SENATOR Gary Humphries says increases to Canberrans’ cost of living look set to occur following the recommendations of the Quinlan review into ACT taxation.

The review, released today with the ACT Government’s in principle response, included recommendations for the abolition of stamp duty and residential land tax. It also included a recommendation to introduce parking fees to the parliamentary triangle – a recommendation that was agreed by the Government.

“ACT Labor look set to cash in by slugging Canberrans more just to park their cars,” Senator Humphries said.

“The review claims that forcing Canberrans to pay for parking will ease congestion, despite not having examined the reasons for an increase of traffic flow throughout the parliamentary triangle.”

Senator Humphries said the ACT and Federal Labor Governments were failing to invest in infrastructure and public transport in the capital.

“With an ill-equipped public transport system that has lacked real funding and infrastructure development for years under Labor, it is unreasonable for the government to expect Canberrans to just go without their cars,” he said.

“This measure is purely another money hungry mechanism that will feed the Labor and Greens’ addiction to spending taxpayers’ money.

“Paid parking will reduce traffic numbers, that’s for sure – tourists, families, those employed within the parliamentary triangle – it will simply see them look over the border as the costs just keep rising and make Canberra a less attractive place to visit, live and work in.”