Page 771 - Week 03 - Thursday, 2 April 2020
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MR BARR: Firstly, Bill and Mary would be eligible for mortgage repayment holidays through their banking institution, as part of an agreement that the Australian government struck with the Australian banks. They should be able to access that for a period of, I think, at least six months. So they will not have to make any mortgage repayments on their investment property in that regard. They will also, if they are able to reach an agreement with their tenant to reduce their rent, be eligible for significant tax relief from the ACT government. Also, I understand that the federal government will be looking to provide further assistance through federal taxation arrangements.
MR WALL: Again, Chief Minister, what is the ACT government doing to support mum and dad investors such as Bill and Mary at this time, given that there has been nothing to assist them from the ACT government, despite your calls that everyone will need to shoulder some of the burden of this crisis?
MR BARR: I have just announced a significant package of tax relief for just those circumstances.
MR COE: Treasurer, who will be making the determinations on applications for rent reductions, and what role will property owners play in this process?
MR BARR: Property owners will be encouraged to work with their tenants in order to reach an agreement on rent reductions. That would then be lodged with the ACT government and we would provide the tax relief accordingly.
Government–essential services
MR COE: My question is to the Chief Minister. Chief Minister, what has the ACT government defined as essential services and how will that apply to a future further stage 4 of shutdown?
MR BARR: The same as everywhere else around the country, consistent with the national cabinet guidelines in terms of what constitutes essential. Should that change, it will be notified at a national level, noting that AHPPC advice has allowed for some variation between states and territories. The broad principles I have outlined are that we operate within the national cabinet framework with as close as possible alignment to New South Wales to ensure consistency in the Canberra region.
I do not want to speculate on whether there will be any further restrictions at this point, although it is within the purview of the national cabinet, acting on the advice of AHPPC to make further restrictions. Obviously, people will have seen over the past few weeks that where restrictions have been put in place it has been off the back of AHPPC advice to the national cabinet.
MR COE: Treasurer, what impact will such a lockdown or shut down have on private enterprise, in particular with regard to the construction sector?
MR BARR: There are certainly no proposals at this time to have any further impact on the construction sector other than what is provided through the national guidelines
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