“With a minority government installed we can now look forward to the New Year in the hope a government that’s more accountable to the Assembly will deliver better outcomes for all Canberrans,” writes political columnist MICHAEL MOORE.

This election year started with: “The Labor-Greens Coalition government will be judged. A decision will be taken about whether the Liberal opposition is really up to governing the Territory”. 

There was a decisive judgement in October returning Chief Minister, Andrew Barr to government in a minority capacity, rather than as a coalition with the Greens. Across the world, while voters were returning right-wing governments, the ACT returned a left-leaning Labor government – allowing Labor to rule through to 2028.

This was also the year starting with: “A challenge will be launched by a series of independent candidates who will seek to hold the balance of power” and noting, “there are outstanding candidates already emerging across the political spectrum”. Independents Tom Emerson and Fiona Carrick would be elected in October.

By March, the Canberra Hospital system was in more strife. The accreditation was lost for the Centenary Hospital for Mothers and Babies. A draft report from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetrics and Gynaecologists argued that patients were being put at risk. Accreditation was reduced to just six months while the management sorts the “challenges”.

Rebranding the health services seemed a good idea… but how much difference did it really make? By the end of the year, and after the election, we were being told that a new administrative arrangement would solve the problems. 

Will the re-appointed Rachel Stephen-Smith as Minister for Health be able to move the hospital services from where they have languished amongst the worst in Australia to amongst the best?

Voluntary Assisted Dying was put back on the agenda after the power was restored by the federal parliament. Minister Tara Cheyne took the ACT through an extensive consultative process. There was a positive report from an Assembly and the legislation was passed. Before it comes into effect, however, it really does need some broadening in scope.

In March, national waste-water analysis painted an interesting picture of drug use in Canberra and across Australia. Canberrans’ drug use was generally on a par with other parts of Australia. However, the use of some drugs, such as methamphetamine, was way below the Australian average. Others, such as heroin, were being more widely used in this territory.

A review of the recent laws that decriminalised the use of hard drugs as well as cannabis will be revealing. It is highly likely that any review will find similar use to Australia. However, I suspect there will be less harm and less valuable police time wasted on personal use of illicit drugs.

Gambling reform also came under the spotlight in both the ACT and at the federal level. Labor’s Dr Marisa Paterson found herself “between a rock and hard place” while she worked hard to ensure a sound Labor policy. Federally, Senator David Pocock accused the Albanese government of “a total cop-out” over failure to deliver on gambling reform. Conflicts of interest remain!

What about anti-corruption commissions? The National Anti-Corruption Commissioner Justice Paul Brereton was found to have engaged in “misconduct” when he rejected further investigation into the senior public servant in the robo-debt scandal. This was despite the investigation including an army reserve colleague.

Canberrans still await the outcome of the Operation Kingfisher inquiry from the ACT Integrity Commission. Kingfisher has been examining why the ACT government awarded the Campbell Primary School’s refurbishment to Lendlease when there was another cheaper bid that, it would appear, met the criteria of the tender. 

With the possibility of Deputy Chief Minister Yvette Berry being included in the report, it ought to have been tabled before the election. Hopefully 2025 will see much more action from the ACT Integrity Commission – even to clear the air on a range of issues.

This was a year when the ACT was able to celebrate the effectiveness of our electoral system. Many will not have approved of the outcome of the election. However, the outcome did reflect the views of people right across the ACT. 

Unfortunately, with the return of Labor, it is likely that rates will continue to increase, our Standard & Poor’s rating will remain stunted and support for light rail will continue. 

With a minority government installed we can now look forward to celebrating Christmas and looking forward to the New Year in the hope a government that is more accountable to the Assembly will deliver better outcomes for all Canberrans.

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.