Page 1122 - Week 04 - Thursday, 22 April 2021
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This service cannot go unperformed. As such, it is incumbent on the government to make sure that it has the funding to operate in response to the needs as they arise. That is why I am very pleased in this budget to allocate an additional $1.7 million over four years to increase the community service obligation for the Public Trustee and Guardian. They have seen a significant increase in both the costs and the complexity of managing the affairs of their clients, as well as an increase in number. The Public Trustee and Guardian will also increase their own source revenue to cover the cost of managing their clients’ accounts.
I just want to take this chance to explain to the Assembly that there are some clients who are quite capable of paying for the services. The Public Trustee and Guardian operate on a basis where those who can afford the services are charged a fee and those who cannot are subsidised by the government community service obligations. So there are two groups there. Through those two additional sources of revenue, the Public Trustee have assured me that they will be able to provide an outstanding service for members of the Canberra community. Also, of course, they have some money in trust. With the low yield fiscal environment we have been in, it is necessary to support the Public Trustee and Guardian in recognition of that. I commend this appropriation to the Assembly.
Proposed expenditure agreed to.
Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission—Part 1.22
MR BARR (Kurrajong—Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Climate Action, Minister for Economic Development and Minister for Tourism) (5.09): Very briefly, I will highlight for the benefit of members the two key pieces of work that the ICRC will be undertaking.
The first, which I alluded to in the legislation introduced this week, around improving competition in the retail market for electricity, is the work developing an industry code which will require retailers to promote their offers to consumers. This work will make it easier for ACT consumers to get better electricity deals by improving price transparency and providing the ability to compare offers.
The second important piece of work that the ICRC are undertaking is a review of non-potable water charges. They will be providing specialist advice on recycled water costs as part of this review. The review will assess non-potable water costs with the intention of assisting high intensity club users of non-potable water in maintaining their operations. I know that this is an issue that has been raised both with myself and with Mr Rattenbury and others. This is important work that the ICRC will be undertaking. I commend this appropriation to the Assembly.
Proposed expenditure agreed to.
Total appropriated to territory entities.
Proposed expenditure agreed to.
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