As we build up to the 2024 ACT election in October, Marisa Paterson MLA and Jeremy Hanson CSC, MLA will write a column each week covering different topics. This is the sixth instalment.

Jeremy Hanson

Calvary shows you can’t trust this government – even with written contracts.

Even if some cynics say you shouldn’t trust politicians, you do need to be able to trust governments. Especially when that government issues a contract in writing.

That’s why the decision by this government to forcibly take over Calvary Hospital was such a massive breach of trust.

In 2011, the Government signed a 99-year contract with Calvary to provide health services. In 2022, that contract was ripped up.

The decision was developed in secret and announced without normal Legislative Assembly procedures, including committee scrutiny.

Calvary was ‘blindsided,’ being told by the Minister: “I’m introducing legislation that will compulsorily acquire your land and buildings, and will also terminate the contract you have in place.”

It shocked professionals across the Territory and around the country.

The Nurses and Midwifery Federation stated they were “excluded from consultation”, and that proceeding would be in direct contravention of their EBA.

Senior Nurses from Calvary wrote to the Minister claiming the way it was done was “covert”, “arrogant” and “absolutely disgraceful.”

Doctors, through the AMA, have said they were ‘shocked, dismayed and angry.’

This government proceeded anyway.

When given the opportunity to delay the forced takeover and negotiate with Calvary, the Minister refused.

When the Canberra Liberals moved to delay the legislation to consult with staff and doctors, the Minister refused.

Calvary took the government to court, but the Minister would not back down. They were the government; they could make their actions legal.

That does not make those actions right.

I said it at the time, and I repeat it now – no one should ever trust this government again. Their actions were undemocratic and unfair. The truth is that they cannot be trusted.

As Archbishop Christopher Prowse said at the time: “These are not agreements signed by some long past government. It is the same ACT government that signed the deal that now wants to tear up the contract it signed.”

If they are prepared to break their word – on a written contract to a respected hospital – then they will break their word to anyone.

Marisa Paterson

Light rail is about more than a public transport policy. It is a vision for a more liveable and sustainable city. There is always the rhetoric in Canberra of the southside being left behind. If we don’t see light rail south of this city – don’t be mistaken, the south really will get left behind. The southside of Canberra should not miss out on the advantages that Stage 1 of light rail has delivered for the north. And to be very clear – Canberra Liberals will not build light rail, and no independents have disclosed if they support light rail or not.

Stage 1 of the light rail from Gungahlin to Civic has been incredibly successful and more than 15 million people have already used the service. As shown in the Light Rail Five Years On: Benefits Realisation Report 2024, light rail is also great for business, significantly eases congestion and provides an incentive for housing. Light rail to Woden will deliver these proven benefits to the south.

However, an integrated public transport system is more than just light rail. A re-elected ACT Labor Government has a practical plan to expand our bus network. We will purchase an additional 110 zero-emission buses, hire over 350 new bus drivers and deliver bus priority upgrades along key corridors. Importantly, ACT Labor will ensure these bus operators have secure, well-paid public jobs.

We will deliver three new Rapid Bus Services to connect Ginninderry and West Belconnen, Lanyon and Molonglo to the City, and uplift the frequency of the existing R2 and R10 Rapid services. All local services will run at least every 20 minutes on weekdays by the end of next term, and we will start improving the weekend timetable by increasing the frequency of local routes to hourly during the day on Sundays from next year.

This November also sees the launch of the new MyWay+ ticketing system, which includes a new smartphone app to provide easier journey planning and real-time tracking of services.

A vote for ACT Labor isn’t a choice between light rail and buses, it’s a vote for a practical and progressive plan to deliver a modern integrated public transport network for Canberrans. All the Canberra Liberals have is a plan to increase congestion on our roads.