The ACT Greens may be Labor’s partner in government, but in their opinion, the Budget handed down this week is ‘meh’. Party leader Shane Rattenbury says that an ACT Greens budget would have invested more in housing, public transport, and healthcare, while caring for the environment.

“The ACT Greens want to ensure you have somewhere to live; you can get around the city easily and cheaply; and you can see the GP for free. All the while protecting the climate and environment. This year’s budget is okay, but it certainly doesn’t do all of that.”

In the Greens’ view, the ACT might be headed in the right direction, but the government needs to go further and faster to address the urgent challenges facing the Canberra community. 

“The ACT is different to the rest of the country,” Mr Rattenbury said. “We’re progressive, we look after each other, and we take the climate crisis seriously. But we still have a cost-of-living crisis and not enough housing, so there are things the Greens would do differently. 

“Despite the Greens’ best efforts, there’s a lot missing from this Budget that you’ll see us put forward as election commitments in the coming months, because they’re really important investments in this community.

“Our fully-costed plan to deliver 10,000 public homes in 10 years will crack the housing crisis and restore the government as a landlord of choice, with plentiful, climate-wise, accessible public homes, where renters locked out of the cooked private market can opt-out instead. 

“We would make ambulances free, provide 160,000 free GP visits each year, and deliver more community-based care to keep people out of hospital. 

“Labor has proudly proclaimed this is a ‘big road budget’, but the Greens would be investing more in public and active transport, to cut emissions and make it easier to get around Canberra without being trapped into the expense of having a car. 

“We’d be providing more certainty to community groups that provide really important services to Canberrans, and investing more in the health of our precious natural environment. 

“We want planning rules and development decisions to deliver maximum benefit to the community, not to private developers, and I’ll have more to say on this topic in the coming days. 

“Once again, the Greens will seek to amend the ACT Budget to phase out the $41 million subsidy to the horse racing industry.  

“We simply do not believe that a taxpayer subsidy to the horse racing industry is in the public interest – especially in the face of a cost-of-living crisis and a housing crisis. 

“A Greens-led Budget would look quite different to the one delivered today, but we do have a lot to celebrate. 

“Under the leadership of the Greens, the ACT is driving a nation-leading transition off fossil-fuel gas, complementing our 100 per cent renewable electricity. The newly funded “Integrated Energy Plan” sets out the next stage of work to electrify Canberra, prioritising support for low-income households, delivering both climate change action and social justice to ensure a just transition.

“We’re increasing the funding for mental health programs delivered in the community, such as PACER, to keep people experiencing mental health issues supported closer to home.   

“I’m also really pleased that this budget extends funding for CanTEST Health and Drug Checking Service until June 2027, extending its current funding commitment by $1.8 million. 

“The ACT Greens advocated for this permanent pill testing site for many years, and it’s great to see that this proven health-focused approach to drugs is now firmly established policy in the ACT.  

“We continue to provide record funding for homelessness services. This budget includes funding for the next Youth Foyer in CIT Woden to provide accommodation for young people at risk of homelessness, and support for Aboriginal Controlled Housing services.  

“We’re investing nearly $0.5 million to kick-start the ACT’s first local food strategy, giving a funding boost for ACT Landcare and community groups tackling weeds, and providing vital funds for wildlife veterinary services and citizen science – led environmental mapping. 

“Canberrans have seen the Greens drive bold and transformative change in the ACT, like delivering light rail and raising the age of criminal responsibility.  “We’re experienced, we’re driven, and we are ready to make more big structural changes that shape Canberra into a place where everyone is able to live a healthy, fulfilling life with strong connections to their community, in a way that cares for our planet.”