Page 822 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 2 May 2007
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In a just world, all citizens would have free, equal and affordable access to essential goods and services. But such is not the case because governments across Australia have adopted the user pays principle for a range of services that people used to receive at no cost, except, of course, for the cost that they paid through their taxes. We find ourselves in need of a consistent and effective ACT government concessions policy to ensure that, despite user pays principles, low income and disadvantaged residents can have fair access to essential services.
In December 2000, the ACT Poverty Task Group recommended an inclusive stakeholder review of the effectiveness and adequacy of current concessions and rebates in assisting people affected by poverty to participate in the community. The Liberal government of that time accepted that recommendation, as did the succeeding Labor government. The Liberal and Labor governments went on to spend almost $50,000 on consultants for this project. I also understand a number of community groups, including Care and ACTCOSS, took the time to make detailed submissions to this review. It is a shame that this money and time did not result in positive changes to concessions.
Over the past 10 months I have spoken many times about the impact the 2006-07 budget has had on Canberra’s low income and disadvantaged residents, and specifically the total lack of any progressive policy within its rates and levy increases. I have also spoken of my concern about the absence of an increase in community service obligations relating to the Utilities Act amendments made late last year. I was told the government would wait and see if any increase in community service obligations were needed in a year’s time, but wait and see does not help our constituents in the ACT who are living in poverty in the here and now. Nonetheless, I will be interested to see what the government decides when that year is up.
If the government is to take such drastic budgetary steps as it has done in the 2006-07 budget, should it not also assess the consequences of those for Canberra’s most vulnerable people. A government that was committed to its social plan would do this, but the evidence indicates that this government’s commitment to its social plan has dropped. We need this government to re-commit to its social policies, and words are not good enough for us any more. We simply do not believe them. We need this government to take action that shows it still cares. This motion gives the ACT government an opportunity to do that. By agreeing to it, while I doubt all will be forgiven, I believe some hope could be restored.
Under the federal government’s welfare to work program, many single parents are no longer eligible for their parenting payments, and countless people living with a disability are no longer eligible for disability support pensions. Under the 2006 welfare to work reforms, they are being moved onto the meagre Newstart allowance, with all its reporting obligations.
In the ACT, as a result of welfare to work, over 1,250 people with disabilities could lose $46 per week and those who choose to study full time will receive up to $166 per week less. Even if they get a job for the required 15 hours per week, their weekly disposable income will be $99 less than if they were on the disability support pension, which is hardly a fortune.
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