Page 2047 - Week 07 - Thursday, 17 June 1993
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Mr De Domenico: That is social justice!
MRS CARNELL: Yes, that is social justice! Renters will pay more. The Auditor-General has highlighted millions of dollars in waste in ACT administration. This has not been addressed. The people are asked to pay more instead. In the 1992-93 budget speech the Chief Minister said:
Canberra can be a very difficult place in which to live for the poor, the unemployed and those bringing up a family by themselves.
That is wonderful rhetoric, but the truth is that they are paying dearly for this Government's ineptitude. Look at the facts. Their rates will go up; they will pay 10 per cent more for their parking fines. They are the same number of dollars whether you happen to be rich or poor. That is regressive, pure and simple. Motor vehicle registration will rise by 3 per cent. Canberra is a city of the car, and the poor will pay more as they often live in the furthermost suburbs. If they use ACTION buses they will pay 3 per cent more for their fares. That is a brilliant strategy "to get bums on seats", considering that we are supposed to be encouraging public transport patronage to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Of course, increasing fares will in no way address the horrendous losses made by ACTION. This Government is making commuters pay for the Government's lack of capacity to come to grips with the necessary micro-economic reform.
Mr Connolly: The Business Council has congratulated us on that.
MRS CARNELL: For putting the fares up, Mr Connolly? This Labor Party is blaming the Federal Labor Government, Keating Inc.; yet it has known of the end of the Federal rainbow and the pot of gold for some years and is making painfully slow progress in improving the ability of the ACT to provide services without their costing the earth. Alternatively, this Labor Government could have increased taxes on tobacco and alcohol - - -
Mr Kaine: They will.
MRS CARNELL: They probably still will. This is an area where the ACT has lagged behind some other places in the country. The deleterious effects on health and the road toll of these products - - -
Ms Follett: Where? Where did we lag behind?
MRS CARNELL: Have you not heard about the increases recently? The deleterious effects of these products give ample argument for the higher taxation on these products. Whilst there was a substantial increase in the tobacco franchise fee in 1992-93, a rise of some 3 per cent would have lifted the ACT to the average of the rest of Australia as it now is. A further increase in anticipation of inflation of 3 per cent would have raised some $2m in total.
But the Labor Party has increased public transport fares, in relation to which Canberra is second only to South Australia in the rate of increase in recent years. There has been a 14.4 per cent increase in the ACT in the last three years versus 11.3 per cent nationally. The increase in general rates and land tax of 8.7 per cent comes on top of a 9.5 per cent rise in expected revenue from these items in 1993-94. Unlike much of the rest of Australia, the ACT has a comparatively buoyant economy and is better placed to cope with reduced Federal largess and greater financial self-reliance. The Government does not seem to be able to exploit this fully.
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