Page 1845 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 8 June 2016

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Here are comments received from a few more interested people in the Phillip precinct. One business says:

Our clients did find Phillip an advantage in having no paid parking. The article in the Canberra times read as if Phillip Business community sought it because of the numbers of public servants or full time workers using Phillip as an option for parking. Our clients will not like this.

Another said:

We as a business find this absolutely appalling. We own a mechanic shop so we have numerous cars a day parking at our place of work now do we foot the parking? Will we lose business as customers don’t want to pay $9 a day? This is absolutely ridiculous. Not happy at all! ACT government making it hard for small businesses again.

I will read a final one. This business owner said:

As a building owner in the business community in Phillip, I think we should unite all traders and owners in Phillip to show the Labour ministers in charge Mr Gentleman and Ms Fitzharris our disgust in the way they have treated us and their lack of interest in our business community.

To add insult to injury, premium commercial rates are paid by small businesses in this town, and in the case of the Phillip commercial precinct they feel that they are getting very little in the way of return for the substantial outlay they make each year.

In stark contrast, the Canberra Liberals have a much better plan. We believe that there should be a better mix of short stay and long-stay parking, and also the availability of permit parking within the Phillip precinct. We believe that businesses in this precinct and others in Canberra will benefit when a run-down area is improved and maintained better. This helps business which, in turn, supports the ACT economy, and it is a simple, common-sense approach.

The Canberra Liberals will remove any additional pay parking if it is implemented before the ACT election. The Canberra Liberals will take a more consultative approach to decision-making, especially talking to those whom these decisions affect directly, namely, the business operators and the employees in this precinct. The Canberra Liberals have also made a commitment to work with traders in this precinct and across the board to discuss solutions and provide genuine opportunities to have their views heard. This is in stark contrast to what those opposite are offering or are willing to do.

In conclusion, I seek leave to present to the Assembly an out-of-order petition that has been signed by 679 people in regard to the decision to install pay parking throughout the Phillip precinct. It calls on the government to conduct a full review of the decision prior to installing parking meters throughout the Phillip district.

Leave granted.


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