Page 464 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 19 February 2020
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to do. It is time to stop blaming the commonwealth. It is time to acknowledge that the cost of living pressures in Canberra are a result of the deliberate actions of 19 years of this government.
We want to make sure that Canberra is and remains the best place to live, work and raise a family, but how can we do that when so many of our residents are suffering under the skyrocketing cost of living? We have the highest rents, the most expensive petrol, the highest costs for owning and running a car, the highest gas prices, the highest childcare prices, and the second highest land prices. These things will disproportionately hurt people on low incomes. Do not forget that 7.7 per cent of our population are living in poverty. I especially acknowledge the effect on older people and people on fixed incomes of these skyrocketing fees, charges, taxes and rates.
Since 2012 Labor have tripled our rates. Rates have increased from $209 million in 2011-12 to $652 million in the 2020-21 year. In the 2019-20 budget, rates for houses and rural properties increased by seven per cent, rates for unit-titled properties increased by 11 per cent and land tax increased by seven per cent. For the first time in Canberra’s history, a government, this Labor-Greens government, will collect revenue exceeding $7 billion, yet they are borrowing record amounts. Under Labor, Canberrans will be paying interest on these borrowings for decades, further adding to increases in their costs of living.
Let us not forget that the 2015 Dropping off the edge report on persistent and entrenched hardship indicated the postcodes of disadvantage in the ACT. 2620—Tuggeranong—was one of those postcodes of disadvantage in the ACT. 2905—Bonython and Chisholm—was also a postcode of disadvantage. In the next chunk below, not quite so disadvantaged but still making the list, was 2902—Kambah.
It is worth noting that in the 2007 report only the Tuggeranong 2620 postcode was in that list of the most disadvantaged. Between the 2007 report and the 2015 Dropping off the edge report, Bonython, Chisholm and Kambah have come onto the list. No wonder people in Tuggeranong tell me they are struggling with the cost of living; it is quite apparent from the data.
In Tuggeranong the importance of reducing the cost of living is even more evident. Not only are our costs of living increasing but services are diminishing. People tell me that they feel like they are paying more and getting less. Tuggeranong residents are sick and tired of this. They are sick of the increases in costs and at the same time the reduction in services. They are sick and tired of feeling neglected.
Our commitment is to bring down the cost of living, and Canberrans deserve this, not only for those who are most disadvantaged but for many in that middle tier in Canberra who are struggling. We believe in reducing the costs of living for Canberra families. Freezing rates is one way that we can do this. Better management of the budget overall will also bring that benefit to struggling families right across our city.
MR GUPTA (Yerrabi) (11.02): I am pleased to speak to Mr Coe’s motion on the cost of living in Canberra. Canberra is an inclusive, progressive and connected city, but we know that cost-of-living pressures weigh more heavily on some Canberrans than
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