[Greens-Media] Land tax could ease affordable housing woes

[Manderson, Roland]

---------------------------
ACT GREENS MLA DEB FOSKEY MEDIA RELEASE
---------------------------

7 Aug 08



Land tax could ease affordable housing woes

ACT Greens MLA, Dr Deb Foskey, today welcomed the Government's response
to the Public Account Committee's recommendations in its inquiry into
Land Valuation in the ACT.

"The ACT Government today responded to the Committee's recommendations
on improving land valuation processes in the ACT," said Dr Foskey today.

"Land valuation is the basis of rates and other costs to landowners,
often affecting renters."

"I am particularly pleased that the Government has agreed to the
Committee's recommendation number seven, that the Government investigate
ways of using land tax as a lever to increase the supply of affordable
housing."

"I note, however, that the Government's response pre-empts its findings
by quoting Treasury, indicating that its mind is already made up."

"The Greens and community organisations have argued that land tax is a
considerable impost, an element in Canberra's high rents, and has the
potential to be used to increase the supply of affordable private rental
housing. 

"The ACT Government has consistently refused to consider that view, so I
am glad that the Committee was able to convince it otherwise" Dr Foskey
said. 


================================
Roland Manderson   Media Advisor
ACT   Greens    MLA  Deb  Foskey  
Legislative Assembly for the ACT 
ph(02)62050551      m 0412241379
==== www.act.greens.org.au ===== 
  
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
This email, and any attachments, may be confidential and also privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender and delete all copies of this transmission along with any attachments immediately. You should not copy or use it for any purpose, nor disclose its contents to any other person.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------