Page 2513 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 9 August 2016
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We have raised numerous examples in this parliament looking at Citywide, the company that was awarded the arterial roads mowing contract in the ACT, a subsidiary of the Melbourne City Council. When it gets to the point where those opposite are endorsing the decision to employ the Melbourne City Council to mow lawns in the ACT, it clearly shows that local business is not at the forefront of the decision-making process under this current government.
Again today I have raised the example of the decision to go with OfficeMax as a stationary supplier to the whole of government. It was selected, I believe, through a panel arrangement tender. Locally owned and locally operated businesses that are also on the panel are being told that there has been a directive from somewhere within government to all areas to say that, as a priority and as a first port of call, OfficeMax is to be the supplier of choice. That comes at the expense of local businesses. It comes at the expense of local jobs.
Those families that have risked everything—risked their homes, risked their livelihoods and risked all their retirement savings to open businesses, not just to supply to government but to create opportunities and try to better themselves—are having the door shut by those opposite in deciding to go with a multinational company that is on the ATO’s list of tax dodgers. Those opposite would rather support a multinational that dodges tax than support local mum and dad businesses here in the ACT. I think that goes to the crux of the values those opposite hold when it comes to economic development.
The ACT is in a state of flux when it comes to the economy. We are becoming more and more reliant on the heavy lifting done by the private sector. Almost 50 per cent of own-source revenue comes from businesses paid by way of rates, fees, taxes and charges. Payroll tax in its own right brings in nearly $440 million. That is under the most aggressive payroll tax framework seen in the country. The Chief Minister, though, does not see this and, instead, seeks to blame businesses, particularly local businesses, for, in his view, not playing their part. He is on the record as saying, “The private sector are not exactly stepping up to the plate at the moment making large investments, although we are seeking that. We are going overseas for that because we do not think we are going to get it locally.” I would put it to the Chief Minister, through you, Madam Deputy Speaker, that it is not that local businesses are not trying to step up to the plate; it just they are never quite sure where that plate is.
You only need to look at what is happening in various areas of government and the Chief Minister’s confusing messages to the club sector primarily. The club sector is simply looking for confidence and the ability to plan their businesses over the next 10 to 15 years. They want to know what your plans are, particularly in the realms of the casino. The keep Canberra open campaign has just seen one of the biggest backflips in recent times from this Chief Minister. There was a proposal to slug local night clubs horrendous fee increases and deny them the opportunity to stay open until the early hours of the morning. There has been a backflip but, again, how do these businesses plan for their future when they are never quite sure where the goal posts are that this government is trying to encourage them to aim for?
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