Page 3679 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 23 August 2011
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There are around 40,000 more people in the ACT than there were 10 years ago. I would have expected that the shadow treasurer would know that when economies perform well there is growth in revenues. I would have expected the shadow treasurer to know that when there are more people there are, indeed, more revenues. I would also have expected the shadow treasurer to know that any increases in revenues or expenditures should be viewed in that context. Government revenue as a proportion of the economy has actually fallen over the past 10 years since the government took office.
Taxation as a proportion of household disposable income and the economy is, indeed, well below the national average. Per capita taxation as a proportion of gross household disposable income in the ACT is 5.1 per cent. This is the lowest in the country and compares with the national ratio of 7.9 per cent. ABS data shows that the average employed person in the ACT paid around $5,637 in state and local taxes in 2009-10. This was around $300 less, on average, when compared to other states and territories.
The government places addressing cost of living pressures at the forefront of all of our microeconomic reforms. As an example, the reform we propose to compulsory third-party insurance would reduce pressure on CTP premium growth and encourage additional insurers to enter the market. Contrary to what the opposition claims, even the lease variation charge—a further reform—will not add to cost of living pressures by reducing household affordability.
This afternoon I have had the opportunity to outline a number of facts that go to the core of this cost of living debate. Let me be clear: the government acknowledges there are people in our community who are struggling. The government provides these people, these households, with practical assistance that helps them with their everyday costs. For example, everyday assistance is provided for age pensioners with a discount of $488 per year on rates, $250 for spectacles every two years, free motor vehicle registration, licence renewal and bus travel.
Both age pensioners and low income earners can receive up to $346 off their electricity and gas bills. The government, in the last budget, has allocated around $25 million over the next four years to assist with utility costs and water and energy efficiency measures for low income households. Again if I recall correctly, the shadow treasurer and his colleagues voted against making these funds available to needy Canberrans.
This government have assisted, and always will assist, those most in need. We will do so by keeping our economy strong, creating jobs and providing targeted assistance to those in need. We will do so despite the fact that those opposite do not support any of these measures.
MS HUNTER (Ginninderra—Parliamentary Leader, ACT Greens) (3.59): The cost of living is a vexed issue. It is a somewhat all-encompassing term that can include a lot or little, depending on what you are seeking to achieve. The cost of living can be defined in a range of different ways. In many developing countries we know that
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