Page 3676 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 23 August 2011
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I would like to see that done every year. I would like to see budgets every year containing a statement of what the impact will be. I think it is disappointing that the Labor Party and the Greens do not see that.
Mr Assistant Speaker, there will always be cost of living pressures on families. What this government must do is take their hand out of the pockets of families and ensure that—(Time expired.)
MR BARR: (Molonglo—Deputy Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Education and Training and Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation) (3.44): I thank the shadow treasurer for raising this matter of public importance this afternoon. The government has a proud record of assisting those in need—those vulnerable in our community. Members would recall that there was a motion from the opposition in the June sittings. Members would also recall that the motion was accompanied by some information and figures that simply could not be verified. This lack of verifiability was not the only problem. There were a series of unsubstantiated assertions and disregard of a number of important facts. What we have just heard is a continuation of that performance from the shadow treasurer. This is, of course, an important issue, and it is important not to be politicking about it. It is important to get the facts right. It is important that we have regard for the full information and not just the part that suits the shadow treasurer.
Prices increase over time. I think everyone recognises that fact. But not recognising that incomes may have also increased is quite misleading of the shadow treasurer. I note that the Leader of the Opposition was on the radio this morning aping his federal leader talking about a great big new tax on dwellings. As I am sure the Leader of the Opposition knows, or should know, it is not new—it has been there for 40 years—and it accounts for around one per cent of total territory taxation.
It is better to deal with facts than with anecdotes. The facts are that, overall, the ACT has the youngest, the healthiest, the most educated and the most productive population of all states and territories in Australia. We have by far the highest average incomes in the country. There are, indeed, some people in our community who find it hard to keep up with general cost of living pressures. The government has always been mindful of the pressures that they face. This government has a proud record of assisting these Canberrans.
But the sense of crisis that has been whipped up by the shadow treasurer, or at least the attempt at it, is far from reality. Increases in prices must be seen in the light of increases in wages and increases in service provision. Importantly, the government assists all households in the ACT with cost of living pressures by helping to build a strong economy that supports and creates jobs.
The fact is that the ACT has one of the strongest economies in the country. We have the highest economic growth, the lowest unemployment rate, at four per cent, and the highest labour force participation rate at 72½ per cent. ABS data shows living costs in the ACT are around the national average. The ACT is the fourth cheapest capital city in the country. Wages have grown by 42 per cent since 2001. That is one per cent
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