Page 1370 - Week 04 - Thursday, 12 April 2018
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MR BARR: Former treasurers are reasonably well equipped, I would have thought, to comment on a variety of issues. It does not mean that every current treasurer will agree with a former treasurer.
MR PARTON: Will you rethink the rating system that you introduced for units in 2016 now that a former Labor Treasurer has raised concerns about its fairness?
MR BARR: The government makes changes to legislation pertaining to rates and taxes and other matters each year in the budget process and sometimes more frequently. I would not necessarily rule anything in or out. I will look at the comments of former Treasurer Quinlan as I would any other comments from anyone else in the community.
Planning—entertainment precincts
MS LE COUTEUR: My question is to the Minister for Planning and Urban Renewal and it relates to the urban sounds discussion paper. Minister, at least one night club in Civic has closed recently due to concerns about a hotel being constructed nearby. In your response to a question on notice last year you said that you expected the final package of reforms for the urban sounds paper, including entertainment precincts and noise attenuation requirements, to be announced by the end of 2017. What progress has been made on finalising the paper for public release?
MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Ms Le Couteur for her question. It is a very important inquiry that we are conducting at the moment for the future of Canberra, particularly around live music venues and urban sounds. We know that we have had, I think, some interesting challenges, particularly for new venues or new residential venues around previous entertainment precincts. I think New Acton is a really good example of that.
We are working through that process. We have not reached the conclusion of the paper yet but hopefully in the not-too-distant future I will be able to update the Assembly on the inquiry.
MS LE COUTEUR: Minister, what is the status of the development and implementation of entertainment precincts and has work commenced to integrate them into the Territory Plan?
MR GENTLEMAN: Yes. Work within the directorate has commenced. We are looking at how we can embed the opportunity for urban sounds in the Territory Plan as a forward planning process to ensure that we can have active, live entertainment across the ACT whilst of course catering for new residential opportunities too.
Taxation—unit rating system
MS LAWDER: My question is to the Treasurer. On 5 April 2018, ABC Online reported that a constituent living in a two-bedroom unit in Kingston had complained that her rates had gone up by 60 per cent in one year. Why is it fair for people living in units to have their rates increased by up to 60 per cent in one year while the CFMEU enjoys a sweetheart deal through the land swap with the ACT government?
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