Page 2844 - Week 07 - Thursday, 7 June 2012
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electricity, another 17.2 per cent; gas, another 11.5 per cent; sewerage charges, 8.2 per cent; and car parking revenue another 22 per cent next year alone.
Chief Minister, it is a bit hard to turn off the water, or the sewerage, or the power, after your government has doubled or tripled the costs—and this budget delivers more massive increases, right across the board, for every person, for every family, for every home and for every business.
Katy Gallagher’s “turn off the Foxtel” will take its place among other Labor classics such as Paul Keating’s “get a job” or “the recession we had to have”. It completely confirms how utterly out of touch this government has become, despite massive evidence to the contrary.
One aspect of the budget papers ought to tell the Chief Minister the true state of affairs. It is an aspect the Canberra Liberals fought very hard to get included and are very glad is there—the cost of living statement in budget paper 3. This paper shows, in black and white, just how much it costs to be governed by ACT Labor. This chart shows that in 2012-13 the cost of ACT government fees and services for an average household in Canberra will be over $9,000.
Bad as that number is, what are even more concerning are the parameters for the average family upon which that number is based. As we know, the term “average” in the hands of a Labor government is a very dangerous term indeed. This “average” family have two adults, one working full time and one part time. They have two kids, one at school. They have two cars—not an unreasonable starting point. However, this family has two cars but never pays for car parking; the full-time worker catches the bus every day and leaves the car at home, apparently.
Perhaps this was left out due to the 22 per cent increase in revenue scheduled in this budget. Without knowing the full details, this could amount to as much as $3,000 per year or more for someone parking in the city every day for 46 weeks a year. No wonder they left it out. The child of this average family also appears to enjoy free childcare, as this is not included either. And, as we know, and as many people have pointed out, childcare is incredibly expensive, even on a part-time basis. That could add $80 per day to that $9,000 figure, or up to $400 a week.
I am not suggesting that the ACT government control all childcare costs, but they do have a significant influence upon them. This influence can be seen in the difference between the ACT and the national average, which amounts to $13 a day, $65 a week or $1,642 extra every year for childcare. No wonder they left that out.
The family do not use telephones or the internet either, this “average” family. The utilities tax, a tax set and collected exclusively by this ACT Labor government, is not included in the cost of living statement; nor are any of the costs associated with school-aged children, nor of using their car. Therefore, this very un-average “average” Canberra family will pay at least $9,000 a year, or $750 a month, to be governed by ACT Labor.
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