Page 477 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 17 February 2016
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It is becoming increasingly harder, Mr Barr, for senior citizens—you are laughing as usual—and that is something that is real in the community. Apparently you are finding it very difficult to understand how the ageing are coping with issues that you are trying to make even harder for them. It is becoming increasingly harder for senior citizens in Canberra to maintain their lifestyles. House costs are higher, rates are tripling and general costs of living are getting more and more expensive. For people on fixed or reducing incomes, living in the ACT is not easy. In fact, many older Canberrans are choosing to retire elsewhere. Concessions are designed to assist financially disadvantaged people to meet these costs of living. The indecision, lack of certainty and limited consideration of community feedback in regards to the review of the ACT concessions program clearly demonstrate that those opposite do not prioritise our senior community members. (Time expired.)
MR BARR (Molonglo—Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Tourism and Events and Minister for Urban Renewal) (11.10): I move the amendment circulated in my name:
Omit all words after “That this Assembly”, substitute:
“(1) notes that:
(a) the ACT Government wants to ensure that the ACT Concessions Program is targeted to help those who need it most;
(b) the Government is committed to extending a helping hand to Canberrans in need, and making sure vulnerable and disadvantaged people in our community have access to concessions for transport and essential services;
(c) in November 2015 the Government released a discussion paper Options to improve the fairness and targeting of the ACT Concessions Program, and that the discussion paper provides detailed information on a range of options to improve the fairness and targeting of the ACT Concessions Program;
(d) further changes to the social security system by the Commonwealth Government may affect the eligibility arrangements for the ACT Government Concessions Program;
(e) the federal Liberal Party cut funding to concessions programs in the ACT by terminating the National Partnership Agreement on Certain Concessions for Pensioner Concession Card and Seniors Card Holders; and
(f) the ACT Government has stepped in to provide support for low-income Canberrans at a time when the federal Liberal Party has been cutting benefits and raising taxes on the least well off in our community; and
(2) calls on the Government to:
(a) write to the Federal Liberal Government to condemn its cost-cutting exercise of terminating the National Partnership Agreement on Certain
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