Eight days to the ACT election.

ACT Greens: Education

Following their announcement of free meals in schools earlier this week, the ACT Greens have announced their education plan.

The Greens would invest $86.8 million to fully fund the recommendations of the Literacy and Numeracy Review; $150 million for school upgrades; and $20 million to recruit student wellbeing teams at all ACT public schools and develop a systematic response to bullying.

“A good education forms the building blocks of a good life,” education spokeswoman Laura Nuttall said. “The Greens’ education plan is focused on supporting teachers and ensuring students are set up for success.”

The Greens say they would “compassionately” address ‘School Can’t’ (‘school refusal’); and retain and attract great teachers by reducing administrative burdens and centralising development of curriculum resources and assessment tools, implementing recommendations from the Teacher Shortage Taskforce.

“There are many components to a good education beyond reading, writing and maths,” Ms Nuttall said. “Perhaps the most important is ensuring our workforce is well supported to do what they do best – teach. 

“The growing administrative burden faced by so many teachers means they either have to compromise their teaching time, or work increasingly long hours.

“Wellbeing plays a pivotal role in a student’s ability to engage with school and do their best, which is why the Greens will increase support for students.”

The Greens would build a new school in Belconnen Town Centre. Belconnen’s population will grow by more than 3,000 new homes over the next decade to more than 11,500, more than the town of Goulburn, which has nine primary schools and two high schools, Jo Clay said. 

“As our population grows, it’s vital that we have the infrastructure in place to support the needs of our community.”

The Greens want public schools to be the education provider of choice for all Canberra families, party leader Shane Rattenbury said. 

“The ACT Greens are committed to ensuring a free public education is the best education you can get. And this is absolutely possible, so long as we invest in appropriate supports to ensure everyone in the system can thrive. 

“Not only do we need the physical infrastructure to provide a good education to every student, we must invest in the intangible, systematic structures that support teachers to be at their best and allow students to reach their full potential,” Mr Rattenbury said.  

The Strong Independents support and call for the recommendations of the Literacy and Numeracy Review to be fully funded, Peter Strong AM said. However, Mr Strong said that the Greens-Labor government had “presided over a substantial period where we have seen declining literacy and numeracy outcomes. We want to see teachers working lives improved as well as children achieving their full potential – which will need a focus not only on teaching methods, support staff and mental health support.”

Independents for Canberra candidate Anne-Louise Dawes said: “The Catholics quietly shuffled ahead on these reforms ages ago. This commitment to narrowing the growing educational gap between public and private is overdue and a step in the right direction. 

“It’s good to see the Greens talking about education. Feels a bit like watching the last runners in a race, finally making it across the finish line. There’s a certain charm to the tardy arrival, like when someone shows up late to the party but brings excellent cheese. Now the work begins.”

Party leader Thomas Emerson said: “Progress is good. Catching up those who have fallen behind is better. Excellent is looking ahead to the future. Reading and writing should be a given. What core life skills and attributes do we want our children to have? Is anyone in the political sphere asking that fundamental question?”

Candidate Paula McGrady said: “I would like to see more culturally competent education delivered to support our Indigenous kids to grow up with pride in their identity and strong links to culture and community. The gap in educational outcomes is widest where there are other disadvantages that families have to overcome.”

Canberra Liberals: Environment

The Canberra Liberals have announced their plan for a healthy environment. They would fund a full-time dedicated wildlife vet; increase operational funding to peak environmental groups; allocate land to wombat rescue; provide RSPCA ACT with a new home in Pialligo; and provide more funding for community garden grants as part of supporting.

Leader Elizabeth Lee said that many grassroots community organisations that care for the environment and native wildlife feel let down by the Labor-Greens Government.

“Canberra has a diverse and beautiful environment, and we are surrounded by natural bushland and waterways that are home to many native species,” Ms Lee said.

“A Canberra Liberals Government values the dedicated staff and volunteers who make a big difference to the ACT, and we are committed to ensuring they have the support they need in caring for our natural environment.

“This includes additional funding and providing the facilities they need to continue doing what they do best.”

The Canberra Liberals would invest $100 million over 10 years to improve water quality in Canberra’s lakes and waterways.

“Our local lakes and waterways play a crucial role in the sustainability of our environment and our way of life,” outgoing shadow environment minister Nicole Lawder said.

“For too long, Labor and the Greens have ignored advice from experts when it comes to the health of our waterways, and real investment in the way we manage our water is urgently needed to ensure the long-term sustainability of our environment.

“A Canberra Liberals Government want all Canberrans to enjoy our lakes and waterways, and this can be achieved through this investment,” Ms Lawder concluded. The Canberra Liberals would continue the pathway to net zero by 2045 which includes the expansion of EV chargers and rooftop solar, and would work with researchers and industry to meet these targets.

The Conservation Council ACT Region welcomed the Liberal Party’s commitment to protecting the environment.

“We know that protecting our nature and stopping climate change are important issues for Canberrans, and we are glad to see all major parties make environmental protection core to their election,” executive director Dr Simon Copland said. “We’re particularly glad to see the Liberals commit to increased funding for peak environmental NGOs and to invest $100 million to clean our waterways.”

However, Dr Copland thought the Liberals’ announcement did not “go anywhere near close enough to halting the environmental crisis facing the ACT. We need to see much greater investment to halt the loss of native habitats and to regenerate destroyed nature.”

The Conservation Council, Dr Copland said, was disappointed the Liberals planned to overturn the ban on new gas connections. “It is difficult to take their commitment to net zero by 2045 seriously when they want to overturn important policies needed to make this happen.”

Animal Justice Party candidate Robyn Soxsmith said: “Of course AJP agrees with all of this, but the main environment and welfare commitment for which we applaud the Canberra Liberals is their promise of a moratorium on the annual kangaroo slaughter while a genuinely independent review takes place.

“Needless to say, there are many other issues on which we would like all major parties to commit, such as putting the brakes on the ongoing rampant development which is robbing wildlife of their homes and the use of excruciating poisons to kill animals deemed to be ‘pests’.”

Independents for Canberra candidate Sara Poguet said: “It’s great to see the major parties recognising the importance of wildlife and water quality in their plans. But if we’re serious about protecting our environment and supporting dedicated organisations like the RSPCA, we need a long-term commitment like our Future Generations Act, which ensures our policies prioritise sustainability for years to come.

“These measures are a step forward, but a comprehensive framework will better protect Canberra’s unique environment for future generations. Independents for Canberra will ensure we’re building a foundation that truly reflects the value we place on our natural world.”

Peter Strong said: “The Strong Independents believe the most important thing when it comes to a healthy environment is bringing the people along with you, and not just telling them what to do and not listening to them. Strong Independents will make sure people are heard.”

Independents for Canberra: Culture and night-life

Independents for Canberra Kurrajong candidates Sara Poguet and Ben Johnston announced their plan to revive and elevate Canberra’s arts, music, and cultural sector.

They would re-open Telstra Tower with a premium food, beverage, and immersive educational experience, positioning it as a hub for education tourism. They would boost the night-time economy by expanding live music offerings, creating a thriving cultural scene, reducing liquor licence fees by 80 per cent, and providing free late-night public transport. Like NSW, they would require five noise complaints, from different households, to be received before a formal process is considered. They would establishing a Canberra Arts Trail to connect grassroots artistic events with major festivals, promoting local artists and driving tourism.

They would increase funding for grassroots arts organisations to ensure long-term sustainability and creative growth; require government-funded theatres to stage a percentage of local productions and co-productions; increase funding for public school arts programs and run an ‘Artist in Residency’ program to inspire the next generation of artists. They would ensure that 1 per cent of the budget for new developments was allocated to incorporating local art into all new major developments.

Sara Poguet said the arts are an integral part of Canberra’s identity, and they have been overlooked for far too long. “Canberra is home to an extraordinary number of talented artists, musicians, and creatives, but many are struggling to survive in an environment where funding is scarce and opportunities are limited. The arts sector isn’t just about entertainment – it’s about creating a culture that will increase tourism to the nation’s capital, build community, and create connection.”

“Our arts, music, and cultural institutions are more than just amenities; they are essential to our economy and our social fabric,” Mr Johnston said. “Investing in the arts means investing in our community’s future. This should start at the school level where there is a severe lack of arts facilities and teachers. Schools must lead the charge to establish the arts as a career choice.”

These policies build on Independents for Canberra’s commitment to establish a Night-Time Economy Commissioner and to deliver a new Canberra Festival.

“The establishment of a Night-Time Economy Commissioner will drive the economic and cultural benefits of an enhanced nightlife,” Mr Johnston said. “The ACT is lagging behind in the development of a comprehensive Night-Time Economy plan. The transformative power of the arts, both in terms of community well-being and economic growth, cannot be ignored.”