The Canberra Liberals have expressed concerns over Chief Minister Andrew Barr’s infrastructure plan. Opposition leader Elizabeth Lee claims there is a lack of transparency regarding project costs and delivery timelines. In her opinion, the government has a history of making grand announcements but struggling with project delivery.

In response, Acting Chief Minister Yvette Berry defended the government’s infrastructure plan, highlighting past successes and joint funding arrangements with the Commonwealth Government. She promised further updates on infrastructure funding in the upcoming budget.

Canberra Liberals: How much will the government’s infrastructure plan cost taxpayers?

“Despite announcing a number of significant projects that will be taken to the election later this year, the Chief Minister has not come out and told Canberrans how much they will cost and how they will be budgeted and delivered,” Ms Lee said.

Ms Lee said there was next to no money currently in the budget for projects such as the construction of stage 2B of the tram, the theatre, the northside hospital, the stadium, the convention centre, and the music pavilion, so the Chief Minister would need to find at least $8 billion to deliver these projects.

“Andrew Barr must tell Canberrans before the election how much these promises will cost taxpayers and how he plans to pay for them, and release a timeline of delivery,” Ms Lee said.

“We know this government is very good at making announcements with much fanfare and then re-announcing and rescoping projects, but where they fail time and time again is at delivery, as highlighted by the significantly delayed Canberra Hospital Expansion and stage 2A of the tram.

“With the Territory’s debt to exceed $18 billion in the forward estimates and interest repayments alone to cost Canberrans almost $2 million a day, Canberrans should be asking Andrew Barr how he’s going to pay for all these projects.”

Ms Lee said the biggest worry of all was the fact that Canberrans will not be told before the election how much stage 2B of the tram between Commonwealth Park and Woden will cost. The Canberra Liberals anticipate it will cost more than $4 billion.

“Andrew Barr knows the cost of stage 2B of the tram will be astronomical, and that is why he will not publicly state how much it will cost, because the result will be further increases in rates and government charges for Canberrans,” Ms Lee said.

“The argument of ‘commercial in confidence’ does not stack up when he is more than happy to spruik to Canberrans that a new northside hospital will cost $1 billion before any contracts have been signed. Why is it okay to reveal how much some infrastructure projects will cost but not the tram?

“Following what will be the last budget handed down by Andrew Barr in June this year, the Canberra Liberals will put forward an infrastructure plan that will focus on providing the most benefit to Canberrans financially, socially, and culturally. Our plan will not be based on a political deal done with the Greens.

“Canberrans should and have every right to demand more transparency and more respect when it comes to where their money is being spent. Andrew Barr must be upfront with the community about how much these promised projects will cost and when they will be completed before this upcoming election.”

ACT Government response

Acting Chief Minister Yvette Berry replied: “The Government has been outlining a very detailed plan to deliver the infrastructure our growing city will need. We have a track record of delivering the infrastructure commitments we make, from light rail and the Canberra Hospital Expansion to the local schools and playgrounds Canberrans know and love. 

“It’s through our long-term infrastructure plan that the Government is outlining timings and indicative costings for projects both big and small so that they can be delivered over the short, medium, and long-term.

“This has been informed by expert advice, and takes into account our fiscal capacity and the capacity of the local infrastructure market.

“There are a number of major infrastructure projects in our plan that will be jointly funded with the Commonwealth Government, such as the Molonglo River Bridge, the Monaro Highway upgrade, and light rail to Commonwealth Park. Some projects also allow for land sales as an offsetting contributor to the project cost.

“The ACT Budget includes provisions in the forward estimates (four financial years) for projects in the Government’s infrastructure plan. The long-term ACT Infrastructure Plan Indicative Project Pipeline then provides further transparency around the timeframe for projects beyond the next four years.

“There will be a further update in the ACT Budget in June on the Government’s infrastructure funding decisions, as well as a pre-election budget update in September. Canberrans will be able to clearly see how this Government can deliver the projects we are committing to.

“We have a real vision for Canberra and a practical plan to deliver it.”