OPPOSITION leader Jeremy Hanson says modelling tabled in the Legislative Assembly yesterday “proves” that household rates will triple under the ACT government. 

“It ranges from a period of seven years, to an outside period of 15, but rates triple,” says Mr Hanson.

“Worse still, tripling is the lowest amount rates are increased under these reforms. From the pre reform rates revenue of $183 million, under a low growth scenario prepared by the Government, rates will quadruple.

“In a medium growth scenario they would increase 5.5 times, while under a high growth scenario they would increase 7.6 times. These are not our numbers, they are the numbers contained in the papers presented today by the Government.”

But Deputy Chief Minister Andrew Barr says the opposition are “misleading” Canberrans, and that the claims do not take into account the fact that Canberra’s population will grow considerably in the coming years.

“There will be an extra 80,000 households in the next 20 years – meaning the amount of revenue collected in rates is spread across a far greater number of people than is the case currently,” Mr Barr says.

“The Government is abolishing some of the worst taxes – stamp duties on property and insurance.”