Page 296 - Week 01 - Thursday, 13 February 2020

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MS LEE (Kurrajong) (4.41): I thank Mr Wall for bringing forward this matter of public importance for debate today. Concerns about the rising costs of living for Canberrans are raised with me on a regular basis. There is no shortage of residents in my electorate of Kurrajong, and beyond, who face ever-increasing cost of living pressures after 19 years of Labor. Canberrans are being gouged by this selfish government every day. Enough is enough. As the Leader of the Opposition, Alistair Coe, said, “Canberra is too good for a bad government.” It is time that this Labor government was booted. There is a better way, and Canberrans deserve better.”

A Canberra Liberals government will freeze rates because we respect hardworking Canberrans, Canberrans who should not be paying for the arrogance and waste of this current government. Whether it is home owners paying astronomical rates or renters seeing costs flow on to higher rents, everyone is facing financial pressures.

In my inaugural speech back in December 2016, I spoke about the forgotten Canberrans, the Canberrans who, year after year, after 19 years of Labor, have been left behind. I spoke about hardworking Canberrans like Mary from O’Connor, paying 30 per cent of her pension on rates and wondering whether she can afford to buy milk and eggs that week or just milk.

It seems that over this term it has just gotten worse. Only last week I was contacted by a resident on a disability support pension who has lived most of her life in Griffith in Canberra’s inner south. This is what she told me:

I have been unable to work since the early 1990’s and am on a Disability Support Pension. I was never in a position to be able to buy my own home and have always lived in the family home in Griffith. My late parents left our home to me for which I am so grateful. I love this suburb, but it didn’t start out as a ‘trendy’ area. My street was a majority of government houses, my father being in the ACT Ambulance, was eligible for a government house. They moved in to this newly finished house in 1958, and purchased the property in the 1970’s. Those of us who have lived in the area a long time are being penalised for being in a now desirable suburb. I do receive the pensioner rate subsidy, but it does very little to help with the ever growing rate instalments. I wish there was a fairer system for longer term residents, most of whom are not on the large wage and superannuation.

When I gave my inaugural speech, I said that I took very seriously my duty to be a voice for these forgotten Canberrans. It is something that I will always remember. What is unacceptable and what is abundantly clear is that the Labor Party has forgotten. There is a better way, and Canberra deserves better.

Once again, I thank Mr Wall for bringing this MPI. It is clear that, at least on this side of the chamber, looking after all Canberrans is why we are here.

MR MILLIGAN (Yerrabi) (4.44): Firstly, I want to thank Mr Wall for bringing this important issue to the Assembly today. I know that as the shadow minister for business he has a real appreciation of how this matter is affecting small family businesses right across Canberra.


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