Page 3969 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 29 November 2022
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(b) major contributors to cost-of-living pressures facing Australians include wages not keeping pace with inflation across most private and public sectors, and a lack of suitable employment and promotion opportunities;
(c) Australian mortgage holders on variable mortgages are experiencing increases in payments due to decisions by the Reserve Bank of Australia to raise interest rates to counter inflationary pressures;
(d) unemployment in the ACT is currently the lowest in the country, with the Territory close to effective full employment; and
(e) Canberrans generally enjoy a high standard of living and access to free quality healthcare and education, and well-planned and delivered infrastructure – the lack of which leads to additional cost-of-living pressures for residents of other jurisdictions.
(2) further notes that the ACT Government, as already outlined in the agreed amendment to Ms Lee’s 13 October 2022 private members’ motion, is delivering a range of practical, effective and ongoing supports for households to help address cost-of-living pressures, including:
(a) the Utilities Concession, supporting 31,200 eligible low-income households with an $800 contribution toward their energy and water bills in 2022-23;
(b) the Utilities Hardship Fund, supporting vulnerable consumers with access to $100 vouchers through an eligible energy retailer;
(c) motor vehicle registration concessions, providing up to an 100 per cent discount on motor vehicle registration fees for 66,000 eligible registrations;
(d) driver licence concessions, providing an up to 100 percent discount on driver licence fees, supporting 7,900 eligible drivers in 2022-23;
(e) public transport concessions with reduced or free fares on Transport Canberra bus and light rail services, supporting an estimated 5.5 million trips in 2022-23;
(f) the Vulnerable Household Energy Support Scheme, with $50 million over the next five years to deliver a range of measures to reduce energy hardship for low-income homeowners, and public, private and social housing renters;
(g) the Home Energy Support Program, with rebates of up to $5,000 for eligible homeowners to install energy-efficient products and undertake sustainable upgrades;
(h) the Low-Income Home Energy Program, supporting vulnerable and low-income households to improve the thermal comfort of their property and reduce energy costs;
(i) the Taxi Subsidy Scheme, providing assistance for people with a disability or significant mobility restriction, to make an estimated 86,200 trips in 2022-23;
(j) rates deferral schemes for eligible low-income households and property owners aged 65 years and older;
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