies to a parcel of land to which section 24B would, apart from subsection (2), apply.
	(2)	Section 24B (3) and (4) does not apply in relation to the year beginning 1 July 2003.
	(3)	For the year beginning 1 July 2003, rates are imposed for a unit that is part of a parcel of land subdivided by the registration of a units plan in accordance with the formula:
R x 1.032.
	(4)	In this section:
R means—
	(a)	for unit that was rateable for the whole of the previous year—the amount of the rates payable for the unit for that year; or
	(b)	for a unit that was rateable for only part of the previous year—the amount of the rates that would have been payable for the unit for that year if it had been rateable for the whole of the year; or
	(c)	for a unit that was not rateable for the previous year—the amount of the rates that would have been payable for the unit under section 25 for the year if the unit had been rateable throughout the previous year.
	(5)	This section expires on 1 July 2004.
	(6)	The Legislation Act, section 88 (Repeal does not end effect of transitional laws etc) applies to this section.
11	New sections 40 to 42
insert
40	Regulations may provide for transitional matters
	(1)	The regulations may prescribe transitional matters necessary or convenient to be prescribed because of the enactment of the Rates and Land Tax Amendment Act 2003.
	(2)	Regulations made for this section must not be taken to be inconsistent with this Act so far as they can operate concurrently with this Act.
41	Modifications of pts 3 and 5
The regulations may modify part 3 and this part to make provision in relation to anything that is not, or in the Executive’s opinion adequately, dealt with in part 3 or this part.
42	Expiry after 1 year
Sections 40 and 41 and this section expire 1 year after the day this section commences.
12	Dictionary, note 2
insert
·	domestic partner (see s 169)
13	Dictionary, new definitions
insert
CPI percentage increase—see section 12B.
holder of a new lease, for a parcel of land in relation to a year, means a person who was granted a lease of the land in that year or in the previous year.
long-term owner, of a parcel of land in relation to a year, means a person who owned the land on 1 July in that year and had owned the land throughout the previous year.
Note	Section 12C provides for certain people to be taken to be long-term owners.
new owner, of a parcel of land in relation to a year, means a person who owned the land on 1 July in that year and had acquired it during the previous year, but does not include a person who is the holder of a new lease for the land.

Endnote
Republications of amended laws
	For the latest republication of amended laws, see www.legislation.act.gov.au.

© Australian Capital Territory 2003