“On this first anniversary of the re-election of the ACT government, we are drawing a line in the sand: now is the time to start spelling out how we will do things differently,” says Canberra Liberals Leader LEANNE CASTLEY.

There’s an old idiom following elections of any description that “the voters never get it wrong”.

While there’s usually only one victor in election results – ie, the political party that will form the government – the saying is a timely reminder that no matter what the result, the decision is made by the voters.

After seven election losses and with ACT Labor now in power for 24 years, the Canberra Liberals must now, more than ever remind themselves of who the real audience is they must talk to: ACT voters.

Obviously, we did not see the results we wanted in 2024. The recent 2024 Election Review has provided a clear analysis of what worked and what didn’t and what we need to improve on.

That includes better teamwork and working together, giving Canberrans more time to consider our policy solutions, supporting candidates and improving how we tell Canberrans what our values are and what we stand for.

But first, one year after the re-election of Labor, the chickens are coming home to roost.

For over a decade, Andrew Barr and Labor have been promising to deliver a budget surplus but have never done so. This has meant we have had to borrow billions to fund this failure to manage the territory’s finances. 

But what does this really mean for Canberrans? 

It means that because we are now on track to reach a debt of around $21 billion, we are paying so much more on interest repayments.

Instead of being able to invest in better essential services like health, education, community safety and local infrastructure, we have to use that money to repay the interest on the debt. Just like every Canberran with a mortgage or a credit card.

Let me give you an example: in the next four years, spending on health is forecast to increase by $180 million. In comparison, spending on our interest repayments will increase by $472 million.

That’s almost $300 million we could be using to improve services, instead it’s going to banks and other creditors.

So, to try and fix this situation, ACT Labor have decided that the best way is to increase taxes, charges and levies on Canberrans and local businesses. Indeed, 25 new and higher taxes. And this is at the same time when we are facing a cost-of-living crisis. Crazy, brave as some might say.

But at the same time, Canberrans are getting less and less, in terms of the essential services they expect the nation’s capital city to have.

Every day, we hear waiting times for elective surgery are the worst in the nation, people are waiting longer and longer for treatment in our emergency departments, pot holes and the cityscape is falling into disrepair, our schools are overcrowded and we can’t afford to pay for extra teacher assistants, many Canberrans are really struggling to afford a roof over their head, repeat offenders are out on bail, and public transport is in disarray.

And all ACT Labor offers up is excuses, excuses and more excuses. After 24 years in government, they have become very good at them, one might say it’s the only thing they can deliver on time.

For the past 12 months, all we have seen Labor deliver are higher taxes meaning you pay more, and less essential services like health, education and housing.

So, on this first anniversary of the re-election of the ACT government, we are drawing a line in the sand: now is the time to start spelling out how we will do things differently.

We will manage the ACT finances more responsibly and not waste hundreds of millions of dollars on projects; we will listen to health specialists and experts to deliver better patient care; we will ensure every student and teacher have the proper resources; we will focus much more on “roads, rates and rubbish” to make our city something to be proud of again, and we will listen to the wishes of Canberrans on the issues that really affect them.

The Canberra Liberals will start to release greater detail about our policies from early next year. The Canberra Liberals are proud of our values and these values will guide our policies that will make Canberra a better place. 

We want to give Canberrans time to consider them, to know they are sensible, practical, affordable and will get the right results.

As I said in my Budget-in-Reply speech this year, I am not your usual ACT pollie, I didn’t aspire to be one growing up in Charnwood. I am a hard-working mother of two who can see how far Canberra has fallen behind thanks to a government that is focused on itself instead of what matters to you.

Canberrans deserve better. 

Leanne Castley is Leader of the Canberra Liberals and an MLA for Yerrabi. She was first elected in 2020.