13 December 2022

Less than a quarter of Labor-Greens policies delivered halfway through electoral term

| Lottie Twyford
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Shane Rattenbury and Andrew Barr in an electric car

Chief Minister Andrew Barr and Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Shane Rattenbury released the Territory’s Zero Emissions Vehicle strategy earlier this year – a key commitment from the PAGA. Photo: Lottie Twyford.

Halfway through the electoral term and only 16 of more than 100 commitments made by Labor and the Greens in their 2020 power-sharing agreement (Parliamentary and Governing Agreement) have been delivered.

Nonetheless, according to its self-assessed report card, the ACT Government says it is on track to deliver the majority of its remaining commitments.

In the two years it has been in power, the government highlighted it had established industrial manslaughter laws, established a Clubs Council, and developed initiatives to increase the uptake of zero-emissions vehicles and solar power.

Progress on four of its 2020 commitments have been delayed, including working with land owners and community organisations to deliver the MyHome proposal in Curtin.

MyHome is intended to provide accommodation to people living with a mental illness. A similar facility operates in Queanbeyan.

Emma Davidson in the Assembly

Mental Health Minister Emma Davidson was vague when questioned about progress on the Curtin MyHome proposal. Photo: Michelle Kroll.

The MyHome website attributed delays to COVID-19 and Mental Health Minister Emma Davidson was questioned in budget estimates this year about the project.

She said there had been “a number of conversations” to better understand the model of care required for the facility, but she couldn’t provide a firm timeframe for when a business case would be ready.

Work to ensure ACT laws can respond to modern-day slavery and construction on an affordable build-to-rent housing development next to the Common Ground Gungahlin site have also been delayed.

The government has also delayed seeking advice on locating waste processing facilities in Hume.

Work to reduce the emissions of the ACT’s gas network is also no longer progressing, presumably because the government has instead outlined a plan to transition the Territory off gas entirely by 2045.

READ ALSO Labor proposes tough new environmental protection agency

Chief Minister Andrew Barr said in a statement that he was pleased to see “good progress” on several initiatives contained in the governing agreement.

“Over the coming 12 months, the government will start consultation on voluntary assisted dying legislation following the removal of the Andrew’s Bill in the Australian Parliament,” Mr Barr said.

“Government members of the Assembly will also play an important role in our community in the lead up to the Voice to Parliament referendum in 2023, with a goal for the ACT to record the highest ‘Yes’ vote in the country.”

The Chief Minister highlighted the government’s progress on early-learning access for three-year-old children, regulations to protect tradespeople from silica dust and work on sexual assault reform by amending legislation.

READ ALSO Years to process approvals, not a debate on whether light rail is fundamentally good: NCA

Attorney-General and ACT Greens Leader Shane Rattenbury said the Greens were proud to be delivering on the commitments made in 2020.

He highlighted the release of a plan to transition from fossil fuel gas and a strategy to phase out internal combustion engine vehicles as two key commitments from the Parliamentary Agreement that had been realised.

“I’m also really pleased that this year we opened Australia’s first fixed pill testing site here in Canberra as part of this government’s commitment to harm reduction,” Mr Rattenbury said.

The two parties have publicly split over issues including public funding of horse racing, defence industry support and recent planning reforms.

The next Territory election is set for 2024.

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The pollies received pay rises – is that an achievement?

HiddenDragon7:16 pm 13 Dec 22

A careful analysis, which looked at whether objectives had been sustainably (in all senses of that word) and enduringly achieved – not just whether public money had been spent, media events held, and bureaucratic structures created – would probably find a similar current result for all of the commitments in Labor/Green power-sharing agreements which have been reached over the years.

William Newby7:14 pm 13 Dec 22

Made it impossible for criminals to be charged for any crimes, crime is down, tick.
Legalised crack heroin while penalising the rest of us for driving 43 along Northbourne (even though pedestrians have always been controlled by the lights as well), tick.
Painting a roundabout with rainbows tick.
Did nothing despite record number of roads deaths this year, even refused to acknowledge the families who had lost their children on our roads, shocking tick.
Tram we don’t need tick.
Second tram to link up with first tram we don’t need, tick (kind of).
Investigation into the CIT multimillion dollar wastage and fraud, that went directly to Labor buddies, delayed in the hope we will all forget about it, tick.

And we will all vote for these utterly imcompotnent parties again next year?!
We have ourselves to blame.

ACT funding the yes campaign…
Could they start by explaining to the average joe what the thing is?
You wouldn’t sign a contact without reading the fine print. that doesn’t make you a racist.

Will anyone in the ACT be representing the ‘voice’?

I am not sure that is what the article is saying gooterz. The ACT government has never proposed funding a yes campaign for the Voice to parliament. The article above suggests that the government is supportive of the proposal for an Indigenous voice as I would expect. They have also expressed the desire for the ACT to record the highest ‘Yes’ vote in the country. I can support that. However, as with all of the state and territory governments, I would expect our local parliament to have a say in the Voice proposal. We have a large Indigenous population in the ACT. Developing options for their voice is important for their social, spiritual and economic wellbeing. Also important is native title, community protection, NDIS, heritage, employment and housing just to name a few.

Riotact, ask them about the high levels of debt they have incurred, debt the taxpayers will need to pay back for many years.

The Labor-Green government promised several times since 2008, “The parties confirm their commitment to fiscal responsibility and the maintenance of a balanced budget though the economic cycle.”

Analysis by Jon Stanhope and Khalid Ahmed reveals the government budget was last in surplus in 2012 and is projected to have at least 14 straight years of net deficit by 2025-26, to reach a net debt of $10 billion in 2025-26. The interest cost to service this debt is projected to be $517 million for the year 2025-26 (City News, 5 Oct).

People voted for the Labor-Green programme partly based on their promise of fiscal responsibility, and they have broken that commitment. No happy, Jan!

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