Mr SLIPPER (11:51 AM) —I would like to express my appreciation to the honourable member for Curtin and also the honourable member for Melbourne for supporting this legislation. In summing up I would like to emphasise some of the merits of this bill.

The bill will ensure that various thresholds and rebate amounts in the taxation law that are currently indexed annually in line with movements in the consumer price index will not fall because of a decrease in the CPI. These thresholds are found in the fringe benefits tax law, the income tax law and the sales tax law. This will prevent taxpayers from being disadvantaged by a reduction in the level of thresholds and rebate amounts. The amendments to the indexation provisions apply to 1998-99 and in latter years. Some of the people who would have been adversely affected without the amendments include certain dependant rebate recipients and sales tax quarterly remitters.

The opportunity has also been taken to make two minor technical corrections to the fringe benefits tax law. The purpose of the bill is to ensure that taxpayers are not disadvantaged by falls in the consumer price index in relation to fringe benefits tax on car parking arrangements, the level of certain indexed income tax rebates and the frequency of sales tax remittances.

There are no losers from these legislative changes. Rather, they are designed to ensure that taxpayers are not adversely affected by movements in the CPI. I am very pleased to commend this bill to the chamber.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Bill read a second time.

Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs Crosio) —If no member wishes to consider the bill in detail, I put the question that the bill be reported to the House without amendment.

Question resolved in the affirmative.