Page 1933 - Week 06 - Thursday, 9 June 2016
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MR BARR: No, and I would advise the member that she would be well advised not to make accusations like that outside this chamber.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Ms Lawder.
MS LAWDER: Minister, when did you make the decision to end the community model restricting ownership of gaming machines to not-for-profit organisations?
MR BARR: We have not yet taken that decision, Madam Speaker.
Budget—rates increases
MRS JONES: My question is to the Chief Minister. Minister, why have you chosen to steeply increase residential rates charges for multi-unit dwellings at a time when many Canberrans are struggling to afford to buy land?
MR BARR: As I indicated in response to previous questions and in my budget speech presentation, the government has sought to introduce changes to the way we calculate rates for multi-unit dwellings. This reflects anomalies in the system that is currently in place that sees there being quite a disparity in rates paid between very high value units with people paying very low levels of rates and low to medium value standalone houses with people paying rates sometimes in advance of million-dollar units. We believe that an appropriate adjustment to the methodology results in a fairer distribution of the rates per unit.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mrs Jones.
Members interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Can I hear Mrs Jones, please.
MRS JONES: Minister, what impact will these rates increases have on rent?
MR BARR: Minimal.
Mr Hanson: It won’t be passed on?
MR BARR: We are talking about $150, so it is $3 a week.
Dr Bourke: A point of order.
MADAM SPEAKER: A point of order. Could we stop the clock, please.
Dr Bourke: Madam Speaker, the opposition has been continuously interrupting the Chief Minister during his answers to these questions and, in fact, even interrupting Mrs Jones when she was attempting to ask questions. It is disorderly and I would ask that you do something.
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