Page 2224 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 3 August 2016
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MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Ms Burch.
MS BURCH: Minister, can you provide to the Assembly if you are aware of alternative policies on rates for the ACT?
MADAM SPEAKER: This is a question about rates to units, so it would have to be alternative policy in relation to rates to units and be relevant to that.
MR BARR: Yes, indeed, Madam Speaker. There are, of course, a range of options as to how government would go about calculating the value, the average unimproved value, of a unit. What we have sought to do in our approach is to ensure that there is greater fairness and equity so that, for example, a multimillion dollar unit on the Kingston Foreshore pays more rates than it paid previously and that that is not disproportionately less than, for example, a standard suburban house in Banks or Charnwood. So there is much greater correlation now with the value of the property than there was under the former system. That is a more equitable outcome for Canberrans and it is a more sustainable outcome for the city in the longer term.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Coe.
MR COE: How many households who reside in retirement villages will be caught by this change in the ratings methodology?
MR BARR: Very few, as most retirement villages are exempt from rates altogether. However, there are some that would have commercial arrangements. It would be a very small number, and my advice to date is almost none. There may be some, but it is almost none.
Public land—illegal bike trails
MRS JONES: My question is to the minister for transport and municipal services regarding unleased public land. What action has the government taken in the past year to convert illegally constructed mountain bike trails into permitted activities on unleased public land?
MS FITZHARRIS: I believe this is a question for the Minister for Planning and Land Management.
Mr Coe: Point of order. Under the administrative orders I understand that unleased public land is the responsibility of the Minister for Transport Canberra and City Services. To that end, I just ask for a ruling on who is the appropriate minister.
Mr Barr interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: First of all, Mr Barr, you are not the presiding officer: if you would like to keep your own counsel. I actually do not have a copy of the administrative orders in front of me but, on the basis that I do not have a copy of the administrative orders in front of me and on the basis that the minister needs to refer it
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