Page 3692 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 13 September 2017

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It is all very well for those opposite to approve an amendment; I do not think they would be too distraught about compromising on this amendment with Ms Le Couteur. I do not think Mr Barr feels that he has sold out on the old reform package by agreeing to this amendment because it is not going to achieve anything. It is not going to achieve anything for Susan, David, Steve, Roger, Irena or the thousands of other Canberrans who are struggling. And this is from a government that is meant to be about social justice.

This is a government that governs for those who can afford to live here and nobody else. It is a government that governs for special deals by way of land rorts. It is a government that governs for the CFMEU, for giving $3.9 million of ratepayers’ money to a secret deal that happened a week after Andrew Barr became Chief Minister. That is where your rates money goes. It is one thing if you are getting good value for money and you can afford it, but it is another when you are getting rorted because you are paying more and getting less, and that is what is happening in the ACT. That is why so many Canberrans feel like they have been sold a pup with this government.

This government and this Treasurer looked people in the eye and said, “I won’t triple your rates.” This year alone, Reg and Naysin got a 50 per cent increase. It is simply unfair. This is a government that will continue this trajectory. As long as Labor and the Greens are in lock step, this will continue. There is no relief in sight. It is a shame that we have to talk about concessions because concessions are actually the symptom. Concessions are not actually the core issue; the core issue is why a concession is needed. It is a travesty that this government that claims to be about workers is leaving so many workers behind. That is why the Canberra Liberals will not support the words that Ms Le Couteur has circulated, because they will not achieve anything. They will not achieve any tangible outcome for the thousands of Canberrans who are struggling.

Question put:

That the amendment be agreed to.

The Assembly voted—

Amendment agreed to.

Original question, as amended, resolved in the affirmative.

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