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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 7 Hansard (5 June) . . Page.. 1935 ..

MR CORBELL (continuing):

the majority of the cost for a Commonwealth initiative. Our view is that, if the Commonwealth thinks this is such a good idea, it should be funding the initiative appropriately, not taking the credit and then expecting the territory to pay the tab.

MR CORNWELL: Do you believe that the $2.1 million provided by the federal government-

MR SPEAKER: That is an expression of opinion, Mr Cornwell.

MR CORNWELL: Very well, I will rephrase it, Mr Speaker. The federal government is putting in $2.1 million; and the ACT, $1.4 million. That is a sixty-forty split and I am sure that the Labor Party would understand that rule, even if it is only fifty-fifty here.

MR SPEAKER: You are stretching the preamble rule.

MR CORNWELL: Do you believe that these 8,237 Canberrans are not, to quote your own words in the Canberra Times this morning, among "those most in need, namely pensioners and low-income earners"?

MR CORBELL: Mr Speaker, pensioners and low income earners already receive concessions from the ACT government, and the assertion that Mr Cornwell makes is simply wrong. Let me just outline to members the full details of this. The ACT concessions program provides expenditure support on essential services for pensioners, low income earners, Veterans Affairs gold card holders, and health care card holders. The ACT concessions program has targeted those most in need, as it should, Mr Speaker. We should be testing-

Mr Cornwell: Not the self-funded retirees just over the line.

MR CORBELL: Mr Cornwell, if you are saying that all self-funded retirees should get a concession-

Mr Cornwell: No, I did not say that.

MR CORBELL: I am interested in your assertion. Mr Speaker, the purpose of the ACT concessions program is to achieve a balance in the standard of living and access to essential services, such as energy, water and sewerage, rates, motor vehicle registration, transport, and spectacles for those who are most in need in the Canberra community.

The total cost of the program is $20 million per year. The ACT government already puts in a significant amount of money, and it has targeted those who are most in need. As I have already said, if the Commonwealth government wants to make an announcement extending the range of concessions payments to a broader range of people, it should be prepared to pay for it.

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