Page 24 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 10 February 2015
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Mr Coe: One could say they were moving forward.
MR SMYTH: One could say that. “Transformation” was to deliver city to the lake, the city plan and the Northbourne corridor, but of course they are all delayed. They are not going to happen. You only have to look at Mr Corbell’s record on delivering things when he delivered his plan for City Hill almost 10 years ago, and see that none of it was delivered. Sixteen key initiatives; zero delivered. There is a need for renewal but it is not going to come from those opposite.
I am pleased Mr Corbell went to the Sensis report. He obviously did not read it very well because the latest Sensis report is a damning indictment of this government and the way it treats business. It is amazing that after 13 years in office all they can do is come up with a local industry advocate. I am sure some will accept that that might help, or hope that it will help, but what has the minister been doing? Who has been the minister for business? Why, it is the Chief Minister. And what does he have to help him do that? He has a whole department. Yet they have now just abrogated the job of that department to a local industry advocate because the minister cannot get it done.
I thank Mr Corbell for going to the Sensis report. What Mr Corbell forgot to tell this place is what the result of the Sensis report was. In August 2014 the government’s net balance, as opposed to those who thought government policy worked against business in the ACT, against SMEs—small to medium businesses—was plus 32. Things were okay in August, but by December it had dropped to minus 10, Mr Corbell. You should actually read the reports before you quote them. Plus 32 to minus 10 is a difference of 42 points in three months.
Mr Barr: What is the sample size?
MR SMYTH: The minister injects, “What is the sample size?” You can go through the documents, because when it is positive it is a good sample size, but when people raise complaints, curse them for just being a few people. The report is there; the report stands on its own.
Let us go to the heart of what they are upset about—a 42-point drop in a single quarter. The issues mentioned are bureaucracy and compliance issues, government interference, the government’s rules, the government’s red tape and over-regulation. Compliance costs are high and there is too much paperwork. That is the legacy of 13 years of Labor and of a minister for business and economic development who has been there for way too long.
Taxes and cost imposts are mentioned. Land tax issues are affecting businesses in the ACT, and the cost of utilities, power and rates. Rates: triple your rates; here it comes out. The rates are biting, because the property sector thought they were getting a good deal until the minister had a 30 per cent rate increase in commercial properties in a single year. There are the increased costs of motor vehicle registration. Because the government has not diversified the economy, we tax those we have always taxed more and harder.
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