Page 3161 - Week 15 - Thursday, 14 December 1989
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On 7 December the new Liberal Chief Minister of the ACT, Mr Kaine, addressed this Assembly. He described the making of his statement as an historic occasion, and indeed it was, an occasion when he could set out his Liberal coalition Government's vision for Canberra. After 20 minutes of waiting, however, the Assembly saw no vision. All that the people of Canberra and this Assembly were treated to was 20 minutes of no doubt well intentioned rhetoric. But there was nothing of substance and no sign either of practical solutions to the issues facing us as a territory.
This lack of a coherent strategy should not have come as any surprise, for the formation of this Liberal coalition was not based on a firm commitment by those involved to a consistent agenda for Canberra. The new ACT Government grew out of nothing more than a cynical power grab. Indeed, its very formation relies upon a certain vagueness, if not downright ambiguity, about crucial issues.
Show me the Liberal in this coalition who is game to say, as their principles and their stated policy dictate, the casino will go ahead on section 19. Show me the Rally member who is game to say, as their principles and their stated policy dictate, there will be no casino on section 19. Mr Kaine in his address on 7 December fudged this issue. He did say, "This matter must be resolved quickly". But resolved which way? What is the coalition's policy? Is all of the coalition's policy, all of their vision, to be decided in the marketplace? Is it to be decided on the basis of whether a project is good for Canberra? Does it fit the much-vaunted vision only if the price is right?
Turning to the ACT's most significant community asset, its land, Mr Kaine said, "Where circumstances require a change of leasing purpose, a betterment tax will be levied". Again this is hardly a surprising statement as provision for betterment taxes has long existed and betterment taxes have been levied, if not always in a consistent fashion or in a way which provided for maximum return to the Canberra community. What Mr Kaine did not say, of course, was what rate of tax the coalition had in mind. Will it be 100 per cent, as is the Rally's policy? Again he has fudged the issue saying:
Depending on the degree of the change, this tax will be set at a level which balances the interests of the community and those committing their financial and other resources to the particular project.
Presumably this means less than 100 per cent. I ask, what is the view of the Minister for Finance and Urban Services, Mr Duby, on this important revenue issue? If we heard it, who would believe it?
Mr Kaine made much of his commitment on 7 December to alleviate the difficulties faced by Canberra's ageing
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