Page 498 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 19 March 2014

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Construction industry—development conditions

MR COE (Ginninderra) (11.55): I move:

That this Assembly:

(1) notes:

(a) the Government introduced the current formula for commence and complete fees in 2008;

(b) the Government introduced the lease variation charge in 2011 at levels that were strongly criticised by industry;

(c) the Government announced in March 2014 a partial winding-back of their own changes to commence and complete fees and the lease variation charge;

(d) the Government’s “stimulus package” is an admission that their fiscal policies have failed;

(e) the lease variation charge has served as a strong disincentive for increasing density in areas designated by the Government as being appropriate for densification;

(f) numerous commercial projects have not gone ahead due to the disproportionately high commence and complete fees;

(g) the Government’s excessive fees, charges, taxes and regulations are hurting job creation and investment in the construction sector; and

(h) in February 2014, the Government opposed calls by the Opposition to significantly reduce commence and complete fees and lease variation charges; and

(2) calls on the ACT Government to:

(a) significantly and permanently reduce the lease variation charge which contradicts the Government’s infill policy and serves as a disincentive for investment;

(b) put a hold on any further increases in levies for portable long service leave;

(d) abandon the Government’s monopoly of land supply and commit to a land supply model which is accessible for builders of all business sizes;

(e) improve ACTPLA’s performance by minimising their demands and improving decision times; and

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