Canberrans are facing an unprecedented cost-of-living crisis, the Canberra Liberals argue; should they win October’s election, they will provide a $65 million relief package, opposition leader Elizabeth Lee announced.

ACT Labor, however, claims that the policy announcement rehashes an election promise from 2020.

The Liberals’ package, Ms Lee said, would provide:

• a $150 voucher for each school-enrolled child in preschool to Year 12 for school-related expenses
• a $100 voucher for each school-enrolled child in preschool to Year 12 for sport rego and extra curricula activities
• a $100 rebate off the registration for each passenger vehicle registered in the ACT
• a $100 rebate off the registration for each caravan and camper trailer registered in the ACT
• a $50 rebate off the cost of electricity bills for every household in the ACT;
• and free public transport for all students, seniors, and concession card holders.

Ms Lee said this policy would provide real and practical relief for Canberrans with simple, targeted measures that are on top of existing concession measures.

“The Canberra Liberals have been listening to the many Canberrans who have been raising their concerns about cost-of-living pressures for some time now, but have been continually ignored by the Labor-Greens government,” Ms Lee said.

“We know through ABS data and evidence given at recent Estimates hearings from community groups such as ACTCOSS and charity organisations there is a significant increase in people accessing their services.

“With many children going back to school today, the Labor-Greens government has once again missed a big opportunity to assist more families with the costs associated with sending kids back to school.

“Canberrans are also slugged the highest fees in the country when it comes to car and caravan rego, as well as registration for kids’ sport.

“These measures we have announced today are broad and designed to provide much-needed cost-of-living relief to many Canberrans who have been continually ignored by the Labor-Greens government.”

Under this policy, a family with two school aged children and two registered cars will be at least $750 better off, increasing to at least $1,000 for families with three school-aged children.

“Canberrans have been taxed to the bone by [Chief Minister] Andrew Barr, and instead of their hard-earned money being wasted on dodgy contracts and abandoned HR programs, all Canberrans deserve some of that money going back into their pockets when they need it the most.

“A Canberra Liberals government that I lead will take the cost-of-living crisis seriously, and these measures will provide upfront relief for all Canberrans.

‘Whilst this policy is squarely aimed at providing cost-of-living relief to Canberrans doing it tough now, I look forward to announcing a number of other initiatives in the lead up to the election that will assist Canberrans with the current cost of living crisis.”

Last year, the Canberra Liberals announced a $100 million putting your suburb first policy to upgrade Canberra’s neglected suburbs.

The Chief Minister, however, said: “This announcement is a cut and paste from Alistair Coe’s 2020 campaign.

“Given the population growth in Canberra, the stated $65 million price tag understates the cost.  

“In 2020, Alistair Coe’s voucher scheme for children in Years 7 to 9 was costed at $17 million per year. Pushing that out to every child, regardless of their parent’s income, would be astronomical. 

“The reheated policy idea to reduce car registration again comes straight from the Coe playbook, and was costed by ACT Treasury at $87 million over a four-year term. 

“If the Opposition Leader is just going to play from the old Liberal playbook, designed by people like Zed Seselja and Alistair Coe, then Canberrans should rightly be very nervous about what the Liberals plan to cut to pay for this cash splash. 

“Cost of living pressures are clearly hurting some Canberrans. We have already provided tens of millions [of] dollars in support for families who need it most. This includes the $800 utilities concession provided to 40,000 Canberra homes to help with their energy bills, and the Government’s new education equity fund. Because the equity fund is targeted, it provides a substantial support to families that need help with the cost of sending their kids to school. The fund provides $400 for pre-schoolers, $500 for primary school students, and $750 for high school and college students. 

“We will continue to pursue well planned, targeted cost-of-living relief for Canberrans who need it.

“The Territory Government is working with the Commonwealth on measures that will complement the tax cuts for every working Canberran that will come into effect in July.”

Ms Lee rebutted Mr Barr’s argument. In 2020, treasury costed the Canberra Liberals’ policy of two $100 vouchers for Years 7 to 9 at $7 million, and the reduction in car registration at $93 million over four years.

“Barr hasn’t even got our current policy right before attacking it and getting it wrong,” Ms Lee said.

“This is a pathetically embarrassing claim by the Chief Minister and Treasurer, who has today demonstrated he can’t even read his own treasury’s costing documents which prove he is blatantly wrong,” Ms Lee said. “This claim is a downright lie.”