Page 391 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 19 February 2019
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MS CHEYNE: Chief Minister, how many perpetual plate holders actually reside in the ACT, and how many of those who bought their plate directly off the government fully recouped their investment?
MR BARR: I am advised now that there are 89 perpetual plate holders who are resident in the ACT. The ACT government has not sold a perpetual plate for some time; many decades, in fact. The ACT government has not been engaged in selling perpetual plates. But it would be fair to observe that over many years of operation in a highly regulated market there were significant returns to owners of perpetual plates through the lack of competition and a strangled, regulated market that did not serve the interests of consumers.
Mr Wall interjecting—
MR BARR: That is something that was changing, anyway, as a result of Uber’s entry, and was being overwhelmingly demanded by consumers: by those hundreds of thousands of Canberrans who thought their taxi service was ordinary and by most of the visitors to the ACT who thought their taxi service was ordinary. It has improved dramatically as a result of competition and innovation, just as you would expect a properly functioning market to deliver. So for all of the catcalls of socialism from those opposite, we are seeing a market in operation and in markets there is not a guarantee of return on capital. Markets are competitive, and no government will ever guarantee a return on investment for the rest of time, particularly when there are so many forces impacting on a market, as is the case with on-demand transport.
Opposition members interjecting—
Ms Berry: Madam Speaker, a point of order.
Mr Coe interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Resume your seat. Mr Coe!
Ms Berry: Seriously, I am sure that the people in the gallery here today are interested in hearing the Chief Minister’s response. They might not agree with it but they are interested in hearing it. The continuous interjections by those opposite are interfering with them hearing the information that the Chief Minister is trying to provide.
MADAM SPEAKER: I remind members on my left that there has been a high level of interjection. When the minister is on his feet he should be heard in peace.
Gaming—poker machines
MS CHEYNE: My question is to the Attorney-General. Can the Minister give the Assembly an update on the government’s work to reduce the number of poker machine licences in Canberra?
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