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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 1 Hansard (19 February) . . Page.. 153 ..

MR WHITECROSS (continuing):

The Chief Minister is asking the Assembly to ratify and condone her arrogant, non-consultative style by passing this retrospective amendment to the Rates and Land Tax Act. The Government clearly attempted to pull the wool over people's eyes. It is a sign of pure arrogance and contempt for a parliamentary system that is set up as a watchdog over the actions of government. Mrs Carnell has in the past liked to talk about the primacy of the Assembly; yet she will try to deceive, ignore and be contemptuous of the established processes at every opportunity. This is just one instance. The Government must be given a clear message that it cannot continue to show so little regard for the Assembly and its laws.

The ACT Government collects $100m a year in rates; so it is not unreasonable to expect Mrs Carnell to ensure a fair and equitable rates system, and fairness can be assured only when up-to-date valuations are used. By using 1994 valuations as part of the calculation of 1997-98 financial year rates, some ratepayers will be left unfairly shouldering the burden. Most people would have to acknowledge that property values have fallen over the past 12 months, and property owners whose values have dropped should be recognised.

Mrs Carnell: What about all the people whose rates will go up unfairly?

MR WHITECROSS: Indeed, Mrs Carnell. Labor has generated some estimates, based on the Government's own data and property valuations, which suggest that residents in Belconnen and Gungahlin in particular will be paying too much if 1997 property valuations are not used. The figures generated by the Opposition are merely indicative, since 1997 valuations are not available because the Government has not commissioned them yet.

One example we were able to deduce was that home owners in Spence will be paying approximately 10 per cent too much in rates. This translates to about $50, which is no small amount. Charnwood residents, who have been the victims of Government cutbacks again and again, will be charged over 7 per cent extra in rates, even though they are getting less and less for their money. Every suburb in Gungahlin will be paying too much, on average. In many suburbs, we are not talking about dramatic dollar increases or decreases. However, matters of fairness and principle remain.

Mrs Carnell, you cannot ignore laws you do not like. You cannot ignore the wishes of the Assembly just because they do not fit in with your plans, your political or policy agenda. This blatant disregard for the laws of the Territory, the defiance of what was a clear and unequivocal instruction by the Assembly, is both contemptuous of this place and an embarrassment to you. You talk of council-style government whose actions are open and transparent, yet you blatantly flaunt the power bestowed on you by the people of Canberra.

The Labor Opposition first raised concerns about the Government's arrogant defiance of the Assembly and the Rates and Land Tax Act in January. What has the Government had to say in response? The Government has not tried to refute the arguments about fairness, because they know they cannot. The Government has attempted to use flimsy justifications of their policy, such as the cost of getting the valuations done and the need

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