“NO END IN SIGHT TO SPIRALLING RENTS” AND LABOR’S FAILURE TO DELIVER
August 11, 2010 · Leave a Comment
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Labor at the last election made 2 fundamental promises to the Australian people: 1. To deal with rising cost of living pressures and housing affordability; and 2. To deliver 36 new GP super clinics.
On both fronts, Labor has completely failed. House prices in Canberra are up by almost 20% over the last 12 months and lending is at a 9 year low. According to an Australian Property Monitors report, rents are spiralling out of control with no end in sight.
Of Labor’s 36 GP super clinics promised at the last election, only 3 are up and operational.
Today, Labor is making the same old promises, but their track record shows that they cannot and will not deliver for Canberra.
We have been neglected by Labor for the last 3 years and kicked in the teeth time and time again.
As an insult to Canberra, Housing Minister Tanya Plibersek is coming to Canberra to announce funding for a program that Canberrans are now excluded from.
Just two weeks ago, Julia Gillard completely defunded the Housing Affordability Fund, redirecting it to ‘regional centres’ in marginal seats.
All this at a time when Canberra’s housing market is out of control and people are being forced to choose between living in a ‘slum’ or being homeless.
I wonder if Minister Plibersek agrees with Senator Kate Lundy’s comments that Canberra should be grateful for what it has already received[1] or if she agrees with Jon Stanhope’s comments that there is no housing affordability problem in Canberra[2], despite the discovery urban ‘slums’[3], house prices are up by almost 20%[4] and rents risen by 2.4%[5] over the last quarter.
If our marginal seat neighbours in Queanbeyan haven’t got a GP super clinic, despite being promised one at the last election, and with all of the attention that they receive from Labor, what chance have we got?
Canberra still has the longest emergency room waiting times and the longest waiting time on elective surgery.
Only the Liberals have a real action plan to deal with our flagging health and hospital system.
Only under a Liberal government will Canberrans see real local solutions for health and housing affordability.
It was no better ten years ago. Get off the merry-go-round and give someone else a go.