Latest news with #ShaneRattenbury
Canberra Times
01-07-2025
- Health
- Canberra Times
Unit owners in outer suburbs most affected by fixed levies, new mapping reveals
"The Greens have been really clear with the ACT Labor government, a flat health levy does not take into account a person's ability to pay and does not reflect the type of city we want to build. It will unfairly impact a lot of people in our community," Green leader Shane Rattenbury said in a statement on Monday afternoon.
ABC News
30-06-2025
- Business
- ABC News
ACT government slashes health levy to $100 as part of budget deal with Greens
The ACT government has slashed its proposed health levy from $250 to $100 for residential ratepayers after striking a deal with the Greens. The levy was unveiled in the ACT budget last week and was to be attached to rates notices every year until 2029-30, bringing in an extra $205 million over four years to help pay for health services. But the ACT Greens said they wouldn't support what the party called an "unfair and regressive tax". After days of negotiations, the levy has now been reduced to $100 for residential and rural property owners, but will remain at $250 for commercial properties. Treasurer Chris Steel said the agreement followed constructive discussions with the ACT Greens about revenue measures in the 2025-26 budget. "The levy will raise necessary revenue to fund record investment in Canberra's public health system, which now accounts for more than 33 per cent of the ACT Budget," Mr Steel said. The revised levy has only been agreed to for one year, and will be reviewed annually. To offset the lower levy, Mr Steel said the government would introduce a higher payroll tax rate of 8.75 per cent for large businesses with national payrolls exceeding $150 million. The new rate is expected to come into effect from January 1. "This outcome reflects the government's commitment to working collaboratively to ensure vital services are funded responsibly, without the need for deep cuts to public services or infrastructure investment," he said. ACT Greens leader Shane Rattenbury said his party could not support the levy in its original form. "Through these negotiations we recognise it is vital for government to raise the revenue that is needed to pay for key community services in this territory," Mr Rattenbury said. He said the flat levy was unfair but there had been "significant pressure" to reach an agreement quickly, with the rates determination having to be signed off by midnight on June 30. "There needed to be a decision today to enable the government to put that determination in place in the legislative time frames, and so we've had to work quite quickly," Mr Rattenbury said.
ABC News
27-06-2025
- Business
- ABC News
ACT opposition leader's first budget reply speech upstaged by Greens' health levy opposition
Despite her long career in show business, Leanne Castley may never have been upstaged quite like she was in the ACT Legislative Assembly on Thursday. But the last week may have provided material for some new country songs. The Canberra Liberals leader rose to her feet for her first budget reply speech; a major set piece event for someone who admits she's not a "typical politician". At the conclusion, she left the chamber with an easy smile, embraced by supporters congratulating her on a job well done. Yet it was the speech that followed — from ACT Greens Leader Shane Rattenbury — that left the biggest mark on budget week. The Greens' decision to oppose the government's $250 health levy is a sign that, when it comes to passing bills in this assembly, the Animal Farm theory applies; some MLAs are more equal than others. The Liberals can but oppose, while the Greens — flexing their crossbench muscle — are the ones the government must pay attention to. This is arguably the most significant political fight the minor party has picked with its former coalition partner so far. The question now is how the fight ends. Negotiations began yesterday, with no clear resolution. The Greens have indicated they're open to means-testing the levy, if it can't be removed from the budget entirely. But if either side makes the political calculation they should play hard ball, its fate could hang in the balance for months, with the assembly not sitting again until September. Greater costs for ratepayers may have been foreshadowed when Treasurer Chris Steel said there would be "tough decisions" at his mid-year budget update. The levy, however, shocked many — and stands in stark contrast to the pre-election budget we got last year which contained few, if any, surprises. It's not unusual for governments to get the tough budget out of the way in the first year of a term. But this is also not Labor's first term. By bringing down a budget of this nature after 24 years in office, the government is setting a high bar for itself to have made significant improvements by the time voters next go to the polls. Part of why Labor was successful last year even after six terms was the ability to stake a claim as the superior economic managers. The chief minister famously accused the opposition of "magic pudding economics" during the leaders debate. He might have been wishing for his own magic pudding this week. The events of the last few days have taken some of the attention away from an opposition leader, who could have used an unobstructed moment in the spotlight. Ever since Peter Cain's departure from shadow cabinet last week, Leanne Castley has struggled for clear air, with an ongoing dispute about exactly how his resignation came about. Her budget reply was the ideal opportunity, but through no fault of her own, it failed to provide the kind of moment she was after. Attention now turns to the forthcoming announcement of the revised shadow cabinet, which may provide another reset moment. If there is any lesson from a budget week, it is surely that nobody gets everything they want.
ABC News
26-06-2025
- Business
- ABC News
'Back to the drawing board': ACT Greens won't support proposed health levy
Labor's budget plans have been thrown into doubt with the ACT Greens announcing they will not support a key proposed revenue-raising measure. ACT Greens Leader Shane Rattenbury said his party would not support the proposed $250 health levy for all ratepayers which he called an "unfair and regressive tax". The proposed levy is expected to raise about $50 million per year for four years. The government is in minority and Labor needs either the support of the Liberals or the Greens to pass budget items through the Legislative Assembly. ACT Greens leader Shane Rattenbury said the levy was unfair and the budget "missed the mark". "A flat levy does not take into account a person's ability to pay and does not reflect the type of city we want to build," he said. Mr Rattenbury said there was definitely a need to raise revenue to be able to pay for services — especially healthcare — but the levy would have a negative impact upon health. Mr Rattenbury said his party would try to be constructive. "We hope to negotiate with the Labor Party on the budget." Mr Rattenbury said the Greens' proposed Big Corporations Tax was a fairer way to raise government revenue. Under the idea, a new, higher tax threshold would be introduced for big corporations like supermarkets, banks and airlines. Mr Rattenbury also said the Greens would oppose the $8 million subsidy for the horseracing industry included in the budget.
ABC News
10-06-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
ACT Greens announce bill that would make institutions vicariously liable for sexual abuse by employees
The ACT Greens have unveiled a bill aimed at making institutions such as the Catholic Church, Scouts and sporting groups vicariously liable for the actions of those associated with them who have sexually abused children. This includes priests, Scouts leaders, and sports coaches who may have a relationship with the organisation akin to employment, even though it is not strictly an employment relationship. The move was prompted by a High Court ruling last year that found a priest, accused of child sex offences, was not an employee of the church, so the institution could not be held vicariously liable for his actions because that only applies in employment relationships. "I am deeply concerned that we are now seeing a situation where institutions that have had people abused in their care are now able to avoid responsibility because of this apparent lack of connection where people who were priests, coaches other roles, as part of these institutions, are now not seen to be covered by that organisation," Greens leader Shane Rattenbury said. The High Court case involved a man who was allegedly sexually abused by the family priest in 1971, during pastoral visits to his family home. The man was only five at the time. The priest was Father Bryan Coffey, who was convicted of offences against other children in the 1990s and has since died. The High Court ruling was a bitter blow for the alleged victim, who had won two Victorian court cases, which found the church was vicariously liable for the damage caused to him. In both rulings it was found Father Coffey was not an employee of the church but had a special place within the hierarchy of the church, which gave rise to vicarious liability. The High Court found that simply wasn't the case, and only an employment relationship matters. "My observation of having read the material from the High Court is that they were looking at the broader picture of vicarious liability, and its broad status in the law, as opposed to the specific matters of child sexual abuse," Mr Rattenbury said. "So the High Court was thinking much more about a range of corporate matters and the like rather than the specifics." Mr Rattenbury said his proposed law would target child sex abuse. Lawyer Alessandra Pettit, who was involved in the launch of today's draft law, says the real problem is for the victims. "We spent $370 million on a royal commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse and whilst a lot of the recommendations have been helpful, it seems to be a bit of a pendulum in this area that it keeps swinging each way," Ms Pettit said. "I am really really concerned about the effect of this on my clients. "You are dealing with a cohort of people who have already been abused as children by someone in a position of power. "To stand up in court is not an easy thing for anyone and then to have technical legal arguments take that away is really really difficult." Mr Rattenbury said the Council of Attorneys General was looking at the issue, but it was something that had to be addressed more locally. "This will not be a national response, it is one that will sit with states and territories," Mr Rattenbury said. "So my view is to move forward. "And the ACT can act as a template and a guide for other jurisdictions." Mr Rattenbury said he was hoping his private members bill would get some traction in the Assembly. "This bill is about ensuring victims have access to justice for the crimes committed against them as children and it's about ensuring institutions make amends for the harm caused by their institutions and the people participated and took significant roles in those institutions," Mr Rattenbury said. The bill will be presented later in the month.
