An interdepartmental review group, chaired by an official from my Department, is currently examining the reliefs available under the disabled drivers and disabled passengers tax concessions scheme. The scheme provides reliefs from vehicle registration tax and value added tax on vehicles and from excise duty on fuel to drivers and passengers who are severely and permanently physically disabled.
While a sizeable number of submissions had already been made to the group prior to May 2000, the review group placed advertisements in the national newspapers in early May 2000 seeking written submissions from members of the public concerning the scheme in order to ensure that it would benefit from as full a consultation process as possible. To date over 250 submissions have been received, reflecting over 60 different disabilities.
The review group also held 22 individual hearings between May and September with representatives of various organisations and with a number of persons who had indicated a desire to make oral submissions to it.
The insights obtained from an analysis of the oral and written submissions, when added to the knowledge already gained from the submissions which it received from members of the public and from public representatives, will assist the group in bringing its work to a conclusion and in finalising its report for consideration by the Minister for Finance. The group is now undertaking an examination of comparable international schemes.
It is hoped that the group will be in a position to report on its conclusions by early 2001. Extensive consultations have taken place. I am satisfied that due to the complex nature of the issues it was important to ensure that all people with disabilities and interested parties had an opportunity to contribute to the review and that the review group had adequate opportunity to consider the issues involved.
