Posted on 10/06/2016
Calls received on air
Directorate: Treasury
Issue: The caller phoned about frustrations with ActewAGL. The caller advised that they keep receiving disconnection notices, noting they have lived at the address for 40 years and that something has gone wrong in their system. The caller said that they have been trying to resolve the issue themselves since December.
The caller confirmed that it was in relation to electricity, not gas. The caller said that ActewAGL advised all the meters are incorrectly labelled. The caller had a similar issue in 2012 and the error obviously hasn’t been rectified. The caller doesn’t trust that they are receiving correct bills.
Response: The Chief Minister noted that ActewAGL is a private business but as the government has a shareholding in a business that has a shareholding in them, he will see what could be done for the caller.
OUTCOME: An official contacted the caller and advised ActewAGL has undertaken to investigate and take remedial action.
Directorate: Access Canberra – Parking Operations and Education
Issue: The caller phoned about people parking on the median strip outside Majura Primary at school pick up times. The caller said there are a few cars doing it regularly and was concerned because it is dangerous and illegal.
Response: The Chief Minister said that contact would be made with the school and those who enforce the parking and road rules to see what could be done to address the caller’s concerns.
OUTCOME: Access Canberra contacted the caller who advised vehicles were parking near the crossing causing a safety issue. The school will be included in Access Canberra’s school safety patrols and Access Canberra will also communicate with the school principal to have the parking issues mentioned in the next school newsletter.
Directorate: EPD- Environment and TAMS
Issue: The caller asked if more areas could be set up around the Territory for the disposal of normal household batteries. The caller suggested setting up places around the city and advertising the places in the local newspaper so people would better dispose of their batteries.
Response: The Chief Minister said the issue would be investigated and thanked the caller for his advice.
OUTCOME: An officer from TAMS contacted the caller and advised batteries could be dropped at one of ten Aldi supermarkets in the ACT and Queanbeyan, with the closest to the caller being Cooleman Court in Weston. Alternatively, Battery World in Phillip is another retailer who offers a collection service. There is also a household battery collection point at the public entrance of the ACT Legislative Assembly. Although the ACT Government does not currently provide a dedicated collection or drop off service for batteries, this comment was forwarded to the Waste Feasibility Study team who are investigating future waste management solutions in the ACT.
Directorate: TAMS
Issue: The caller phoned about parking at the southern entrance of Fyshwick CIT on Mildura Street which is obstructing the line of sight for those leaving the CIT. The Caller said that they work at the CIT and that there seem to be road works along that road with cars parking near the southern entrance. The caller said this makes it very difficult for drivers to see oncoming traffic when merging onto Mildura street, requiring them to come all the way out onto the road.
Response: The Chief Minister said a relatively small change could allow that line of sight to be restored. The Chief Minister said that RoadsACT will look at the issue for the caller.
OUTCOME: On 16 June 2016 an officer of TAMS contacted the caller who expressed concern about the visibility when exiting the southern exit at CIT (the exit nearest Canberra Avenue). The officer agreed to inspect the area and investigate if removal of some parking close to the intersection would improve visibility.
Directorate: TAMS
Issue: The caller phoned about cycle lanes on the Barton Highway. The caller said that there is an on road cycle lane heading south on the Barton Highway and to get across to the off road cycle lane there is no paved connection. The caller said some work was done with the national trail which is a gravel track that leads up to the off road cycle lane but if you are on a road bike, gravel isn’t good. The caller said people have created their own little 6 inch wide track through the grass to get from the on road lane to the off road lane in the grass, however someone has erected a sign next to that leaving cyclists in danger of hitting their head while using the passage. The caller wanted to confirm, with the current round about project in the area, that someone had given some consideration to addressing the issue and creating a paved area to connect the on road and off road cycle lanes.
Response: The Chief Minister said that someone would get in touch with the caller to explain where the process will go from here regarding the construction.
OUTCOME: The caller was contacted and advised that the connection is planned as part of the current contract with a permanent connection indicated on AECOM’s design, immediately north of the new shared path bridge. There was concern about the location being near a street light pole, but a minor relocation adjustment was made to the plans.
Directorate: JACS and Treasury
Issue: The caller phoned about the Domestic Violence levy. The caller said firstly, that it seems to be unfair that it is a flat tax, affecting poor households as much as rich households; and secondly because it is a levy it strikes the caller as being a tricky way to increase rates by putting it on top of rates, as opposed to as part of rates. The caller said it appears to be a political thing as opposed to an actual measure to address the problem in the first place. The caller asked if the levy could be put on land tax so it only affected people similar to the caller, who owns property in Canberra that is rented out?
Response: The Chief Minister thanked the caller for their question. The Chief Minister said the levy on rates provides a secure, legislated, hypothecated funding source that grows in the future as the population of Canberra grows. The Chief Minister explained the revenue raised from the levy goes to support the various organisations and areas of Government that are undertaking both service improvement and victim support and additional resourcing for police, the courts, domestic violence crisis service, the rape crisis service and other organisations.
The Chief Minister said in terms of the equity issues, the Government has excluded all public housing tenants from the levy, and those who don’t own property, so all the lowest income earners would not have to pay. The Chief Minister said, given the ACT does not collect income taxes, this was the simplest and fairest way to finance this important community priority. The Chief Minister also explained the land tax base is considerably smaller, meaning the levy would have been higher and landlords would have passed this on to renters. The Chief Minister explained there are about 40,000 properties subject to land tax compared with 160,000 under the current scheme, so the levy would have had to be four times larger. The Government recognises that family violence is a community-wide problem impacting potentially on any household in Canberra.
The Chief Minister noted that the rest of the movement regarding the revenue side of the budget adjustments have also been made to tax lines that have a close proxy to people’s wealth, which is what you would expect a progressive government to do. The Chief Minister said that there is a very strong concessions program that was boosted in the budget to provide further support for low income households. The Chief Minister said that it is important to look at the totality of the budget not just one particular revenue measure.
Directorate: EPD - Planning
Issue: The caller said the Giralang Residents' Action Group had written to the Chief Minister in April with a serious proposal to resolve the current impasse over the Giralang Shops, and asked if the Chief Minister would commit to a meeting with the group as the issue needed discussion around the table.
Response: The Chief Minister said that the Government is interested in getting a resolution to the Giralang shops issues, noting that a number of Ministers are working on this. The Chief Minister said Mick Gentleman in the planning portfolio is taking the lead as it relates specifically to his portfolio areas. The Chief Minister advised that he had received the caller’s correspondence and it will be responded to. The Chief Minister said that the government looks forward to working with all stakeholders to achieve a positive outcome. The message from Giralang residents is that they want local shops. That is the government’s preference also; and for them to be delivered as soon as possible. The Chief Minister said that the Government will work with not only the residents, but also other stakeholders because a developer is required to develop the shops, noting that there are a range of legal issues and some commercial conflicts that have historical elements. The Chief Minister noted that the size of the supermarket is of particular interest to the Residents Action Group and also to the developer, and hopefully a positive outcome will be reached as soon as possible. The Chief Minister said the Government will continue to engage with all stakeholders.
Directorate: TAMS
Issue: The caller phoned about street lights that are out in Narrabundah. The caller said that there are many lights that are turned off and have not been on for quite some time. The caller said this is dangerous when she catches the bus and rides her bike to work. The caller said they had put a complaint into TAMS a few weeks ago and were yet to hear anything; and in the meantime had been involved in an accident while reversing out of their driveway because of they were unable to see a parked car at the end of their driveway.
Response: The Chief Minister said that, given a number of lights are affected, it is unlikely to be the bulbs and more likely a cabling fault. The Chief Minister said that we would get the caller’s details off air and between ActewAGL and TAMS have someone in contact with the caller.
OUTCOME: An officer from TAMS contacted the caller and advised there was an underground cable fault that caused the issue. The officer advised the caller that the maintenance contractor had identified the fault location and an underground bore was required to repair the street light outage. The works are programmed for later in June, dependent on weather conditions. The officer advised the caller that the Street light co-ordinator would provide a repair status to them the following week.
Directorate: Access Canberra – Road User Services
Issue: The caller recently paid her car rego by BPAY, but realised it did not process instantly and she was running out of time, so she paid by credit card as well. She later received a refund on the credit card payment, but got a letter about the BPAY payment saying she had not paid enough. The caller said she paid the exact same amount for each and couldn’t understand how that happened. The caller was advised she could have two months to pay, and it seemed a lot of work for $8.
Response: The Chief Minister said the administration costs may exceed $8; and that someone will get in contact with the caller to resolve the issues that were raised.
OUTCOME: Access Canberra contacted the caller. The registration expiry date was amended to reflect the two payments which were made, without making any additional payments.
Directorate: Economic Development
Issue: The caller phoned about the absence of female photographers in the Bush Capital Exhibition that is running at the Canberra Museum and Art Gallery at the moment. The caller said that it is a major natural history exhibition which is on for three and a half months, noting that women are represented but if you dig a little deeper to who is on show, the male artists have the majority of work. The caller is concerned about the more than 80 photographs as they outnumber all the other art media combined, and not one is by a female photographer. The caller said from a curatorial point of view it is problematic and it sends a concerning message to exhibition viewers as well not being a robust or authentic view of our Bush Capital. The caller wanted to know what kind of a message the Chief Minister thinks it sends.
Response: The Chief Minister said that he would raise the caller’s concerns with the Director of the Canberra Museum and Art Gallery, noting that Ministers do not make the decision of what is on display at cultural institutions.
OUTCOME: Economic Development passed on the caller’s concerns to the Canberra Museum and Gallery Director.
Directorate: Treasury
Issue: The caller asked about the redistribution of previous tax arrangements to rates, and asked if there is an oversight to check that when taxes such as insurance tax are cancelled the actual tax benefit is passed on to clients and not kept by the companies?
Response: The Chief Minister said that previously the Government required insurance companies to levy 10% on whatever the premium was, collect it for the Government and give it to the Revenue Office. The Chief Minister advised whatever the caller’s insurance premium is now; if the tax remained it would be 10% on top of that. Now that the tax has been removed, the Government is confident that this tax is not being collected. The Chief Minister said that insurance is a competitive market with a number of difference choices for home contents, comprehensive motor vehicle insurance, and now competitive CTP insurance, which has been introduced by this Government and has resulted in a fall in premiums and different products being offered, which relieves cost of living pressures for Canberrans. The Chief Minister confirmed that there is zero revenue coming into the ACT Revenue Office from insurance taxes; and if this tax was still in place whatever you pay now on an insurance product would be 10% more.
SMS/TEXT
Directorate: TAMS
Issue: Can something please be done about red algae in the ponds on the corner of Eardley Street and Heydon Drive in Bruce can something be done please.
Response: The Chief Minister said that this issue would be looked at.
OUTCOME: Red freshwater algae (rhodophyta) is generally suited to low light conditions, either shaded ponds during summer or winter sun. Freshwater rhodophytes are not known to be toxic. The visible population of red algae indicates the water condition is probably benign. If it was overloaded with nutrients green algae or blue-green algae would dominate (regardless of light conditions) and the red algae would not be noticeable. These ponds are not designated for recreation purposes, so are low risk whatever the water condition. The algae will transition to a more green community as daylight length increases. The red algae is harmless to humans and animals. Ponds are inspected weekly for biological and physical hazards.
Directorate: TAMS
Issue: What about an app for buses. Enter departure and destination and find bus. Is this too easy? Perhaps more important than light rail?
Response: The Chief Minister said that there is the ‘Nxt Bus’ app and through google maps transit, there is a series of third party apps which use government information made publicly available. The Chief Minister agreed that technology provides the opportunity to provide more real time information for public transport. The Chief Minister noted the Government encourages innovative responses from app developers to provide services that will assist consumers.
Directorate: TAMS
Issue: Is there any chance of having the lights at Wakefield/Dooring St changed so that instead of both sides getting green on Dooring only one side at a time goes. Constantly see near collisions daily during peak time.
Response: The Chief Minister said the issue raised would be looked at to see what can be done to improve safety.
OUTCOME: On 16 June 2016 an officer of TAMS contacted the caller and advised that the current arrangement did not have a poor crash history and that modifying the signal phasing as suggested would inevitably result in increased delays and queuing for traffic on Wakefield Avenue in the evening peak. The officer advised that Roads ACT would undertake analysis of the impact of the proposed change and consider a modification if the impact on Wakefield Avenue traffic was manageable.
Directorate: Education
Issue: Why should the ACT government be paying for catholic schools when they are providing excellent public schools.
Response: The Chief Minister said that this was an age old debate. The majority of public funding for non-government schools comes from the Commonwealth Government but it is provided to State and Territory Governments who then pass it on to the non-government systems or schools within jurisdictions. The Chief Minister noted that the ACT Government also provides an amount of funding in the order of $66 million for this current year, but more than $200 million is provided by the Commonwealth Government to non-government schools. The Chief Minister said for perspective, the ACT Government’s investment in public schools is closer to $1 billion dollars.
Directorate: EPD-Planning
Issue: Can you please ask the chief minister to explain $400k in the Budget to investigate where to build civic pool $0 to investigate the potential of a EPIC HSR Precinct and station.
OUTCOME: The ACT Government has committed to review the location of the high speed rail (HSR) station in Canberra, if and when, the Federal Government makes a commitment to HSR. This review will take into account recent ACT Government initiatives and policies including the City Plan (2014), Transport Canberra Light Rail Network and the City and Gateway Urban Renewal Strategy. The review will also specifically include a station option at Canberra Airport.
Directorate: EPD-Environment/Treasury
Issue: Why are electricity prices going up so much when so much electricity is now being returned to the grid??
Response: The Chief Minister said that the Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission (ICRC), the independent body who looks at electricity prices, make the determination. The Chief Minister said that the cost of generating electricity is higher and there is a flow on effect. The Chief Minister noted that gas prices are coming down, and for those households who have a combination of electricity and gas the reduction in gas prices fully offsets the increase in electricity prices, however if you are in a household using solely electricity then the increase is around $100 for the year for an average user.
Directorate: Treasury
Issue: Morning Genevieve Can you ask the chief minister how home owners in Aranda can cope with a 63.1% rise in rates since 2011-12? - Extraordinarily excessive compared to inflation rate.
Response: The Chief Minister said that as part of the tax reforms that have been implemented over the past 5 years, there has been a transition away from insurance tax which is now abolished and other taxes towards using rates as the tax base. The Chief Minister noted that the texter may not have been aware that they were paying a 10% tax on all insurance products prior to tax reform, this tax is now abolished saving people 10% on a range of insurance products that people have. The Chief Minister said that people may not have been aware that they were paying the tax, now they are not. The ACT is the first place in the country to get rid of that bad tax, noting that the Government wanted to encourage people to have insurance. In return, there has been a transition onto the rates base. The Chief Minister further noted that the Government has been progressively phasing out stamp duty, making big reductions to it, and that there is a transition from a number of taxes that are being cut and the revenue that is lost from all of those tax cuts is transitioned onto the best, least distortive, most efficient tax base available, which is municipal rates.
The Chief Minister further noted every review of the Australian taxation system over the last 3 decades has recommended this process of reform. The Government is phasing it in over a number of decades, noting rates would have gone up anyway, acknowledging that they have gone up more than they would have otherwise, however other taxes are being removed and that is the trade-off. The Chief Minister acknowledged that there are many people that don’t like paying tax but there are many people who like to receive the benefits of other people’s taxes and the benefits that come from taxation. The Chief Minister noted that the Government endeavours to keep tax increases to an absolute minimum but we do need to provide a range of services for a growing community. If the Government needs to raise a certain amount of money to fund our schools and hospitals and the like, surely you would want your government to do it in the most efficient way, with taxes that are fair, simple and don’t slow down economic growth.
Directorate: TAMS
Issue: Please ask Mr Barr when he will be keeping Labor's 10 year old broken promise to fit bike racks on ALL ACTION buses. I waited with my bike on the Blue Rapid route this week while 4 buses in a row went past without racks. Shane Rattenbury announced last year that this would happen by Christmas.
Response: The Chief Minister said that he would need to seek some further information on that noting that the government was buying 20 more buses in this year’s budget and the fleet is being progressively updated. The Chief Minister said that the bike racks remain an ongoing priority.
OUTCOME: An officer from Public Transport called and advised that they are continuing to work with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator and would hope to have decision on permits over the next few months. The officer also said that he would raise the issue of more standard buses running on the Blue Rapid route but also explained that this needs to be balanced accordingly with needed capacity on the buses. The caller raised the use of bike racks that can carry three instead of two bikes, but the officer explained that they can inhibit the view through the windscreen. The caller asked about the exploration of the carriage of bikes within the current articulated and steer tag buses and the officer explained they had not been designed on this basis and would require re-engineering.
Directorate: EPD - Planning
Issue: With the loss of more public space in Eddison Park due to the Woden Cemetery expansion. What can the ACT government do to create more public space and urban amenity in Woden.
OUTCOME: The caller was concerned with the loss of public open space as a result of the possible cemetery expansion. The caller is also concerned with the quality of urban spaces and lack of ‘green’ space in the town centre. An officer from EPD contacted the caller and outlined key public domain recommendations in the Woden Town Centre Master Plan and provided an update on implementation to date to address these concerns. The caller appreciated that implementation of the master plan had begun and noted that they would like to see more of the public domain upgrade recommendations from the master plan implemented.
Directorate: TAMS/EPD -Environment
Issue: Regarding battery disposal. Same needs to be done for fluorescent globe disposal.
Response: The Chief Minister said that further work on waste management issues in the Territory has been commissioned and the Government will have a lot more to say in the coming months. The Chief Minister noted these are all very good issues to raise and thanked the caller.
Directorate: TAMS
Issue: Good morning Genevieve & CM, where is this Nxtbus app? Can't find it on Android or Google (My Bus 2.0 is there but ACTION advise it’s unofficial. Also found a number of the costed apps by other developers you mentioned, but no Nxt Bus)
OUTCOME: An officer from TAMS contacted the caller and advised the Government does not have an official app as public transport chose to publish the data feed so that third party apps already on the market could be used, rather than develop and update our own. The NXTBUS website is mobile friendly, so that it scales on most devices.
Directorate: TAMS
Issue: The stormwater pond on Bugden Ave in Fadden has naturally (ie without government expenditure!) become a wetland sanctuary for varied bird life. Is it possible to do some dredging of all the garden and rubbish runoff that has washed into the pond to create a safety island to protect the birds from foxes and unleashed dogs.
OUTCOME: An officer contacted the caller and advised that the Fadden Pond functions as a wet sediment basin, capturing sediment from stormwater flows resulting in the protection of the Murrumbidgee River. The growth of aquatic plants in the pond is essential to enable the trapping of sediment and the improvement of water quality. However, over time the sediment and vegetation can build up reducing water flow which is the case at Fadden Pond. Removing the silt from the pond is a significant task. The caller’s suggestion of having an island in the pond to protect wildlife from foxes is commendable and will be considered in future works.
Directorate: Treasury
Issue: Dear Chief, does the ACT government have any interest left in Transact and its cables through our backyards?
Response: The Chief Minister said that there is commonly held misconception view that Transact was a wholly ACT Government-owned entity. The Chief Minister advised that for a very small time in its history the ACT Government had a small shareholding but that was disposed of more than a decade ago therefore, there is no involvement with Transact.
Directorate: EPD-Environment
Issue: What does the Chief Minister think of the provision of a repository at retail outlets for used shopping bags which have become surplus in many households ?
Response: The Chief Minister said that was an interesting idea and would be taken on board.
Directorate: Access Canberra – Parking Ops
Issue: In relation to dangerous and illegal parking at primary schools, it would be great if the govt could look at Forrest primary and parking on national circuit and up on the grass.
OUTCOME: Access Canberra contacted the caller and advised that the school will be included in Access Canberra’s school safety patrols and that infringements have already been issued at the location.
Directorate: TAMS
Issue: Weren't the last batch of new buses too long to accommodate bike racks? Hopefully this oversight won't be repeated with this year’s purchases
Response: The Chief Minister recalled there may have been some issues with the last purchases but would have to check on that and advise before the end of the program or on a later show.
OUTCOME: All new buses are standard rigid buses and are able to accommodate bike racks.
Directorate: Education
Issue: Good morning Chief Minister, do you happen to know the numbers of children with special needs in non-Govt schools? My nephew who has a disability is enjoying a fantastic education in one of our public schools but was turned away from a private school because of it. I don’t see why fee charging schools that actively don’t enrol children with special needs are whingeing about not getting funding, please make sure that the funding goes to the schools that help these children.
Response: The Chief Minister said that there are students with disability in non-government schools but the overwhelming majority, particularly those with the highest needs, are in public schools and there are four special schools in the Territory, but there are students with disability in non-government schools and the number varies from school to school. The Chief Minister noted, from memory of his time as Minister for Education, that there were more students with a disability in the Catholic system then in independent schools, but then the Catholic system is larger than the other independent schools.
Directorate: TAMS
Issue: Good morning, I wonder why it that in child care areas there is no 40 zone is. I think little children are more likely to cross the road.
OUTCOME: On 16 June 2016 an officer of TAMS contacted the caller and advised that speed limits adjacent to child care centres are reduced to 50Km/h. The reason that school zones (40 Km/h) are not applied is that child care centres operate with different hours to schools to accommodate working parents. In addition all children need to be escorted and signed in at child care centres due to their age.
Directorate: JACS/Treasury (raised in relation to discussion on safer families levy)
Issue: Does the levy mean that those who choose to rent are exempt from the levy – and does the government have any figures about the incidence of family violence between owner occupiers and rented premises?
Response: The Chief Minister said that those figures have not been produced. The Chief Minister advised that across the available ways to raise revenue in the fairest, simplest, and most efficient way to lock in a revenue stream that would grow as the city grows, this option was best. The Chief Minister said that it was an important factor as, as the city’s population increases, noting Canberra will reach 400 000 people this year, over the next four years anticipated growth is by another 20,000 people. During the first four years of this initiative, Canberra will go from 400,000 to 420,000 residents and there will be a growing revenue stream, a growing population and a comprehensive package to address one of the most significant concerns in our community and the Australian community. The Chief Minister further noted that there is intergovernmental work that is occurring through State and Territory Governments and with the Commonwealth Government to address the significant issue. One average, one woman per week is being killed in this country.
Directorate: Access Canberra / TAMS
Issue: Could you have someone look into illegal parking in a "no stopping” zone at the intersection of Box Hill AV and Handyside St in Conder. It is outside the Catholic school and is always an issue in school drop off and pick up times. It is extremely dangerous (text cut off)
OUTCOME: Access Canberra contacted the caller who advised that vehicles were parking in the “No Stopping” Zones causing a safety issue. The school will be included in Access Canberra’s school safety patrols and Access Canberra will also communicate with the school principal to have the parking issues mentioned in the next school newsletter. A Roads ACT officer will also inspect during the school peak times and confirm signage is adequate.
Directorate: Treasury
Issue: Just tuned in so sorry if already covered ... Does the govt collect taxes from people who aren't home owners/pay rates? Just wondering, thanks.
Response: The Chief Minister said yes the Government does in various circumstances by way of taxes or fees and charges, depending on the nature of their activities of consumption inside the territory.
Directorate: Treasury
Issue: INSURANCE TAX?! who knew we had it What other taxes are there like this that we don't know about
Response: The Chief Minister said that people wanting information about taxes they are paying can visit the ACT Revenue website or they can look at the ACT Budget which is available at www.act.gov.au, on the front page.
Directorate: Access Canberra
Issue: Good morning Genevieve & CM, sent the text below on 27/5, still no response? Please advise?
cheers & thank you
Good morning Genevieve & chief Minister, further to your call re ID & probate issues, I am a John on my ACT birth certificate, but as my father is also John, I've been known as & called Jack my whole life (50+ yrs), as reflected in my TFN, Medicare card , (expired) passport, etc. Am now trying to get ACT Photo ID but have been told I need to officially change my name to Jack in order to qualify. Does this happen to Katherine/Kate's or Margaret/Meg or Peg's or any other common English name contractions? Surely there s an easier way to facilitate photo ID, a current day necessity. I don't drive either. Please advise or assist.
OUTCOME: Access Canberra contacted the caller who advised they had already been contacted by another area of ACT Government and the issue was resolved. The caller noted they were advised to provide the expired passport and other secondary forms of identification and a proof of age card would be issued in the required name.