Page 1248 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 3 April 2019
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That includes in the way it does procurement, which has been greatly improved by the local jobs code. It is also about working with unions to ensure that every job that can be made permanent is made permanent. Acting as a model employer and giving people security of employment gives them the financial stability to take out a mortgage, buy a house, go on a holiday and so much more. These things also set an example for private industry and are part of fixing Australia’s broken industrial relations system.
My vision and that of the people on this side of the chamber extends not only to putting an extra dollar in the pocket of workers, though; it also extends to making life easier in many other ways. They say taxes are the price of civilisation, but so too are fees and charges, and there are many in the community that struggle with these expenses.
The ACT government has a substantial and well-targeted system of concessions. Our concession system should be, and largely is, means tested, not using the taxable income weasel words we hear from across the lake, where millionaires with tricky accountants get more from the federal government than genuine pensioners—actually means tested.
The ACT government has done a fantastic job of helping to reduce the immediate costs associated with things like paying a fine, but there is more that can and should be done. Currently we can pay many of our services incrementally. I pay my rates fortnightly. There are even some options to be able to pay off traffic infringements over a period of time. But we can and we should go further.
The next big item on the list is car registration. A number of years ago the ACT government started the process of being able to pay rego in three-monthly blocks and that has made a big difference to many members of the community. It helps a lot, but we should work towards making that a fortnightly payment. Why? Because small, frequent, predictable bills are so much easier to manage than the shocks that big bills create. We should add fines to this system.
Low income earners are often living pay cheque to pay cheque. Adding additional, unforeseen fines to this can add stress and leave people in financial strife. It is important that we as a government try to lessen the financial stress put on our community. We should do all we can to make life easier for those Canberrans struggling in big ways and small.
MADAM SPEAKER: Before I call the next speaker, it seems that, given that it is your birthday, there is an expectation for people to wish you happy birthday. With indulgence, happy birthday, Ms Cody.
MR COE (Yerrabi—Leader of the Opposition) (10.50): The opposition will be supporting the motion. As Ms Cody has pointed out, life in the ACT under the ACT government is extremely difficult for many people. The cost of living has risen considerably since Labor and the Greens took power. As Ms Cody has detailed, many people in Canberra are struggling because rates and land taxes continue to increase at
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