Professor Chris Wallace, Leanne Castley, Jillian Reid, Martin Greenwood, moderator Genevieve Jacobs, Leanne Foresti, Canberra Business Chamber’s Archie Tsirimokos and ACTCOSS CEO Dr Devin Bowles. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
Does Canberra have a booming economy that’s the envy of Australia or is it being choked by regulation that’s driving companies interstate?
Two contrasting portrayals of the capital were presented by candidates in the first of three Region election forums that took place at the Lonsdale St Studio on Wednesday (11 September).
ACT Labor Kurrajong candidate Martin Greenwood, Canberra Liberals Yerrabi MLA Leanne Castley, Greens’ Kurrajong candidate Jillian Reid and Independents for Canberra Ginninderra candidate Leanne Foresti were all given tough questions on the economy and business by moderator Genevieve Jacobs and a panel of experts – the Canberra Business Chamber’s Archie Tsirimokos, ACT Council of Social Services CEO Dr Devin Bowles and the University of Canberra’s Chris Wallace.
Independents for Canberra’s Leanne Foresti and Labor’s Martin Greenwood were at odds over whether Canberra is a good place to do business. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
While it didn’t quite match the fire of the Donald Trump v Kamala Harris presidential debate earlier that day, the forum saw candidates clash on topics such as whether Canberra is over-regulated, housing, payroll tax, the ACT’s falling credit rating, labour shortages, the Greens’ proposal to replace Thoroughbred Park with a residential suburb and whether Canberra needs a fast train to Sydney.
Mr Greenwood talked up the local economy for most of the evening and said the capital remains a good place to do business.
“The ACT has seen 34 years of uninterrupted economic growth. We have consistently delivered the strongest labour market in Australia with the lowest rate of unemployment … we also have the lowest rate of income inequality,” he said.
Ms Castley painted a very different picture.
“[Many] businesses … say If I could pick up my business and move it to Queanbeyan 20 minutes down the road, I would be much better off,” she said.
“The [ACT Government] set up a better regulation taskforce … but very little regulation has been eased across the ACT, that’s something we will certainly look at.
“There are over 100 pieces of regulation for the construction industry to get there head around, most of them only have one or two employees.”
The Greens Jillian Reid and the Liberals’ Leanne Castley. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
Ms Forresti said that as a small business owner herself, she felt her sector was struggling.
“I know subcontractors are not being currently supported in the ACT; we do not have stringent security of payment laws … the only way we can really grow is to concentrate on the biggest drivers of growth, small business and construction … we have an over-reliance on subcontractors.”
Ms Reid also said she wanted to help small businesses grow but was asked by moderator Genevieve Jacobs about perceptions her party were “economic terrorists” for wanting to turn Thoroughbred Park into a new residential suburb.
“The Greens have vision. [Thoroughbred Park] is a space that is used by a small number of people who can still go to Queanbeyan to watch horses, if they wish … to deliver a whole new community within that space is solving a problem [we need to solve],” she said.
“The Greens are a fan of sport; I went to watch the boy Matildas, sorry, the Socceroos, at the stadium … but we can’t be prioritising a stadium when we have people that don’t have a house.”
Skill shortages came up repeatedly during the evening.
Professor Chris Wallace from the University of Canberra asked candidates if they would support the development of a very fast train from Canberra to Sydney to give the ACT easier access to labour from Australia’s biggest city.
“[Chief Minister] Andrew Barr committed a business case to the Morrison Government … but they decided Sydney to Newcastle was where the money should go – but absolutely [a fast train from Canberra] should be a focus of investment,” Mr Greenwood said.
Other candidates weren’t as keen on the idea.
“That might be one of the solutions; I don’t know the specifics on that … but making sure that people have somewhere to live when they get here would be another driver,” Ms Reid said.
A second debate between the leaders of ACT Labor, the Canberra Liberals, the ACT Greens and Independents for Canberra will be broadcast live on the Riotact Facebook page at 6 pm on Thursday, 18 September.
Readers are invited to submit a short video question of 30 seconds or less to editor@region.com.au.
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