2026-03-24
The Legislative Assembly’s cross-party Fiscal Review Committee has handed down its first report, concerned the Government may not be able to provide the services Canberrans need.
“If revenue sources are limited but you’re committed to providing good public services, the variable becomes how good you are at using what you’ve got. This report says the Labor Government needs to get better,” said ACT Greens Leader Shane Rattenbury.
“Words like ‘unsustainable’ and ‘deteriorating’ are certainly cause for concern, but the Greens are warning other parties in the Assembly that the Budget needs to work hard for this community, not the other way around.
“We will not support any move to sacrifice Canberra’s wellbeing to create an idealised Budget.
“There is no point in having perfectly balanced books if everything is burning down around them, but contributors to the Fiscal Review have pointed out that a stronger budget and a stronger community can support each other.
“ACTCOSS is quoted in the report noting that so much of the ACT’s health costs are in acute and emergency services, while preventative health investments are ‘almost always more efficient, more effective and cost less – as well as avoiding ill health for people.’
“The Mental Health Community Coalition is quoted recognising that ‘when we invest in community infrastructure… and we increase people’s access to healthy options in their lives, when we give people homes and employment and meaningful engagement, their need for acute services decreases.’
“You can recognise a good investment by how much good it does, and this report acknowledges that better outcomes could be achieved with a more effective use of government funds, which would in turn relieve pressure on future budgets.
“This Fiscal Review addresses a problem the Greens have faced both in government and on the crossbench: a constant refrain from Labor Treasurers that there isn’t enough money to do important things that would make the ACT more just and sustainable.
“At the same time, the report scolds Labor for making the Budget look better than it is.
“Words like ‘optimistic’, ‘vague’ and a need to be more ‘realistic’ are littered through this report, painting a picture of a government that sells a good budget story but can’t back it up.
“These days people probably expect a light hoodwinking from their government at budget time, but I’m glad we have this report calling it out, because actually we should be able to expect honesty in our democracy.
“The Greens exist to change the systems that are failing people and build systems that are just and sustainable. The ACT’s budgeting is one of those systems that needs to change.”