2026-03-25
Gungahlin residents are feeling left behind by ACT Labor. Today in the Assembly, the ACT Greens are calling on Labor to do the hard work to make Gungahlin a vibrant town centre, filled with local employment opportunities.
"Gungahlin locals know too well that there isn't enough going on in their town centre," said Andrew Braddock, ACT Greens Member for Yerrabi. "Folks in Gungahlin want a true hub where they have the option to work locally and experience a thriving town centre."
91 percent of Gungahlin residents work outside of Gungahlin, according to a recent survey done by the Gungahlin Community Council.
"Gungahlin is one of the fastest-growing districts in Canberra, yet it continues to lag behind in jobs, services and economic infrastructure," said Henley Samuel, President of the Gungahlin Community Council.
"Almost three years after an unanimously supported Assembly motion on district‑based economic development, the ACT Government has failed to set employment targets for Gungahlin, develop a strategic economic plan, or secure meaningful increases in Commonwealth employment in the district."
"The government needs to be bold and take big steps to make Gungahlin the thriving town centre we want it to be," said Mr Braddock."
"Labor hasn't stepped up so I'm turning up the heat and introducing this motion today.
Mr Braddock’s motion calls on the government to set ambitious targets for employment growth in Gungahlin, enforce the lease conditions on the Gungahlin cinema site, and develop clear noise standards for the Gungahlin Town Centre Entertainment Precinct, measures that will support a more vibrant economy.
"Over the past month I have been walking into local businesses, talking to owners and employees about the challenges they're facing, and the ideas they have to make Gungahlin a better place to work and live.
"People in my electorate want the chance to work locally, connect with their community, have local things to do and local places to meet - maybe even catch a movie at a cinema.
"There's no reason Gungahlin can't be as pleasant, productive and interesting as the centre of Canberra, except for Labor's lack of attention to it. We want to see Labor invest in Gungahlin just as it does in the inner suburbs."
"While we wait for action from the government, I encourage people to sign the petition I have sponsored to get Gungahlin's long-awaited cinema to finally break ground."