Nine days to the election.

ACT Labor: End-of-life care

ACT Labor has promised to implement an effective and accessible end-of-life care model in the ACT and protect the reform.

“Labor fought hard for Territory Rights, paving the way for a Voluntary Assisted Dying Scheme to be implemented in the ACT,” a Labor spokesperson said. “When it came for the historic vote in the ACT Legislative Assembly on Voluntary Assisted Dying, the majority of the Canberra Liberals voted against it.”

Four Canberra Liberals MLAs – opposition leader Elizabeth Lee, deputy leader Leanne Castley, Nicole Lawder, and Mark Parton – supported the bill; five (including Elizabeth Kikkert, no longer a member of the party) against it.

Labor would fund six more beds in the Leo’s Place respite hub in Garran; deliver a 12-bed palliative care ward at Canberra Hospital; expand home based palliative care and hospice services at Clare Holland House; establish a First Nations end-of-life care service; and improve after-hours access to medications.

“Labor believes every individual has the right to access compassionate and patient-centred end of life care that suits their individual needs and wants,” a spokesperson said.

“The Strong Independents have always supported the Voluntary Assisted Dying scheme,” Peter Strong said. “That Labor are proposing new support seems somewhat disingenuous. What they are proposing should have happened many years ago. The ACT ALP have a record of promising things and then finding some reason to not do what they promise. A strong crossbench in a minority government is what we need to make sure promises happen.

“Labor has also attacked independent women alleging they do not support key progressive policies such as VAD. So, if Labor is happy to spread untruths and personally attack women and men of integrity, then they simply can’t be trusted to honour any of their promises.”

Independents for Canberra candidate Sneha KC said: “The ACT faces a critical gap in staff retention and workforce shortages, which could hinder the effective delivery of Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) and palliative care services. Labor’s financial investment is noteworthy, but a clear plan to retain and recruit clinicians is crucial to meet demand. The successful implementation of VAD requires legislative reform, funding, and a skilled workforce. A long-term strategy focusing on workforce sustainability is essential for actualising these plans. Education and training for healthcare professionals are essential, along with awareness campaigns and transparent communication to ensure no eligible individual is left in the dark about their end-of-life care options.”

The Belco Party has a conscience vote on this issue, but all five of its members support VAD with appropriate safeguards in place, co-convenor Bill Stefaniak said.

Canberra Liberals: Indigenous

To honour “the rich cultural heritage of our local Indigenous community”, the Canberra Liberals would transition control of Boomanulla Oval complex and the Ngunnawal Bush Healing Farm back to them.

They would boost funding for Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services by $2 million and for the Gugan Gulwan youth organisation by $250,000 for their tutoring program.

The Liberals would also complete a residential Indigenous drug and alcohol rehabilitation program, and explore a partnership with the Clontarf Foundation to establish young Indigenous men’s education, life skills and employment prospects.

James Milligan, Shadow Minister for Indigenous Affairs, said the Boomanulla Oval is culturally significant for the local indigenous community.

“The oval is currently managed by [Transport Canberra and City Services], but the local Indigenous community has been seeking to have control restored back to them over many years,” Mr Milligan said.

The government issued a tender in 2016 to return the oval to Indigenous management, but cancelled the request for tender without explanation.

“The oval is home to the Boomanulla Raiders and is used for other indigenous sporting and cultural events, and a Canberra Liberals Government will look to transition control of the complex back to the indigenous community,” Mr Milligan said.

The Liberals would transfer the Ngunnawal Bush Healing Farm to an indigenous controlled organisation, through a tender process.

Canberra Liberals leader Elizabeth Lee said the $2 million funding boost for Winnunga would support their important work.

“Winnunga has been operating in the ACT and surrounding areas for over 35 years, providing such an important service to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, and we want to ensure that important work continues,” Ms Lee said.

The ACT Greens said it was good to see the Canberra Liberals announce some measures to support the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, but they think much more needs to be done.

To support self-determination for Traditional Custodians and First Nations people, the ACT Greens would deliver Truth, Treaty and Voice as called for in the Uluru Statement from the Heart; increase community control of First Nations facilities and programs including Boomanulla Oval and Ngunnawal Bush Healing Farm; implement the recommendations of the Our Booris, Our Way report; establish an Aboriginal-controlled housing organisation to make culturally appropriate housing available; improve access to culturally safe holistic health and mental health care services that are governed and operated by First Nations people; reduce the overrepresentation of First Nations men and women to match non-Indigenous incarceration rates by 2031; encourage Traditional Custodian participation in land and water management and decision making; and double the Cultural Arts Program funding.

“We respect the sovereignty of First Nations and their right to self-determination,” a spokesperson said. “We understand that true reconciliation is a process that involves truth-telling and acknowledging past wrongs. It is unacceptable that First Nations people in Australia continue to experience racism and discrimination and be over-represented in our justice system. This has gone on for too long, and the ACT Greens are committed to working with First Nations people to deliver better outcomes.”

Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation ranked the ACT Greens as the top performers in their election scorecard by the group.

Thomas Emerson (Independents for Canberra) said: “It’s encouraging to see the major parties talking about supporting our Indigenous community. The reality is that such support simply has not been there. That is why Paula McGrady left the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body to run as an Independents for Canberra candidate in Murrumbidgee. She was tired of all the talk not being matched by meaningful action. Hopefully, people in our community who care about Indigenous issues and believe we need to work a lot harder to Close the Gap will consider helping Ms McGrady became the ACT’s first ever female Indigenous MLA.”

Canberra Liberals: Diabetes

The Canberra Liberals would give Diabetes Australia $3.4 million to deliver a preventative health program to Canberrans at risk of developing diabetes and $1 million to run a community education campaign to increase awareness of gestational diabetes.

More than 2,300 Canberrans have type 1 diabetes and more than 16,800 have type 2 diabetes, shadow health minister Leanne Castley said.

“Diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes, is largely preventable through lifestyle modifications and early intervention strategies, and that is why a Canberra Liberals Government will invest in a preventable health program with Diabetes Australia,” Ms Castley said.

The preventative health service would involve one-on-one coaching with a qualified health coach to understand, manage and improve their health, especially the risk factors associated with diabetes. Diabetes Australia offers preventative health services in Tasmania, Queensland and NSW, and is well equipped to deliver a similar service here in the ACT, Ms Castley said.

Ms Lee, who had experienced gestational diabetes, said: “There is a need to increase public awareness and educate pregnant women about the risks, symptoms and the importance of screening gestational diabetes. Increased awareness can lead to better prevention, timely diagnosis, and improved management of gestational diabetes during pregnancy.”

Diabetes Australia group CEO Justine Cain said this commitment was good news for the ACT and that the organisation would welcome a matched commitment from the Labor Government.

“Type 2 diabetes prevention programs are proven and powerful, and we need every government to prioritise them,” Ms Cain said.

“Over the last decade, the total number of Australians living with all types diabetes has risen by 32 per cent.

“Right now in the ACT, over 16,000 people are living with type 2 diabetes, and nearly 1,000 more are living with gestational diabetes.

“Unfortunately, diabetes is the leading cause of many costly and debilitating complications including vision loss, amputation, kidney failure and heart disease. It is the underlying cause of death in around 11% of all deaths in Australia.

“Prevention programs like those Diabetes Australia delivers in other states are at the front line of efforts to help combat Australia’s diabetes epidemic.”

Investment in high-risk prevention has been proven cost effective with every $1 invested generating savings of $14, Ms Cain said.

Research shows type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed in up to 58 per cent of cases if people are provided with access to appropriate healthcare and support.

“That’s why the commitment to establish a local prevention program, here in the ACT, to connect people who are at risk of type 2 diabetes with basic health coaching and support is so important,” Ms Cain said.

The Belco Party thought this was a good policy, Bill Stefaniak said, but was concerned how much the various parties’ election promises would cost, given the perilous state of the Territory’s finances as former Chief Minister Jon Stanhope has recently documented.

“The Belco Party is more confident at least that, of the three major parties, the Liberal party is the most capable of running a tight ship and displaying financial responsibility; if the Belco Party gets one or more candidates in, we will ensure they are fiscally responsible. After all, I managed to never go over budget in seven consecutive budgets (1995, 1996, 1997, 1998,1999, 2000, 2001) when I was a minister. It’s not rocket science. Once a new government is installed, it can find out exactly what can be discarded and what services need to be kept and enhanced in terms of expenditure. Ditching Stage 2B of the tram to Woden is a good start, but there will be numerous other examples of the government wasting money or spending money on things we just don’t need.”

Peter Strong (Strong Independents) said: “The fact that NSW, Tasmania and Queensland have a preventative service provided by Diabetes Australia says a lot about the ACT Government. It would be much easier and cheaper to implement this in the smaller ACT than in those states but Labor talks the talk but trips over vested interests when they try to walk the walk. Independents will make sure this happens if the Libs end up in a minority government, and will ensure that Labor responsibly focusses on health if they are the minority government. Either way, nothing new and good will happen without Strong Independents.”

Strong Independents: Release information on light rail!

The Public Transport Association of Canberra (PTCBR) has asked candidates to complete a five-question survey on their views on public transport investment in the ACT; those results will be published on Tuesday.

PTCBR’s survey was “an excellent initiative on a crucial issue,” Peter Strong said. “It is very easy to support four of the points of their plan – frequent services, timed connections, faster services, and active travel – these need to be achieved sooner rather than later.

“The fifth question was about Light Rail, and we do not have the information to make decisions on whether we support the extension to Woden or any other questions around that particular transport infrastructure.”

The Strong Independents have called upon all stakeholders in the light rail network to come together and demand that the information needed to make comment be released ASAP.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr, asked in Tuesday night’s debate how much light rail would cost, once again did not provide any details. He later stated that the exact cost could not be provided, due to unknown conditions, environmental and heritage requirements, and the infrastructure market at the time of procurement. The amount would be made public before the contract was signed (which is not likely to be until after the 2028 election). The Commonwealth has committed to pay $288.5 million – half of the $577 million major works contract for stage 2A. But that, the Canberra Liberals calculate, is only 20 per cent of a $1.5 billion cost.

“Any responsible politician, who is genuinely representing their electorates, will not and should not make decisions about public policy or expenditure of taxpayers’ money without the information needed to make that decision,” Mr Strong said. “It shouldn’t be decided by vested interests or those ideologically wedded to a concept without any regard to unintended consequences.”

Ann Bray said: “We have always said that decisions must be based on evidence and facts. This is why we have called for the appointment of an Independent Infrastructure Commissioner in the ACT to help take the emotions out of decisions by provision of expert comment on business cases, including information on any alternatives to proposed infrastructure projects – if relevant.

“The transport system in the ACT is in a crisis, as citizens complain of poor bus services and very long trips in buses that used to be much shorter. I spoke to an older gentleman today who was saying that the bus service in Narrabundah had been reduced. We do need a rapid transport system for the whole territory, and we need experts to provide comment on the various options available. This includes an independent cost benefit analysis which is an essential part of any project development.”

Mr Strong added: “We see plenty of examples of projects – great sounding projects – failing due to poor planning. The HR system for the ACT public service that failed completely after expenditure of $77 million is one example. We can have the best rapid transport system for our territory, [but] this can only be achieved by professional responsible government that makes transparent decisions by seeking evidence.”