Stressed Canberra families will benefit from an immediate injection into household budgets and the local economy. 

The Canberra Liberals will return up to $200 a year to an average Canberra household by lowering the cost of private car registration to NSW levels. We’ll do this by reducing exorbitant car registration fees for families.  

Since 2012, Labor has increased car registration costs by 40 per cent for around 260,000 ACT passenger vehicles.  

The Canberra Liberals believe in a better way.  

Under a Canberra Liberals Government, a private car owner will save between $84.10 and $98.90, depending on the weight of their vehicles. The Liberals’ plan to reduce vehicle registration costs will deliver an immediate benefit to every struggling household that owns a car and to the local economy. 

The Canberra Liberals will also remove after hours parking fees in ACT Government parking lots for six months as a COVID stimulus measure to boost the ACT’s night time economy. This means that after 5:30pm, drivers will have free parking across Canberra. This will encourage more Canberrans to visit entertainment precincts at night to support local business and help revive our economy. 

The Leader of the Canberra Liberals Alistair Coe said only the Liberals will deliver lower taxes and better services so everyone can get ahead. 

“The Canberra Liberals will always back struggling families, households and local businesses,” Mr Coe said.  

“We know many Canberrans are doing it tough and are preparing themselves to weather the economic storm from COVID. That’s why we’re committed to reducing cost of living pressures, enabling Canberrans to keep more of what they earn. Not only will this return greater confidence to household budgets, but it will serve as a key economic driver to stimulate our COVID economy. 

“Today’s announcement follows our commitments to freeze rates for four years, and to provide a $200 Active and Creative Kids voucher each year,” Mr Coe said. 

The Shadow Minister for Transport Candice Burch said the Canberra Liberals want to make Canberra the best place to live, work and raise a family.  

“We know a growing number of stressed Canberra families rely on their cars to get the kids to and from school and themselves to work,” Miss Burch said.  

“That’s why we have a plan to make the daily commute less stressful and more affordable for all drivers. 

“These are fully funded, common sense measures to help reduce cost of living pressures on the community while directly investing in our local economy,” Miss Burch said. 

The Shadow Minister for Urban Services Nicole Lawder said this was an important investment by government to help more stressed Canberra families get ahead.  

“Reducing rego is part of the Canberra Liberals’ strategy for reducing cost of living pressures and stopping households going across the border to escape Labor’s punitive tax regime,” Ms Lawder said.  

“By making Canberra more affordable, and stopping the flow of people moving across the border, a Canberra Liberals Government can afford to deliver lower taxes and better services at the same time,” Mr Coe concluded. 

COST COMPARISON 

Weight	What you pay now (rego +  CTP)	What you will pay (rego + CTP)	Annual Benefit
Up to 975 kg	$1234.50	$1139.10	$95.40
976 kg to 1154	$1301.90	$1207.80	$94.10
1155 kg to 1504 kg	$1393.90	$1309.80	$84.10
1505 kg to 2504 kg	$ 1751.50	$1652.60	$98.90