Under development - Internal review only - do not share
Public Matter

Issues · Cost of living

Review in progress3 recorded votes

New taxes and levies

Votes on whether to raise new taxes and levies to pay for services.

Votes on new or higher taxes, such as a levy on short-stay rentals and higher payroll tax for big employers.

Review in progress. The votes and names below are exactly as recorded in Hansard. Which votes belong under this issue, and which side counts as “for”, is our interpretation, and it is still being reviewed, so we show each MLA’s Aye or No rather than a pattern.

What this can’t tell you

  • Most decisions in the Assembly are made on the voices, with no names recorded. Only recorded votes appear here.
  • Many of these votes are on changes to someone else’s motion. Voting against a change can mean “not like this” or “not funded yet”, not opposition to the idea. Each vote shows its stage.
  • “No recorded vote” can mean the MLA wasn’t a member yet, or didn’t vote. It never means they abstained.

Each MLA

One square per vote, oldest first. A Aye, N No (not yet checked), no recorded vote.

The votes

  1. 1. 7 May 2025 · Short-Term Rental Accommodation Levy Bill 2025Bill: agreed in principle. The vote on whether a bill should go ahead at all, before its details are considered.Review in progress

    A new levy on short-stay rentals such as Airbnb, to raise money for services. It passed its first stage. (our summary; the question as recorded is below)

    Question as recorded: That the bill be agreed to in principle. Question resolved in the affirmative.

    Voting Aye would count as for this issue (review in progress). A vote for a new levy.

    Ayes 15, Noes 8. Who voted each way · Official record, p. 1357 ·

  2. 2. 3 September 2025 · Budget—federal government fundingAmendment. A vote on changing the wording of a motion or bill. Voting against a change can mean "not like this", not opposition to the idea.Review in progress

    A government change to a Greens motion on federal funding. It removed calls to push for a national tax on fossil fuels. It passed. (our summary; the question as recorded is below)

    Question as recorded: Omit paragraphs (2) and (3). Question resolved in the affirmative.

    Voting No would count as for this issue (review in progress). The change removed the call for a new fossil fuel tax.

    Ayes 16, Noes 6. Who voted each way · Official record, p. 2347 ·

  3. 3. 4 December 2025 · Payroll Tax Amendment Bill 2025Bill: agreed in principle. The vote on whether a bill should go ahead at all, before its details are considered.Review in progress

    Higher payroll tax for the largest employers, with national wages over $150 million. It passed its first stage. (our summary; the question as recorded is below)

    Question as recorded: That this bill be agreed to in principle. Question resolved in the affirmative.

    Voting Aye would count as for this issue (review in progress). A vote for a higher tax.

    Ayes 13, Noes 6. Who voted each way · Official record, p. 4086 ·

What Canberrans said about cost of living

17%picked “Delivering cost-of-living support where it's most needed” as one of their top three priorities for the ACT Government
27%of everyone surveyed agreed enough is currently being done about it

What they most wanted

  • Reduce costs of essential items (e.g. transport, utilities)70%
  • Strengthen support for financial stress and food insecurity50%
  • Support energy efficiency upgrades to reduce household bills46%

From the 2025 Community Priorities Survey (ACT Government, YourSay Panel, summary report, April 2026), carried out 21 October to 4 November 2025: 1,801 people answered. An opt-in panel of Canberrans aged 18 and over, with extra young people recruited through a second panel, weighted by age, gender and region to match the 2021 Census. “What they most wanted” is out of the 263 people who picked this area; each could choose up to three. This shows what people told one survey. It isn’t a vote, and it doesn’t say how any MLA should vote.

How issues are put together · Report an error on this page