Page 5502 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 17 November 2010
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(1) notes:
(a) that, according to figures published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, since the election of the ACT Labor Government:
(i) electricity prices have risen by 69.96 per cent as set by the ICRC;
(ii) water prices have risen by 106.08 per cent as set by the ICRC;
(iii) rents have risen by 54.81 per cent as determined by the private market;
(iv) the median house prices in Canberra have risen from $245 000 to $550 000 as determined by the private market;
(v) rates have risen by 75.00 per cent calculated on a known formula consisting of a fixed charge and a valuation charge using a three year rolling average of market values;
(vi) public transport costs have risen by 31.15 per cent; and
(vii) average weekly ordinary time earnings have increased by 54.6 per cent since 2001; and
(b) that the rise in the cost of housing, including running costs, is having significant impact on those people and households that earn below the median wage; and
(2) calls on the ACT Government to:
(a) consider carefully the cost of living in the ACT and include where possible initiatives that put downward pressure on the cost of living;
(b) ensure the Affordable Housing Action Plan provides for those households that are not eligible for public housing and cannot afford the median rental or even 74.9 per cent of the market rate;
(c) acknowledge that the running costs, such as energy and water must be included in assessing the affordability of a house; and
(d) conduct Poverty Impact Analysis of significant new policies and programs.”.
MR SMYTH (Brindabella) (10.54): It seems to be the policy of the Greens that you just never hold the government to account. If the government says it, it must be okay and “we’re just along for the ride”. I heard Mr Rattenbury at the weekend, at the ClubsACT function, say, “We hold the balance of power here.” Well, you are not holding it in favour of the people of the ACT.
This is a reasonable motion. The motion as proposed by Mr Seselja is something that people actually worry about day to day in their lives. This is about the people. Again, I ask members to look at the coat of arms—“the people”. It is a shame that the people
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