7 September 2016
The ACT was the only jurisdiction to record a decline in housing affordability and rental affordability over the June quarter, according to the Real Estate Institute of Australia and Adelaide Bank’s Housing Affordability Report for the June quarter 2016, Shadow Minister for Housing Nicole Lawder said today.
“The proportion of income needed to meet home loan repayments increased by 0.1 percent to 19.4 percent in June while proportion of income required to meet the median rent increased by 0.4 percentage points to 17.8 percent,” Ms Lawder said.
“This data demonstrates that families on low to moderate household incomes continue to face an uphill battle on housing costs in Canberra.
“When you are on a below-average income, a decline in rental affordability makes it more difficult for first home buyers to save up for their initial deposit and of course the problem for first home buyers is not necessarily the ability to afford monthly repayments; it’s saving up for that lump sum.
“The Barr Government continues to squeeze families as rates triple and as basic fees and charges increase. Andrew Barr has clearly forgotten those struggling in Canberra,” Ms Lawder concluded.
Contact: Joe Prevedello 0402768432
5 September 2016
Andrew Barr needs to demonstrate leadership and remove Chris Bourke as Minister for Children and Young People. It follows the Minister’s unprofessional display on an ABC TV program into child protection failures in the ACT, and his previous and subsequent failure to respond and act on these issues, Leader of the Opposition Jeremy Hanson said today.
“In the program, Chris Bourke demonstrated a complete lack of understanding of child protection, was clearly out of his depth and was devoid of any knowledge of the areas he’s responsible for in child protection. Subsequently, he’s failed to front up and tell Canberrans what he’s going to do about issues in the child protection system,” Mr Hanson said.
“Andrew Barr needs to do the right thing and remove these critical responsibilities in child protection from Chris Bourke and move quickly to repair the system,” Mr Hanson concluded.
“The ABC TV program explored two terrible tragedies that highlighted how badly child protection has been managed in the ACT, despite numerous independent reports to government going back more than a decade,” Shadow Minister for Family and Community Services Nicole Lawder said.
“If Andrew Barr is interested in the care of vulnerable children, he needs to send a strong message that Chris Bourke’s behaviour has demonstrated that he isn’t up to the job, and he needs to remove him as Minister for Children and Young People,” Ms Lawder concluded.
3 September 2016
The Canberra Liberals will build and open new local public hospitals in both Gungahlin and Tuggeranong if elected at next month’s ACT Election. The two new hospitals will have 24 hour emergency departments, 12 bed short stay wards and will be staffed by specialist doctors and nurses, Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Minister for Health Jeremy Hanson said today.
“The Gungahlin Local Public Hospital and the Tuggeranong Local Public Hospital will provide more beds in more locations, alleviate the poor geographic spread of hospital beds in Canberra and help return the ACT’s health system to the best in the nation,” Mr Hanson said.
“These new hospitals are part of our broader plan for health which includes our previously announced $395 million redevelopment of the Canberra Hospital.
“The Gungahlin Local Public Hospital and the Tuggeranong Local Public Hospital will each include:
- A 10 bed 24/7 operation emergency department.
- A 12 bed short stay ward.
- Care coordination as well as pharmacy, pathology and imaging services.
“At the moment some Gungahlin and Tuggeranong residents have to drive further for emergency hospital services than many residents in regional Australia. Our northernmost and southernmost regions need these hospitals and they’ll become even more important as our city grows.
“ACT Labor has neglected health for 15 years, but under a Canberra Liberals government it will become the major priority. Andrew Barr’s focus is a tram, but my focus is health. That’s the choice for Canberrans at this election, a tram or three brand new hospitals,” Mr Hanson concluded.
1 September 2016
Today the Canberra Liberals have announced a $550,000 investment to upgrade facilities at Greenway Oval. Greenway Oval has been in need of significant upgrades for some time so the facility can continue to cater for families in the Tuggeranong Valley, Shadow Minister for Sport and Recreation, Steve Doszpot said today.
“Today’s commitment will help many sporting clubs including the Tuggeranong Football Club, Tuggeranong Valley Bushrangers, and ACT Gridiron,” Mr Doszpot said today.
“We will work with these sporting clubs and all users of Greenway Oval to examine the growing needs of the facility and the best possible upgrades that can be delivered with this funding commitment,” Mr Doszpot concluded.
“The community has raised concerns with me about inadequate grandstand, change and shower rooms, coaches’ and media boxes, storage, cleaning and canteen facilities, and access for people with a disability,” Ms Lawder said.
“These concerns have gone unaddressed for too long and I’m proud to be part of a team that is listening to the community and wants to deliver adequate local services.
“Upgrading local community facilities is an important part of our commitment to give Canberrans the local services they deserve,” Ms Lawder concluded.
John Glenn, Chairman of a Joint Committee representing the interests of the three major users of the Greenway Oval said that the users welcomed and fully supported the initiative of the Liberal Party to provide funds for this essential work.
“This is further evidence of the strong support of the Liberals to the youth of Canberra and to sporting pursuits generally,” Mr Glenn said today.
3 September 2016
The ACT Labor government should be ashamed following an ABC TV program that highlighted abject failures of the ACT's child protection system, Shadow Minister for Family and Community Services Nicole Lawder said today.
"It's a measure of a state as to how it cares for its vulnerable young people and it's clear from Friday Night's ABC program that the Barr government has not only failed miserably, but that it has actually turned its back on the issue," Ms Lawder said.
“Minister Chris Bourke is clearly out of his depth as he demonstrated a lack of understanding of the cases, oversight structure and other issues within the system.
"The ACT Labor government has failed to act on numerous occasions over the past 15 years. There have been several reports on the issue stretching back more than a decade and the government has obviously been inactive. It’s nothing short of shameful.
"The Canberra Liberals are committed to fixing child protection in government. We will look out for vulnerable children, we will not ignore calls for help, and unlike ACT Labor, our Ministers will know what is going on in the system and will address the problems to stop further tragedies," Ms Lawder concluded.
Authorised by Nicole Lawder, Canberra Liberals, 4/50 Geils Court Deakin ACT 2600