Elizabeth Lee announces $65 million cost-of-living relief package

Canberra Liberals Leader Elizabeth Lee has today announced a $65 million cost of living package aimed at providing relief for Canberrans who are facing an unprecedented cost-of-living crisis.

Under this package, which will be implemented should the Canberra Liberals win government in October this year, Canberrans will be able to access:

• $150 voucher for each school-enrolled child preschool – year 12 for school related expenses

• $100 voucher for each school-enrolled child preschool – year 12 for sport rego and extra curricula activities

• $100 rebate off the registration for each passenger vehicle registered in the ACT

• $100 rebate off the registration for each caravan and camper trailer registered in the ACT

• $50 rebate off the cost of electricity bills for every household in the ACT

• Free public transport for all students, seniors and concession card holders.

Ms Lee said this policy will 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 with that increasing to at least $1000 for families with three school aged children.

“Canberrans have been taxed to the bone by 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,” Ms Lee concluded.

This latest announcement comes on the back of the Canberra Liberals’ $100 million putting your suburb first policy to upgrade Canberra’s neglected suburbs.