Page 2626 - Week 08 - Thursday, 14 August 2014
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policy about credit card parking machines, and three hours later—three hours later—the government put out the same policy. It was the same policy on the same day. Three hours later the government put out a policy, saying, “We’ll do what the Liberals are going to do too.”
Once again, the increase in the parking fees is a misguided attempt to force Canberrans out of their cars and onto public transport. The fact is that the best way to get people onto public transport in a meaningful and sustainable way is to actually improve the public transport, rather than simply make it too expensive to park their cars. The government’s plan, of course, is not working.
Since 2008 the cost of parking just here in the city has gone from $6.70 to $14.50, yet ACTION patronage has remained the same. That tells you something. It tells you that there is inelastic demand for parking. Therefore, when the government raise the price of parking, knowing that there is inelastic demand, they are simply gouging Canberrans. They know that Canberrans have to pay it; therefore it is simply another tax. People are not making extravagant lifestyle choices to drive their cars. They are driving cars because they have to. They are driving cars because of the way our city has been planned and because of the lifestyle that we all have in Canberra, which is one of going from A to B, to C to D and so on. The government would be better off improving the bus service rather than gouging motorists who still prefer the convenience of their cars.
Mr Barr interjecting—
MR COE: Mr Barr thinks that we are not particularly unique. He will find that participation rates for the ACT are routinely higher than in almost every other jurisdiction by just about every single indicator. For that reason, Canberrans, more than people in any other jurisdiction, depend on their cars to go to various events and activities.
Basic urban services like mowing and the provision of footpaths should be central to the operation of TAMS. Most Canberrans take pride in the appearance of their properties, but unfortunately the government does not always live up to its end of the bargain. Overgrown grass and broken footpaths all detract from the appearance of our suburbs, and it is certainly something which we on this side of the chamber, including my colleague from Molonglo, Mrs Jones, have spoken about at great length. The estimates committee has called for the government to address the lack of footpaths and footpath maintenance, particularly in the older suburbs. Poorly maintained or non-existent footpaths make it dangerous for less mobile members of the community to move around their suburb, and that is in fact contrary to the government’s stated policy of active living.
Maintaining footpaths so that people are less likely to fall should be a priority for a local government, particularly if it wants to encourage people to be active. Instead of pouring money into many extravagant programs, such as light rail, perhaps the government could think about core municipal services and get those right first. Canberra is the nation’s capital; therefore it is right and proper that we make sure that our city does not look untidy or neglected.
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