2026-05-25
ACT Greens Transport spokesperson Andrew Braddock and ACT Greens Leader Jo Clay will move a motion in the Legislative Assembly this week calling for a major restoration of the ACT Government’s approach to public transport and to get their federal counterparts on board.
The ACT Greens are calling on the Government to lodge a Works Approval Application for Light Rail Stage 2B with the National Capital Authority by the end of 2027, and to include the Mawson extension so the whole Woden Valley is properly serviced.
Mr Braddock is also petitioning the House of Representatives to fund and prioritise the project in future federal budgets, and is calling on MLAs to support the petition.
The motion also calls for funding for the Belconnen Bus Transitway, starting planning work for future light rail from Kippax to the Airport, and rapidly growing Canberra’s electric bus fleet to keep up with demand.
Lines attributable to Andrew Braddock MLA, ACT Greens Spokesperson for Transport:
“Public transport is essential infrastructure. It must be planned alongside the growth of our city, not treated as an afterthought once suburbs are already built.
“Canberra used to have frequent and reliable public transport, but decades of underinvestment have failed to keep up with population growth.
“It is staggering that Canberra’s bus fleet is smaller today than it was in 1990, despite our population growing by more than 60 per cent. We cannot keep building new suburbs without the public transport network needed to connect people to work, education and services.”
We need to get moving on Stage 2B and ensure the extension to Mawson is included from the outset, so the whole Woden Valley is properly serviced and future disruptions are avoided.
“My petition to the House of Representatives calls on all Federal representatives to back light rail Stage 2B and ensure the Commonwealth actively supports this project through federal funding and timely approvals."
Lines attributable to Jo Clay MLA, ACT Greens Leader and Member for Ginninderra:
"Following long delays, I call on the ACT Government to commit to funding the construction of a dedicated Bus Lane to Belconnen, Canberra's busiest public transport corridor.
"This is Labor's last opportunity to complete this project this term. And while we are building Belco busway, it makes sense to future-proof the route for Light Rail Stage 3 by conducting a feasibility study.
"Belconnen needs these services and we need to know where they will go and how they will fit in with all the development in our area."