Page 2101 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 5 June 2019
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
We know that older Canberrans, specifically older women, are increasingly vulnerable in the housing market and are increasingly at risk of homelessness because of this government’s policies. Canberra has the highest rents in Australia as a direct result of this government’s policies. We have a housing affordability crisis as a direct result of this government’s policies.
That is why my colleague Mr Coe has brought forward this motion today. It calls on the government to stop its relentless assault on the cost of living in Canberra and to give our more vulnerable citizens a break. It calls on the Assembly to recognise the impacts that their decisions are having on our most vulnerable.
It has been said that the measure of a society is how it treat its most vulnerable members. Those opposite have that choice today. They can open their eyes to the reality of how their rates, fees and charges are hurting people in Canberra. They can take their stance or they can choose to remain silent and continue their support for a government progressing tax reform for ideological reasons, never mind who falls behind.
As former Labor Chief Minister Jon Stanhope said today in the CityNews, the government has, in the implementation of taxation reform, reneged on the undertaking that the reforms will be revenue neutral. It has ignored the recommendation to abolish land tax, which has contributed to the rental crisis. It has also introduced a raft of flat charges, has reneged on its commitment to not increase the flat component of general rates and has ignored recommendations regarding concessions to ameliorate the effect of the reforms on people on low to moderate incomes. These, according to Mr Stanhope, are not the actions of a progressive government. I like to think of Mr Stanhope as the conscience of this government. He is no longer constrained by party room, by caucus. He can say what he really believes.
We on this side of the chamber have always believed that Canberrans know how to manage their budget better than this government. But Canberrans are under such pressure. Are they going to be able to have the heater on? Do they have to choose between having bread and butter and meat on the table and turning the heater on? I commend this motion to the Assembly.
MR COE (Yerrabi—Leader of the Opposition) (11.37): The fact that no Labor backbencher wants to either come to the government’s defence or hold them to account, not just on this motion today but also across the board when it comes to rates reform, tax reform, the cost of living and indeed the extraordinary disadvantage we have in this city, shows just how far the Labor Party has shifted from its base.
This is a Labor Party that no longer represents the working poor. This is a Labor Party that no longer advocates for the disadvantaged. This is a Labor Party that cares only about people who believe in their ideology, support their pet projects and, importantly, can afford to pay for it.
The reality is that so many Canberrans simply cannot afford this government. This government has put Canberrans out of reach of their city. So many people in Canberra
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video