Page 1817 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 15 June 1993
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In addition to these increases in rates and land tax, Ministers will be arranging notification of a range of new fees and charges to apply from 1 July 1993. Amongst these, parking fines will be increased by 10 per cent overall, with a 100 per cent increase in the fine for unauthorised parking in disabled persons spaces. Motor registration fees will be increased by 3 per cent, in line with the CPI, with effect from 1 August 1993. New drivers licence fees are also proposed in order to align with the graduated licence scheme in New South Wales. ACTION bus fares are proposed to increase by 3 per cent. Overall, the new fees will raise an additional $3.8m in 1993-94 compared to the forward estimates, which will broadly maintain real values.
These revenue measures are unavoidable. They reinforce the need for the utmost constraint on outlays. In this context, I expect the forthcoming budget to be the most difficult of all the budgets since self-government. The community cannot be expected to bear increased fees and taxes to maintain inefficient and low priority services. New spending initiatives will need to be supported by savings either within the program or across other programs. Similarly, areas of remaining inefficiency resulting from past work practices, duplication or overservicing will be curtailed, to avoid placing further burdens on the taxpayers.
The tax measures to be introduced today therefore must be seen in the context of the medium-term strategy the Government embarked on last year. This followed two Labor budgets which both made substantial inroads into the high cost of ACT services. The forthcoming budget will build on that base. Whilst I trust that the Commonwealth will provide special revenue assistance, as for other States in similar circumstances, the long-term requirement for the ACT is clear cut and unavoidable. The ACT must live within its means. This will require major changes to the scope and cost of services previously provided under Commonwealth administration. It will require significant changes in the community's expectations if the ACT is to avoid the high debt position which has proved disastrous in other States.
In conclusion, I commend the Rates and Land Tax (Amendment) Bill 1993 to the Assembly as an essential money Bill and an integral component of our difficult budget task. I realise that time is short for members to consider the Bill, and I repeat my offer of full briefings on this Bill. I present the explanatory memorandum for the Bill.
Debate (on motion by Mr Kaine) adjourned.
SUPPLY BILL 1993-94
Debate resumed from 20 May 1993, on motion by Ms Follett:
That this Bill be agreed to in principle.
MR KAINE (8.46): I think the Chief Minister, in introducing the Bill she has just tabled, has clearly indicated the dilemma the Government is in this year in terms of its revenues and expenditures. Under these circumstances, more than any other, the Government has an obligation to tell the taxpayer and the consumer of services out there what they can expect next year. It has been long suspected that
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