“Although politics is often framed in the news as agree or disagree, the tactic used most regularly is delay. The Labor government is the master of delay, and then one further step to shelve ideas or promises,” writes political columnist MICHAEL MOORE.

The beloved Big Announcement ploy by the ACT Government that hits top spot in news outlets is beginning to sour.

A new stadium for Canberra to be built in Bruce is a terrific example. Great pictures, brilliant headlines and then… might be delivered… maybe…. sometime… never! 

Although politics is often framed in the news as agree or disagree, the tactic used most regularly is delay. The current government is the master of delay, and then one further step to shelve ideas or promises. 

There are always excuses. Often the excuse is not enough consultation. Sometimes the argument is negotiating with the National Capital Authority. But the safest bets are the “cost blowout” or “fiscal constraint”.

The latest delay-then-shelve project is the decade-long promised ice facility to move the ice-skating from the ageing Phillip rink to Tuggeranong.

The promise of an international standard rink for the ACT proved exciting for the increasing crowds who cheer the success of the Canberra Brave,  which has claimed three Goodall Cup championships and four H Newman Reid Trophy premierships in the Australian Ice Hockey League.

There are also a range of other ice sports such as figure skating, broomball, speed skating and curling that would thrive in a new venue.

For me, the broken promises on the ice-rink are personal. It runs in my family. My Canadian grandfather, George Alfred Meagher, was inducted into the Canadian Skating Hall of Fame as a world champion figure skater. The citation attributed to him the introduction of ice-hockey to Europe.

For many years I played casual ice-hockey at the Phillip rink, and more recently I have been teaching my grandchildren to skate. It is personal!

More importantly, it is just another example of political promises that are not kept. And the technique so often used is delay, delay, delay. Eventually, it comes as no surprise that the government’s glacial pace means another broken promise.

The swimming pool on the foreshore of Lake Burley Griffin. Oh dear! No, there will not be a diving pool (even though we originally promised to move all the facilities). What… you want a diving pool? Okay, I guess we can go back to another three years of consultation to see if it is appropriate to include a diving pool in the new facility.

Actually, the pool has to be moved to allow the development of the new (much flagged) convention centre to bring big conferences to Canberra. What? Further delay on that, too?

The Bruce precinct promises include a new football stadium and a new Northside Hospital. The cost of the hospital is projected at $1.5 billion. The ACT Government has secured federal government support to develop a mixed-use urban renewal precinct, with housing, commercial and retail opportunities to support sport, health and education infrastructure projects. 

Here is the surprise! When the governments released the Master Plan for 25 hectares of land at Bruce to house the new facilities – there was no timeline, and no costings.

No timeline! No costings! If ever there was a built-in tool for delay – the timeline has to be the Ace of Spades. And the costings the Ace of Clubs. The headlines have been delivered. There will be support from the federal government for funding. All looking good. Just one small issue… there might be a delay in delivery.

The people of Casey in Gungahlin now understand the issue of fiscal constraint. Savings of $700 million in the current budget mean they will “wait longer for the promised new Emergency Services station, health centre and indoor sports facility”.

Why promise something and build expectations and then argue fiscal constraint? Of course, the bold headline and fancy pictures of capital works projects are more important than integrity.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr was keen to explain the serious fiscal challenges since covid and the impact of increasing fuel prices, arguing “those projects will still go ahead; we just can’t start them this year”. Delay!

He added: “People can expect that, over the two budgets that remain in this term, we will proceed with those projects. It’s just we can’t do them all at once.”

Another announcement launch can be expected within the next two years – prior to the October 2028 election.

Don’t hold your breath! In the words of Darryl Kerrigan in the Rob Sitch movie The Castle: “Tell ‘em they’re dreamin.” 

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.

News all day, every day at CityNewsQBN.com.au.