Page 444 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 20 February 2019
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Finally, I want to remind the chamber of a particular extract from Miss Burch’s maiden speech in this place. She said in her speech:
It is, of course, the hard-earned money of ACT taxpayers that we are spending. Government has a duty to ensure that ACT taxpayers are receiving value for money …
I wonder, then, how this member of the opposition thinks it is wise, potentially, to spend 60 per cent of over $76 million that is being claimed to be lost by private investors to people in Melbourne or the Gold Coast or Sydney, and how that would be providing value for money for the ACT ratepayer. I wonder which tax she intends to raise to fund this suggestion of giving ACT ratepayers’ money to people in other states. I wonder which program she wishes to cut, which school she wishes to close down, how many hospital beds she wishes to remove to fund this money to be paid to people in other states.
Madam Speaker, the original motion cannot stand, on the simplest level of scrutiny. Therefore, I commend the amendment that has been circulated in my name to the Assembly. I move:
Omit all text after “That this Assembly”, substitute:
“(1) notes that:
(a) the Government has been rolling out reforms to the on-demand transport industry since 2015;
(b) the Government undertook extensive industry and community consultation, research and analysis, prior to the reforms, to determine the full range of potential impacts to stakeholders;
(c) through extensive stakeholder consultation for the subsequent evaluation, consumers told the Government that they now have more choices for travel, namely rideshare, but also more taxi booking services to choose from;
(d) the Government is levelling the playing field in the on-demand transport industry, with a focus on ensuring positive consumer outcomes through increased competition, as well as reducing operating costs for drivers and operators;
(e) the Government is committed to making Canberra an accessible, inclusive city and to broadening consumer choices of travel by taking advantage of emerging, alternative technologies and travel business models;
(f) a significant portion of the demand for rideshare services has come from a new cohort of on demand users, who previously did not use taxis;
(g) the Government has not sold any perpetual plates since 1995;
(h) according to the Centre for International Economics, an individual who acquired (at the average market price) and held a perpetual taxi licence in 2005 or earlier has achieved a positive investment return;
(i) over time individuals holding these licences have had ready access to information about government intentions to review the industry and potentially introduce deregulation to the industry;
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