The Birdman Rally is coming back, we are promised. Photo: Photo: National Archives of Australia (A6135, K11/4/88/11).
ACT Labor is celebrating its election win this week, which will see the party remain in power for a record 27 years.
The victory didn’t come cheap, though, with the party making a raft of promises in the months leading up to polling day.
This included a new northside hospital, a new breast cancer clinic, 5000 affordable houses, light rail to Woden, a bigger Bruce Stadium, a new aquatic centre, free public transport on Fridays, helping to get Canberra in the Big Bash cricket league and, of course, bringing back the Birdman Rally.
Region has provided a list of their major pledges to enable you to tick them off as they’re delivered.
HEALTH
Mental Health Community Coalition ACT CEO Melanie Wilde (pictured with her son Rafael) is looking forward to the promised new in-patient Mum and Bubs mental health care facility. Photo: Supplied.
New northside Canberra hospital in Bruce
ACT Labor has promised to build a $1 billion Northside Hospital on the former Calvary Public site in Bruce, with construction expected to commence in 2026/27.
New breast cancer clinic at North Canberra Hospital
A high-risk breast cancer clinic at the North Canberra Hospital is to be established to boost access to specialised screening, treatment and support services.
Canberra’s first in-patient Mums and bubs mental health care facility
Canberra’s first-ever in-patient mental health facility, where pregnant women and their newborns can be treated together, is to be opened.
The six-bed facility is where parents can go to get the mental health and intensive mental health support they need without having to be separated from their babies.
New free imaging service and health centre in Belconnen
A new free imaging service will be established in Belconnen alongside a new health centre.
Labor says northside residents will have access to free x-rays and ultrasounds. The service will be co-located with the Belconnen Walk-in Centre.
$15 million to help GPs boost the number of bulk-billed patients
A total of $15 million is to be provided to GPs to boost the number of patients they bulk bill and attract more young medicos and other disciplines to general practice.
Labor says it will also tie payroll tax concessions to better bulk billing rates from 1 July 2025, implementing a South Australian and Victorian measure that does not charge payroll tax on any bulk-billing income.
Four more nurse-led walk-in clinics at ACT public colleges
The Nurse-led Walk-in Centre model is to be extended to four of the ACT’s public colleges.
Three full-time nurses will be based at the college clinics, and regular visits and health sessions will be conducted at other public colleges.
They will also work with an expanded School Youth Nurse Health Program, which will visit every public high school in the ACT.
Hiring 800 new healthcare workers
ACT Labor has promised to hire 800 more healthcare workers to properly staff all the new health infrastructure they will build. This includes nurses, doctors, specialists, midwives, physiotherapists, and other allied health professionals who provide free healthcare right across Canberra.
New multi-storey carpark at Canberra Hospital
A new multi-storey carpark is to be built at Yamba Drive to resolve ongoing parking issues at the Canberra Hospital campus.
Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said Labor would continue to make construction of the new hospital infrastructure a priority.
HOUSING
More homes – 1000 public, 5000 affordable and 30,000 total by 2030
Labor made several promises during the campaign to address the city’s housing shortage.
It promised to add a further 1000 homes to the Territory’s public housing stock as part of a plan to deliver 5000 extra affordable rental dwellings by the end of 2030.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr said he would work with the owners and operators of Westfield Woden, Westfield Belconnen and Southpoint Tuggeranong on options for well-designed build-to-rent projects as part of renovation or redevelopment opportunities in these major commercial precincts.
EDUCATION
Minister for Education Yvette Berry has made a number of promises to public schools. Photo: Supplied.
Free breakfast and lunch for kids in 20 government schools
Free breakfast and lunch are to be provided for kids in 20 government schools, extending a trial that’s been running across five schools since July 2024.
$26 million to boost literacy and numeracy in schools
Education Minister Yvette Berry said Labor would inject a further $26 million into its Strong Foundations system-wide program to boost literacy and numeracy outcomes, bringing the total outlay to $56.6 million.
$150 million to upgrade public school facilities
Some $150 million has been promised to upgrade toilets, classrooms, playgrounds, green spaces and staff rooms in public schools across Canberra.
Ms Berry said $30 million of these funds will be invested to install more heating and air conditioning in classrooms and staff rooms across public schools.
Free school camp for public school students
Every ACT public primary school student will soon be able to experience a free school camp.
One grade level at every public primary school is to be funded to go on camp at Birrigai Outdoor School.
Each school will be asked to nominate its camp year based on the needs of their students, teachers and parents.
TRANSPORT
Labor has promised to extend light rail from Civic to Woden, with one stage (to Commonwealth Park) completed by 2028 and the next stage extending to Woden completed by 2033.
Fare-free Fridays for buses and light rail
Under this promise, passengers will be able to travel free between 5:30 am and 11 pm every Friday, and light rail between 6 am and 1 am on Friday and into Saturday morning.
110 more electric buses and rapid routes
ACT Labor pledged to double the size of the electric bus fleet and introduce three new ‘rapid routes’ and run services every 20 minutes on weekdays.
Slash trailer and caravan rego by $150 a year
Canberrans who own trailers and caravans have been promised a $150 saving a year through a reduction in registration costs.
The policy is due to commence on 1 July 2025.
New $6 million bikeway from West Belconnen to city
City Services Minister Tara Cheyne says the new government will build a West Belconnen bikeway that would allow people to ride or walk safely to the Town Centre and connect with the Belconnen Bikeway to take them into the city.
SPORT AND ENTERTAINMENT
Could Bruce Stadium be getting bigger? Photo: Tim Gavel.
Birdman Rally and busking at Garema Place to return
“We will celebrate the quirky side of our city’s history by bringing back the Birdman Rally to Canberra Day and Saturday morning busking to a revitalised Garema Place,” an ACT Labor spokesperson said.
The Birdman Rally was a competitive event held between 1985 and 1992, where contestants had to construct a homemade flying machine and then run and jump from a six-metre-high launching platform at Regatta Point. It was cancelled due to the rising cost of public liability and prize insurance.
New Canberra Aquatic Centre with a 50-metre pool at Commonwealth Park
A new Canberra Aquatic Centre in Commonwealth Park is to be built to replace the ageing Civic pool.
The project will include a 50-metre pool, a program pool for swimming lessons and a splash park, but not a diving facility.
New 30,000-seat stadium at Bruce
Chief Minister Andrew Barr says a new no-frills 30,000-seat stadium at Bruce will be built, with construction to commence in 2028-29.
Big Bash franchise to play at Manuka Oval
Labor has pledged to work with Cricket ACT and Cricket Australia to establish a Canberra team to participate in the summer domestic Big Bash League, with matches to be played at an upgraded Manuka Oval.
New 2000-seat lyric theatre at Canberra Theatre Centre
A revitalised Canberra Theatre Centre will include a new 2000-seat lyric theatre (suitable for musicals, opera and ballet) and a refurbishment of The Playhouse.
$2 million package of liquor licence fee concessions
Labor says it will extend its liquor licence fee concession to more venues and unlock and activate public spaces across the city as part of a $2 million package to spark up Canberra’s hospitality and entertainment sector.
SUBURBAN INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES
Bulky waste collection on Sundays
There will be a trial of a new kerbside bulky waste collection in 20 suburbs across Canberra’s north and south.
Residents will be able to place unwanted items on the nature strips outside their homes on a designated Sunday, and between then and when the government’s crews come along to collect them on the Monday, passers-by are invited to pick through and take what they want.
A new 3900 square metre playing field for Strathnairn
The new Strathnairn school is set to get a 3900 square metre playing field, approximately the size of a junior football pitch, an 860 square metre kickabout space and an 850 square metre combined basketball/netball court.
$20 million upgrades for facilities in Tuggeranong Valley
Some $20 million is to be spent on the Tuggeranong Valley for new playgrounds, revitalised local shops and better footpaths.
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