Page 959 - Week 03 - Thursday, 22 March 2018
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MS BERRY: Madam Speaker, this morning there was a very meaningful conversation in this place about bullying, yet the opposition continue to laugh and make snide comments while people are trying to respond in answer to questions.
I know Mr Parton is interested in this. I know Mr Stanhope is very interested in this as well. Mr Stanhope thinks that his plan was the only plan. His plan had some good things in it; it did have some good things in it. We want to build on the work that Mr Stanhope did and make it even better, because things have changed. The ACT government has made some significant changes, particularly around stamp duty, which will make a difference and make housing more affordable.
MR PARTON: Minister, why is the ACT government exploiting its monopoly on land by having a gross profit margin of 73 per cent?
MS BERRY: I would have to suggest that I would much rather that the profit for land sales in the ACT is owned by the community and not by the private sector. That is my view.
MR COE: Minister, how can it be that your government’s plan to triple rates, triple the gross profit margin and perhaps triple the AUV—
Mr Gentleman: Point of order, Madam Speaker. Preamble. It is a supplementary question.
MADAM SPEAKER: The question is in order. It is more than a simple, single question, though. Mr Coe, continue.
MR COE: How can it be that the government’s method of tripling rates, tripling the gross profit margin and perhaps tripling the AUV is somehow assisting with housing affordability?
MS BERRY: The ACT has had a plan for some time under the Chief Minister and Treasurer for making some bold and courageous reforms in tax in the ACT that will make a difference. What the ACT needs, and what the rest of the country needs, is for the federal government to be bold and courageous as well, and make tax reforms around negative gearing which will make a difference to the affordability of housing in the ACT.
Childhood sexual abuse—redress scheme
MS CHEYNE: My question is to the Attorney-General. Attorney, what are the next steps for the ACT now that the government is opting in to the commonwealth redress scheme for survivors of childhood sexual abuse?
MR RAMSAY: I thank Ms Cheyne for the question. The establishment of a redress scheme was a key recommendation of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. We are working to ensure that the scheme, which will begin operating on 1 July this year, meets the needs of survivors and assists in their long-term recovery.
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