Key decisions this week in ACT politics include transport, rental levies and workplace reforms.
Slave labour not used in electric buses
The Canberra Liberals have raised concerns that the ACT Government’s new Chinese-made Yutong electric buses may be linked to Uyghur forced labour camps in Xinjiang.
The NSW Anti-Slavery Commissioner is reviewing its Yutong electric buses after allegations that CATL batteries used in the fleet were made by slaves.
Opposition leader Leanne Castley MLA accused the Labor government of failing to conduct basic checks before procuring 90 Yutong electric buses through Vehicle Dealers International.
The government insisted its procurement policies banned engagement with unethical suppliers. Vehicle Dealers International has told the government it has no knowledge of slavery in its operations and supply chain; VDI conducted an audit last month.
Portable Long Service Leave Scheme expansion paused
The Portable Long Service Leave for hospitality and service workers has been delayed for 15 months — to help the hospitality industry weather economic pressures, the ACT Government announced.
The scheme will not begin for accommodation, food, hairdressing and beauty businesses until 1 July 2026. It was intended to start on 1 April this year.
Business minister Michael Pettersson MLA said an extended transition period would help thousands of hospitality businesses continue their current processes at a time when the sector was under economic pressure. Nationally, 9.3 per cent of hospitality businesses closed in the year up to February 2025 — “much-loved” Canberra businesses among them.
The ACT Long Service Leave Authority will help businesses to register for the scheme.
The Canberra Business Chamber welcomed the decision to delay the scheme. “It would have been administratively burdensome for businesses, inflated the costs of doing business, and almost certainly would have meant consumers were paying more for coffee, food and haircuts,” chief executive Greg Harford said. “Additionally, given the transient nature of the industry, the majority of employees would never have benefited from the scheme, while the ACT Government pocketed the proceeds.”
Mr Harford called for a complete review of the proposal to avoid poor outcomes for customers and businesses.
Aged care respite centre not extended
A fortnight ago, the Legislative Assembly passed a motion calling on the ACT Government to extend its contract with the Salvation Army and delay the closure of the Burrangiri Aged Care Respite Centre (due to close in June) until other respite care could be provided.
Health minister Rachel Stephen-Smith MLA, however, revealed this week that the contract would not be extended — in defiance of the previous motion, independent MLA Fiona Carrick said.
Questioned in the Assembly this week, the minister said she had not promised to extend the contract.
In the previous debate, Ms Stephen-Smith unsuccessfully tried to strike out the clause calling for the contract’s extension.
Ms Stephen-Smith believes the facility is not fit for purpose; that it cannot care for patients with complex needs; and that an alternative service would replicate government programs. The contract had already been extended for 12 months — if the service were recommissioned, the government would be required to go to market to test that service, she said.
Rental accommodation levy
The ACT Government intends to impose a 5 per cent levy on short-term rental accommodation (STRA) bookings of less than four weeks made through booking services from 1 July.
The levy will apply to un-hosted accommodation, but excludes hosted accommodation, hotels, motels, serviced apartments, caravan parks, camping grounds and hostels. Booking service providers will pay the levy.
Treasurer Chris Steel MLA said the measure may increase long-term rental availability, and strike a fairer balance between STRA and traditional accommodation businesses.
Revenue will support tourism, events, and government services. Other jurisdictions, including Victoria and Tasmania, have introduced or announced similar levies.
Coercive control
The ACT Government has committed to legislate on coercive control (abusive behaviour that controls and dominates victims, and which is found in almost all cases of murder of an intimate partner).
Until now, opposition leader Leanne Castley said, police have not been able to intervene until coercive control erupts into violence or even death.
The Canberra Liberals unsuccessfully attempted last year to legislate against coercive control, then made it an election commitment.
Ms Castley this week proposed legislation similar to NSW’s to review domestic violence laws, and to improve support and resources for victims.
After amendments by Dr Marisa Paterson MLA, minister for the prevention of domestic and family violence, the government will review national laws, then introduce its own legislation. It will also consult the Domestic Violence Prevention Council about how best to respond to coercive control; implement its 10-year Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Strategy later this year; and improve frontline services and the police’s ability to deal with the problem.
Liberal bail bill fails
The Canberra Liberals called for tougher bail laws similar to those the Victorian Labor government introduced, including a second-strike rule imposing harsher penalties for reoffending while on bail.
Proponent Deborah Morris MLA listed several recent cases, including repeat juvenile offenders or violent offenders granted parole.
After amendments by Labor, Green and independent MLAs, the ACT government committed to invest in more diversionary and rehabilitation programs for (First Nations) young people, which they argued would reduce recidivism.
The Australian Federal Police Association supported the Liberals’ proposed reform of bail laws, and called for the ACT Government to prioritise community safety in bail decisions, impose stricter conditions for repeat offenders, and introduce a “second-strike” rule for those committing serious offences while on bail.
New bus timetable
Under a new timetable, more rapid, local and school bus services will run from Monday 28 April, the start of term two, coinciding with the opening of Australia’s largest all-electric bus depot in Woden.
In Molonglo, rapid services between Denman and the city will start earlier, at 6:05am, and run every 15 minutes. Local services connecting Denman, Whitlam and Belconnen will start earlier and finish nearly three hours later, running hourly from 6am to 10pm and half-hourly during the afternoon peak.
Buses between Belconnen or Woden and the city will run more frequently during high demand periods.
To help students get to school, more services will run and routes be refined.
“We’ve heard from the community that some buses are full on certain routes, and we’ve responded by increasing frequency on these routes to meet demand,” transport minister Chris Steel MLA said.
Greens MLA Andrew Braddock welcomed the announcement of additional bus services — “a small step toward increasing bus frequency” — but called for further improvements, particularly on weekends. He was concerned that unless the government introduced dedicated bus lanes to Molonglo, the increased number of services would be “simply stuck in traffic congestion”.
The Conservation Council ACT Region welcomed the changes: “Getting more people on public and active transport is essential for reducing Canberra’s carbon emissions and cutting congestion.”
More information for students and families will be provided closer to the start of Term Two.
Central Reserve Fund or “slush fund”?
The ACT Government has introduced a $20 million Central Reserve Fund, a pool that reprioritises funding to deliver critical services and address need in the public service.
The Canberra Liberals, however, have criticised the fund: shadow treasurer Ed Cocks MLA argues it is a “slush fund” that lacks financial accountability and transparency, allows the government to cover up budget mismanagement, and bail out overspending agencies without Assembly scrutiny.
Treasurer Chris Steel already has access to an $80 million advance to cover unforeseen expenditure, Mr Cocks pointed out; the new fund would raise the amount to $100 million. Mr Cocks alleged that taxpayers would not know how the government spent money until August — 45 days after the end of the quarter. He considered this “deliberate obfuscation”, not accountability.
The government rejected these claims, and stated the fund was a transparent way to identify and redirect funds if necessary. The government does not intend to spend money from the reserve; it was “a prudent and conservative approach to financial management of the Territory”. No new money was added to the fund: it redistributed existing funds to meet unexpected demand.
Expenditure will be reported in the Quarterly Financial Statements.
ACT leads nation in right to healthy environment
The ACT this week became the first jurisdiction in Australia to enshrine the right to a healthy environment in legislation (Human Rights Act 2004).
This right encompasses clean air; a safe climate; safe water and adequate sanitation; healthy and sustainably produced food; non-toxic environments to live, work, study, and play; healthy biodiversity and ecosystems; information on environmental matters; environmental decision-making; and justice where the right may be breached. ACT public authorities will consider the environment and climate when making decisions.
Canberrans can complain to the ACT Human Rights Commission if they believe a public authority has breached the right to a healthy environment, or not considered it in a decision.
Sportsgrounds close for winter
Sports ovals are getting their twice-yearly makeover. Most ACT Government irrigated sportsgrounds have closed for maintenance for two weeks from Tuesday 18 March until Tuesday 1 April.
25 ovals can be booked for pre-season training during this fortnight:
- Bonython (2 fields)
- Hughes (2 fields)
- Cook (1 field)
- Isabella Plains (2 fields)
- Giralang (1 field)
- Latham (3 fields)
- Gowrie (5 fields)
- Pearce (2 fields)
- Holt (7 fields)
Woden Park (athletics) and synthetic grass fields at Holt (1 field), Nicholls (2 fields) and Pearce (1 field) will remain open.
Sportsgrounds are maintained twice yearly at the beginning and end of the summer sport season.
Heritage Festival returns
The Canberra and Region Heritage Festival will return from 18 April to 11 May.
This year’s theme is ‘Unearthed’, “which invites people to reveal the past and bring to light the lesser-known histories and stories,” heritage minister Chris Steel said.
More than 130 events will celebrate Canberra’s natural, historic, First Nations and diverse cultural history, including a self-drive guided tour to fossick for fossils; a walk at Black Mountain to unearth the lesser-known stories of its Aboriginal, historic and natural heritage; and a tour to discover stories of the women who shaped Canberra into the city it is today.
The ACT’s festival coincides with the Australian Heritage Festival (18 April to 18 May).
For more information, visit act.gov.au/heritagefestival; Libraries ACT; or the Canberra and Region Visitors Centre at Regatta Point.
ACT Community Protection Medal recipients
Six police and emergency service members received an ACT Community Protection Medal for their sustained and distinguished or outstanding service to the community:
- Michael Caldwell, ACT Ambulance Service
- Commander Guy Cassis, ACT Fire and Rescue
- Colin Dawes, ACT Emergency Services Agency
- Detective Sergeant Lauren Gilliland, ACT Policing
- Commander Adam Hartnett, ACT State Emergency Service
- Nicola Lewis, ACT Rural Fire Service
Resilient Australia Awards — nominations open
ACT initiatives making the community safer, more connected, and better prepared for disasters and emergencies can be nominated for a 2025 ACT Resilient Australia Award.
Categories include business, community, government, local government, schools, mental health and wellbeing, and photography.
Winners from each state and territory are considered for the national awards. The Australian Government sponsors the awards in partnership with states and territories, and the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience manages them. Nominations close on Tuesday, 3 June.
For more information and to submit a nomination, visit www.aidr.org.au/raa.
Floriade Community — nominations open
Community groups and organisations can apply to extend Floriade across Canberra’s suburbs.
The Floriade Community program, now in its sixth year, will give successful applicants bulbs and annuals to plant and maintain in their local area. Locations must cover at least 10 square metres, and be visible. They may include garden beds, pots or wheelbarrows at shops, schools, churches or community centres.
Last year, Floriade Community distributed 300,000 bulbs and annuals to 102 community groups throughout the city, to supplement the one million blooms on display in Commonwealth Park.
Applications close at 5pm on Thursday 3 April. For more information, visit floriadeaustralia.com, or email [email protected].
