Twelve days to the election. The noisome business of politicking continues apace: spin and skulduggery.
ACT Labor has run scare campaigns against both the Canberra Liberals and the independents. Chief Minister Andrew Barr claims the Liberals are “so far right they are wrong”, and declared Peter Cain MLA the most right-wing Canberra Liberal – for a book the shadow attorney-general wrote some twenty years ago, and whose views he has repudiated. The independents, meanwhile, Labor states, would bring the Liberals to power.
The Canberra Liberals launched their election campaign on Saturday, attended by the last Liberal Chief Minister, Kate Carnell, and former Senator Margaret Reid AO. Mr Barr claimed that the guest list included Peter Dutton, Scott Morrison, and Zed Seselja, who loom large as bogeymen in the Labor imagination. None of those worthies were present. But, a Liberal insider said: “[Labor] are just trying to attack Elizabeth Lee by comparing her to conservative white men in the party.” Ms Lee, a Korean-born woman, supported the voice referendum, the voluntary assisted dying bill, and went to COP26 in Glasgow.
For their part, the Canberra Liberals have co-opted a quarter-century old ad for a “not happy, Andrew” campaign, and fulminated against ‘Barr’s bogus budgets‘.
Now, ACT Greens candidate Harini Rangarajan has been videoed removing Canberra Liberals MLA Ed Cocks’s flyer from outside a house and replacing it with her own. “A poor judgement call,” Ms Rangarajan said. We shall not disagree.
Corflutes have been routinely attacked, particularly those of the Canberra Liberals. A recent incident in which Mark Parton and other Liberal candidates’ posters were defaced – was “one of the worst cases of corflute vandalism ever seen”, according to one Liberal long-term volunteer. Was it the work of Labor or Green supporters, or even a rival Liberal faction? Retired Labor MLA Joy Burch said: “This is outright awful. Regardless of where you sit on the political fence, there is no place for this.”
Mr Barr has criticised both the ACT Greens and the Canberra Liberals for failing to have a single election commitment formally costed by the ACT Treasury, which he says “provides a level of transparency and integrity”.
Is the Liberals’ “failure” to do so, Mr Barr demands, “a tactic to hide the true costs of their proposals … or yet another demonstration of their ineptitude”?
He is less scathing towards the Greens, the partners of his Labors; his rebuke is mild: their omission is merely “disappointing”.
Parties have until Friday to submit commitments to be costed. “Given this is now only six days away, it is clear that Canberrans will not get the opportunity to properly understand the true costs of Liberal and Green election commitments,” Mr Barr – who is also treasurer – said
ACT Greens: Community safety
The ACT Greens propose a “smart on crime” approach focused on reducing recidivism and addressing the root causes of harmful behaviours.
Their policy platform includes a $55 million “Breaking the Cycle” fund, free legal aid expanding the Drug and Alcohol Court, and raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility to 14.
However, justice reform advocates and independents have criticised it as hypocritical and ineffectual.
Full story:
ACT Greens: Mountain biking
The ACT Greens intend to make Canberra Australia’s mountain biking capital. They would commit $1.2 million to enhance mountain biking trails and support volunteer trail builders. This includes $800,000 for new trails at Stromlo Forest Park and $400,000 for community groups that build and maintain trails.
The Greens say the initiative would support Canberra’s growing mountain biking tourism, valued at $30 million annually, and prepare the city for the international Sea Otter 2025 event in Mogo. It would benefit locals, tourists, and competitive riders.
ACT Labor: Public service
ACT Labor promises to continue growing the public service, and not privatise or outsource essential services.
Labor states that this past term it has strengthened the ACT public service, improved worker safety, insourced thousands of healthcare jobs, and implemented industrial manslaughter laws.
Labor accuses the Liberals of privatising public assets, cutting services, and planning public service cuts due to revenue shortfalls.
Canberra Liberals: Business and tourism
The Canberra Liberals announced a business and tourism package to reduce ACT Government taxes and charges, and increase tourism and business activity.
The Liberals would cap commercial rate increases at 2.2 per cent; reduce the payroll tax rate from 6.85 per cent to 5.45 per cent for wages up to $5 million; introduce deregulation measures; abolish the City Centre Marketing Improvement Levy; and establish a “Canberra Created” grants scheme to encourage buying local and a Business Continuity Guarantee to support businesses affected by delays in public works projects. The Liberals would also reduce liquor license fees for small venues; incentives for live performances (subsidising artists booking fees), and allow small retailers such as bookstores and bridal boutiques to serve alcohol and hold small events.
The Liberals state that 8 per cent yearly increases to commercial rates, the highest payroll tax rate in the country, and red tape limit businesses’ growth and success.
In their tourism package, the Liberals would construct a new city stadium and convention centre; continue to redevelop the Canberra Theatre; host the Supercars Championship at EPIC; establish a $1.5 million events attraction fund; provide $4 million in grants for wineries, breweries and agricultural businesses; an additional $5 million to improve or build outdoor tourism facilities in parks and bushland; and invest an additional $4 million dollars over the next two years to attract more visitors and extend overnight stays in Canberra.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr claims that the Liberals’ policies would reduce revenue and deteriorate the budget position.
Canberra Liberals: Belconnen and Kurrajong
The Canberra Liberals have announced a plan for Belconnen and the Ginninderra electorate: they would rejuvenate Fraser Oval with a new irrigated sportsground, redevelop Mckellar shops and Kippax Fair, and build a new Northside Hospital and a better walk-in centre in West Belconnen where GPs would work with nurses. They would also improve Holt cricket ground, convert MacGregor’s concrete pitch into a synthetic one and refurbish the nets, and undertake a noise and traffic study on Southern Cross Drive.
In Kurrajong, the Liberals would refurbish and repave Manuka, Kingston, Narrabundah and Dickson shops, and build new public toilets at Downer shops. The electorate would share in $4 million grants to prevent community crime, for projects such as security lighting, fencing, and graffiti prevention. The Liberals would build a better walk-in centre in the Inner South where GPs will work with nurses, and address traffic congestion and a lack of parking.
Independents for Canberra: Culture
Independents for Canberra commit to create a Canberra Festival that creates new opportunities for local artists; build a multicultural centre for large events; and establishing a Night-Time Economy Commissioner to reinvigorate Canberra’s nightlife.
In the ACT, per-capita capital expenditure on arts and culture has declined from a high of above $60 in 2010-11 to less than $20 in 2021-22, the Independents say. They aim to make Canberra a creative hub, and improve social cohesion and reduce loneliness.
