The ACT Greens have announced a $40 million election initiative to give locals the power to allocate a portion of budget funds to priorities in their suburbs, By and For the Suburbs.

But the Canberra Liberals claim the announcement is “just a poor copycat” of the Canberra Liberals’ Putting Your Suburb First policy, announced last year, which pledged $100 million to fund local projects nominated by communities themselves to upgrade neglected suburbs.

The Greens say they would allocate $40 million for suburb-level projects over two rounds of funding during the next term of government, with an amount for each and every suburb. It would supplement, not replace, the government’s existing obligations on upkeep and maintenance. It would empower local residents to decide how to spend this money in their suburb. Volunteer-run district community would be provided secretariat and other support through the ACT public service, to focus on community consultation rather than administration. A citizens’ jury would consider reforms for community councils and consultation models that would enhance community-led decision making.

“Participation in democracy is as important to the Greens as social justice and environmental sustainability,” said ACT Greens Leader Shane Rattenbury.

“But right now, I think there’s a feeling that people are up to their necks in consultations, giving feedback to the government and submitting ideas to the void, without any real power to make decisions.

“Our plan will give local people real power to shape their neighbourhoods into places they love living, even more.”

Greens democracy spokesperson Andrew Braddock, said: “Every suburb will receive a budget, relative to its size, for use on whatever the local residents would like. This could include local projects, initiatives, facilities, activities, services or events. Let your imaginations run wild.

“This will be in addition to the normal suburban upkeep activities like maintaining footpaths and mowing public parklands. It’s also on top of any other bigger projects the government may commit to for the district or city as a whole.”

Adele Sinclair, Greens candidate for Ginninderra, a community advocate for Scullin and past Deputy Chair of Belconnen Community Council, said volunteer-run district community councils are “a crucial foundation for grassroots democracy in Canberra, especially in the absence of local government councils,” Ms Sinclair said. 

“But they are also under-resourced, with the expectations and demands placed on volunteers frequently going beyond what the average person can contribute.

“It’s essential that we support, enable and invigorate our district community councils so they can function well, facilitate community-led decision-making – and with the money the Greens are committing to our suburbs, help deliver new initiatives that locals want.”

Opposition leader Elizabeth Lee, however, said: “I think the ACT Greens sometimes forget that they’ve actually been in government since 2012. That’s three terms, including this term having three ministers in cabinet. With less than four months to go until the election, Canberrans need to wake up to see that the ACT Greens can’t have it both ways. On the one hand, talk about all of the ‘achievements in government’, whilst at the same time are clearly trying to position themselves as playing opposition, almost.

“This also comes on the back of the ACT Greens’ poorer copycat version of the Canberra Liberals’ people-focused public transport policy, especially about the buses. Most Canberrans will see that the ACT Greens are now embarking on this desperate move, because they know that whilst they’ve had the privilege of being in government, they have failed to deliver for Canberrans.”