Elizabeth Lee MLA is leader of the Opposition; Shadow Treasurer; and Shadow Minister for Climate Action, Energy and Emissions Reduction; Economic Development, Tourism and Major Projects; and Education.
As 2023 draws to a close, we are now just 10 months from the ACT election, where Canberrans will have a choice between a fresh, energetic Liberal team I lead, and an arrogant out of touch Labor-Greens government.
During a year when Canberrans were facing significant cost of living pressures, the Barr Government continued to waste hundreds of millions of taxpayers’ dollars, highlighted by the scrapped Human Resources Information Management Systems (HRIMS) project that cost Canberrans over $76 million.
Add to this the dodgy CIT contracts scandal which includes the ongoing payment of two CEO’s, the over $200 million blowout of the Canberra Hospital expansion project, the mismanaged Acton Waterfront Project costing $33 million and the $400 million a year interest repayment on our debt, it is little wonder the ACT lost its AAA credit rating for the first time in over 20 years.
[Chief Minister] Andrew Barr’s decision to enforce payroll tax on GP clinics will also make it more expensive for Canberrans to visit a doctor and access essential healthcare. At a time when Canberra’s health system is on the brink of collapse, Andrew Barr will put more pressure on hospitals that will see a sharp increase in presentations as more and more Canberrans find themselves unable to afford to see their GP.
The Canberra Liberals will abolish this tax because we support our GPs to continue delivering the high-quality essential healthcare to all Canberrans.
Last month, at an address at the National Press Club, I put forward my vision for Canberra ahead of the election in October next year and announced the Putting your Suburb First policy that will invest $100 million back into our neglected suburbs.
Under this initiative, every single suburb in Canberra will be eligible for funding for local projects that will directly benefit local residents, local communities, and the local environment.
Our suburbs are where we live; where we play; where we raise our families; where we go to school; and where we gather together. And it’s in our suburbs – the heart of our community – where I start building my vision for a better Canberra.
Having held this ACT Labor-Greens government to account as any opposition should throughout this year, highlighting significant failures in health, education, community safety, housing, basic local services, and maintenance and integrity, 2024 will provide the opportunity for the Canberra Liberals to put forward our alternate vision for Canberra.
The recent announcement by the government that stage 2A of the tram from Civic to Commonwealth Park will cost Canberrans over $800 million and not be completed until 2028 is eye-watering, and puts the cost of stage 2 in its entirety to Woden at over $4 billion.
By not proceeding with stage 2B from Commonwealth Park to Woden, the Canberra Liberals will be able to focus on the basic government services that have long been neglected by this government that has been in power for over 20 years.
My priorities as we head towards the election next year will be about creating a world class health system; developing a nation-leading education system; providing genuine opportunities for home ownership; bringing the world’s best events to our capital; supporting small business; getting Canberrans where they want to go when they want to get there on public transport; getting the basics right; and looking after our green spaces and wildlife.
The Canberra that I know and love deserves a government that does not take you for granted; A government that will genuinely listen and govern in the best interests of our community.
A government that will genuinely listen and govern in the best interests of our community.
In October 2024, we all have the opportunity to vote for a better Canberra.
