Page 4106 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 18 November 2015

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video


(k) that the Government’s taxation reforms are making the Territory’s taxes fairer, through reform to the rates system to make it more progressive, and through ensuring taxes are raised broadly across the community, instead of from residents who pay stamp duty;

(l) that the Government’s taxation reforms are making the Territory’s taxes simpler through the abolition of taxes;

(m) that the Government’s taxation reforms are making the Territory’s taxes more efficient, through a transition away from transaction-based taxes to land-based taxes;

(n) that the Government’s taxation reforms are making the ACT’s own-source revenue base more stable and predictable, thereby helping the Government plan for spending on services and facilities for the Territory community;

(o) that the Government has issued three phases of its Affordable Housing Action Plan, which is a comprehensive program that has helped improve housing affordability in the ACT;

(p) that the Government offers a range of concessions available to help households on lower incomes, including discounts on rates, energy and water bills;

(q) that the Government offers a range of targeted assistance to lower income households, including public housing, health care and transport;

(r) that the Government has continued to support the Territory economy during the Commonwealth’s cuts to jobs and spending, to ensure households continue to stay in work and have access to important community services;

(s) that the Government issues a cost of living statement as part of the annual Territory budget, and that the budget papers indicate rates increases in coming years;

(t) that the cost of living statement in the 2015-2016 Budget showed that ACT per capita taxation is below the national average;

(u) that there is currently broad and sustained support around Australia, including from key stakeholders such as business, industry and social sector organisations, about the need for wide-ranging taxation reform in this country;

(v) there has been long-standing advocacy for taxation reform from expert reviews, including by former Treasury Secretary, Ken Henry and former ACT Treasurer, Ted Quinlan;

(w) that the Canberra Liberals continue to shirk engaging in a meaningful debate about taxation reform;

(x) that the Canberra Liberals’ focus on three-word slogans about tax reform is misleading the community about the impact of taxation reform;


Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video