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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 6 Hansard (19 June) . . Page.. 2116 ..

MR SPEAKER: Order, Mr Smyth!

MR QUINLAN

: Excuse me, Mr Smyth. I will respond to one of your interjections. You talked of me using the terms "arrogance", "sloppy", et cetera. I think I might be entitled to strike back a little.

I accept that, in the inquiry, some people who I would have hoped would have supported the system did not-for example, the Weston Creek Community Council. I think their objection was that they did not want a rating system based on CPI. Unfortunately, the alternative-the previous system-was based on CPI. Although I was bemused at that stage, I was unable to really debate the concept with the Weston Creek Community Council.

In relation to some of the welfare agencies, I appreciate their concerns. Their concerns quickly turned into a lengthy discussion about concessions and other matters which are certainly relevant, but not directly relevant to the change in the system. The Weston Creek Community Council and the Council of the Ageing were two whose support I had hoped for, who did not give their support at the committee.

Some of the industry people came in. I refer again to the so-called ratepayers association. The gentleman who appeared for the ratepayers association is also the president of the property owners association. I think the association is really an association of landlords. However, landlords would have stood to gain from this system as well, unless those landlords were speculators. The proposed system would disadvantage people involved in residential property speculation, so I can appreciate their interest in torpedoing the system.

As I said, I do not intend to go on too long in the debate, because I can read the numbers and I do not believe in wasting too much of the Assembly's time. I was hoping I would see Mr Greg Cornwell down here-the champion of self-funded retirees. I thought he would be on my side on this one, because it is that legion of people who find themselves in a genuine squeeze with the rates under the rating system to which we must now return. We do not have a choice.

I would say, generally, that people whose rates increase in the upcoming year by more than CPI can be happy in the knowledge that they are contributing to a decrease in rates for the poor people of Yarralumla and Red Hill. As a Weston Creek resident, I am genuinely concerned for the people of Weston Creek, where we've seen land values skyrocketing as a result of recent post-bushfire sales.

There was a recent case touted in Sydney, with people saying that you cannot use a sale of unimproved land as an indicator of value. I do not think that is going to stand up when there have been so many blocks sold at premium prices. The Sydney case was based on a single block, so you can understand the possibility of the decision taken. In Weston Creek, the indications are that there will be a substantial increase in unimproved values.

I do not intend to waste time by introducing all of the amendments. I have spoken to people in this place and I know we do not have the numbers. I give notice now that I will

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