Due to falling real wages – workers, particularly those below average wages now face a cost of living crisis.
Unfortunately the two referenda attempting to give the Commonwealth power over prices and incomes failed. Subsequently the ACT Self Government ACT specifically gives the ACT power to legislate over “Control of prices and of rents”
General Resolution
Prices Justification mechanism
ACT Labor Conference requests the ACT Labor government to investigate introducing a local price justification mechanism over 5 consumer staples – food, housing, electricity, health provision and childcare. Noting that Unions signing the original Accord Agreement expected that Prices and Incomes would be regulated but that in practice, real wages were cut and prices increased, so that a cost of living crisis now exists.