“The Greens will be able to threaten the viability of the government by picking on any aspect of any budget that does not suit their constituency or is good for a run in the media,” writes political columnist MICHAEL MOORE.

Following the ACT government’s budget, the Legislative Assembly is a mess.

It conjures up the days of the first Assembly in 1989 and the Alliance government. 

The responsibility falls at the hands of Labor and particularly with the Greens.

It is a common approach for a very tough first budget of a government following an election. This was most likely their intention. However, the $250 health levy (tax) and the $11 charge for a “working with vulnerable people card” were appalling examples of poor budget decisions.

Independents Thomas Emerson and Fiona Carrick have made their position clear. They support a stable government. When a government brings down such an appalling budget, the government should wear the opprobrium. And the shame should extend to the Labor Party.

As the ACT seems destined to deliver minority governments for the foreseeable future, it is critical that non-government MLAs support stable government. This means, as explained by the independents, supporting the chief minister in a no-confidence motion (other than for reprehensible conduct) and supporting the government’s right to their budget.

It is this notion of the government’s right to the budget that the current Greens MLAs have not understood regarding this aspect of minority government. Perhaps it is deliberate. Perhaps there was a rush of blood to their heads. Either way, it is time for them to realise that they are no longer part of the cabinet, and no longer part of the government.

The so-called “health levy” of $250 was an appallingly regressive taxation measure. The Labor government should have been left to take the flack for introducing it. Reducing it to a levy of $100 does not change the fact that it is a regressive taxation that flies in the face of the arguments Labor have put forward over a decade and a half since the Quinlan review was commissioned.

The levy is an outrageous grab for money. Calling it a “health levy” fooled no one. It’s a tax! It simply highlighted the incompetence and failures of Labor (and the Greens) regarding our health system for well over a decade in government. 

As pointed out by my columnist colleagues, Jon Stanhope and Khalid Ahmed in last week’s CityNews, funding for our health system has been inadequate and it has been poorly managed for many years.

Similarly, the charge of $11 for the “working with vulnerable people” card was an insult to volunteers throughout the ACT. A serious insult. How much government money is saved by the countless, countless hours spent by volunteers contributing to the benefit of the community? How could this be missed by Chris Steel and his Labor ministerial colleagues?

Volunteers within the ACT now know they are not valued by the Labor government and will be reminded of this when their card is due for renewal.

The Labor government’s adoption of the Quinlan taxation review promised increases in rates on a progressive basis and a significant reduction in many of the other levies inflicted on ACT residents. As if! Instead, we find increase after increase on things such as vehicle registrations, driving licences, along with a range of fines and parking charges. 

However, it ought to be the government’s right to make stupid decisions in the budget. It is appropriate for the non-government members to criticise. It is appropriate for the alternative government under Leanne Castley, as Leader of the Opposition, to criticise and offer alternative suggestions.

However, in a move that totally lacked respect for their Liberal Party parliamentary colleagues, Castley was gazumped by the Greens announcing their intention to vote against the budget on the day of her “right of reply” speech. Of course, the media jumped on the story. It was broader than the budget with the Greens challenging the basis of stable minority government.

The government’s decision to negotiate with the Greens has opened a Pandora’s Box. The stage is set. From now on, understanding the government will cave to their demands, the Greens will be able to threaten the viability of the government by picking on any aspect of any budget that does not suit their constituency, or is good for a run in the media.

The government did have another choice. The independents’ position was known. They could have approached the leader of the opposition, or just one of the Liberals, seeking support for the budget. Were they so arrogant that they could not bring themselves to do this?

Michael Moore is a former member of the ACT Legislative Assembly and an independent minister for health. He has been a political columnist with “CityNews” since 2006.