Our Policy Platform

WHY WE NEED CHANGE

It’s a sad reality that basic shelter is now spoken about through a prism of crisis and desperation. The situation in Canberra is especially dire, and we’re hearing from people across the ACT who expect the government to take urgent action to address our worsening housing crisis. Older people without accumulated wealth feel forgotten by a housing system that’s leaving vulnerable people sleeping in cars, essential workers are facing increasing housing stress with no change in sight, and many young Canberrans feel they can’t afford their own future.

• Housing is consistently identified by ACTCOSS as the greatest cost-of-living pressure for low-income households in the ACT.

• Canberra is the second-most expensive capital city in the country to buy or rent a house.

• ACT’s lower-income households have the highest levels of rental stress of any state or territory.

• The ACT Wellbeing Framework shows a decreasing proportion of Canberrans report living in suitable housing.

• Our public housing stock has been reduced since 2012 despite population growth of 30 per cent.

• 3,152 households are on the ACT public housing waiting list, which has grown by 80 per cent in the last six years.

• Priority housing applicants wait an average of 197 days to be housed and high-need applicants face a staggering 1,197-day wait.

• The ACT has Australia’s highest rate of persistent homelessness, with 45 per cent of people who become homeless remaining homeless for at least seven months, rising to 50.9 per cent for Indigenous people.

• In 2022-23, 569 women and children in the ACT who were subjected to domestic and family violence experienced forms of homelessness.

• From 2013 to 2023, the ACT saw a 64 per cent rise in women and children sleeping rough or in cars, with a 29 per cent increase in the past year alone.

• A growing proportion of Canberrans are living under strata title, many of whom report being charged disproportionately high rates, facing barriers to increasing the electrification and energy efficiency of their dwellings, being charged unreasonably high strata management and insurance fees, and struggling to get defects rectified in a timely, satisfactory manner.

WHY WE NEED CHANGE

The ACT ranks overall as either first or second in all areas of numeracy and literacy in comparison to other States and Territories. Yet, there is a significant and persistent gap in literacy and numeracy performance for children from different backgrounds. Teachers and parents are telling us our schools do not have sufficient resources to ensure each child is receiving the support they need to reap the advantages of a quality education.

• Children with an Indigenous background are substantially more likely to have poor literacy and numeracy skills than kids from other cultural backgrounds.

• The ACT shows the strongest correlation in the country, after the NT, between socioeconomic status and educational outcomes. At Year 3, disadvantaged children are already one and a half years behind their advantaged classmates. When they reach Year 9, they’re four years behind.

• The 2023-24 Inquiry into literacy and numeracy in ACT public schools received 295 survey responses and 96 written submissions, and undertook consultations across 53 ACT public schools, finding a clear and consistent message about the need for centralised curriculum support, consistent assessment tools, and additional resources to alleviate the heavy workloads of teachers.

• 39.3 per cent of ACT children surveyed in the Mission Australia Youth Survey 2023 reported mental health as a barrier to achieving study or work goals, and 28.8 per cent reported feeling very or extremely concerned about mental health.

WHY WE NEED CHANGE

Vulnerable members of our community are experiencing unprecedented levels of unmet need. As the nation’s capital and a jurisdiction with a high median income, we should not be failing those who most need our help.  

• According to ACTCOSS, an estimated 40,000 Canberrans are living below the poverty line. Sadly, this includes one out of every 10 children in the ACT - that’s 9,000 children.
  

• With living costs going up, more people are struggling to afford food. In 2023, approximately 12,500 Canberrans ran out of food.
  

• Only four percent of community sector organisations say they are able to meet current levels of demand. And less than 10 per cent believe that their funding actually covers the full cost of service delivery.
  

• Although the community-managed mental health sector provides two thirds of mental health services in the ACT, it receives just 13% of the overall funding allocated for mental health services. 

• Indigenous people are significantly over-represented in our criminal justice system and experience worse outcomes in areas including health, housing and employment. Indigenous children in the ACT are over-represented in out-of-home care and typically two to three years behind their non-Indigenous classmates in literacy and numeracy. 

• The unemployment rate for people with disability is more than twice the rate for people without disability. Australia’s disability employment gap is one of the largest in the OECD at over 30 per cent.

WHY WE NEED CHANGE

People across the ACT are voicing concerns about crime rates, repeat offending in Canberra, insufficient rehabilitation investment and youth diversion programs, and the consequences of the failings of our criminal justice system for both victims and offenders.

• The ACT has Australia’s highest recidivism rates, with 63.7 per cent of offenders released from prison returning to corrective services within two years. This number increased in the last 12 months. 80 per cent of current inmates have experienced prior imprisonment, which is also the highest proportion in the country.

• In the ACT, over 40 per cent of inmates report untreated mental health issues at the time of incarceration; and roughly 30 per cent of prisoners have an intellectual disability, highlighting the need for specialised support and services.

• The Alexander Maconochie Centre is consistently operating at, or very near to, full capacity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander detainees are disproportionately placed in higher security classifications, subjected to more frequent uses of force and strip searches, and are often targets of segregation orders. They also report that their cultural and health needs are frequently unmet.

• Indigenous people comprise 28 per cent of the ACT prison population but only 2 per cent of the overall population.

• The ACT has the highest Indigenous imprisonment gap in Australia; Indigenous Canberrans are 24.6 times more likely to be incarcerated than non-Indigenous Canberrans.

• The ACT has Australia’s second-highest rates of motor vehicle theft.

• ACT police officers report being overworked, under-resourced, poorly remunerated and even unprepared to carry out the work expected of them. For instance, in 2022-23, ACT Policing attended 4,166 mental health related incidents, which may involve encountering an individual suffering from violent psychosis. Insufficient services are in place to provide the support needed to manage incidents related to mental instability and drug use, leaving ACT Policing to pick up the slack.

WHY WE NEED CHANGE

With escalating costs of healthcare for patients and providers, and a growing shortage of healthcare professionals leading to distressing wait times and overworked staff, Canberrans are calling for urgent action.

• Canberra has the fewest GPs per capita among capital cities, with only 93 per 100,000 people—21.2 per cent below the national average of 115.

• The ACT has by far the lowest bulk-billing rate in the country at 37.6 per cent. 

• Admission of Category 2 elective surgery patients within the recommended 90 days in the ACT has plummeted to 49 per cent from 81 per cent in six years, marking the nation's lowest performance. 

• In 2022-23, the ACT had the worst emergency wait times visits, with less than 50 per cent of visits completed within the recommended four-hour window. 

• In the most recent national study of mental health and wellbeing, 25.5 per cent of people in the ACT reported having experienced a mental disorder in the past 12 months – the second-highest in the country.

• At an average of 75 days, the ACT has by far the slowest aged care assessment turnaround times in Australia, and they have been getting slower.

WHY WE NEED CHANGE

We’re hearing that our government has become complacent when it comes to funding a range of community and professional sporting activities, to the detriment of many sporting codes in Canberra.

In 2024, the Canberra United Women’s A-League Team was at serious risk of closure, despite having produced numerous members of the Australian Matildas Soccer team over its lifetime.

Facilities maintenance is also a significant issue. The ACT Government sought input from community sport organisations on necessary facilities upgrades in early 2023. Respondents reported 267 facilities were in need of maintenance or upgrades. The community sport sector is yet to receive any indication of a plan for actioning these works.

WHY WE NEED CHANGE

Family, domestic and sexual violence incidents are increasing across the ACT as are requests for support from crisis service providers, none of which report being sufficiently resourced to meet current levels of demand. There are women in our community attempting to escape violent situations who are being told to wait it out because we don’t have a home for them.

• Family violence incidents in the ACT attended by police increased 20 per cent from 2022 to 2023. Since 2019 there has been a 35 per cent increase. 

• Between 2022 to 2023 the ACT Domestic Violence Crisis Service (DVCS) responded to more than 24,000 incoming contacts and more than 25,000 outgoing contacts as well as accommodated 414 clients totalling more than 3700 safe nights. 

• Family, domestic and sexual violence has a disproportionate effect on our most vulnerable community members. Of the clients DVCS supported in 2022 to 2023: 

  • 18 percent identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples;

  • 31 percent identified as culturally and linguistically diverse; and

  • 20 percent identified as having a disability. 

• In the last two decades, there were more than 130 domestic violence deaths in the ACT. An in-depth analysis of 12 of these deaths revealed coercive control was a factor in almost every death. In 75 percent of these total deaths, there had not been any physical violence before the death.

WHY WE NEED CHANGE

Canberra is one of the few cities in the world that was entirely planned before it was built. Its design incorporates wider roads, green spaces and a radial layout. This planned origin provides a unique opportunity for developing public and active transport infrastructure. The city was designed around a series of town centres connected by arterial roads, making it easier to establish efficient public transport routes and promote active travel, like cycling and walking. Yet we are hearing from people all across Canberra that public transport is vastly inadequate and many people do not feel they have access to safe, efficient active travel routes. The ACT needs a comprehensive, integrated public and active transport plan for the future.

• A September 2024 report from the Climate Council found that only 3.1 per cent of Canberrans travel using public transport or shared cars, which is the lowest percentage of all the capital cities in Australia. The proportion for Sydneysiders is 13.1 per cent.

• Transport produces 60 per cent of the ACT’s carbon emissions but, despite a strong mandate for climate action in Canberra, there was an alarming decline in the proportion of trips taking using public and active transport between the 2016 and 2021 census results.

• Two thirds of Canberrans undertake their daily commute in a car. The 2021 census found that only 6 per cent used public transport, and 6 per cent used active transport.

• A recent study by Monash University demonstrated that over 75 per cent of commuters would elect to use active transport if conditions were safer in terms of separation from motor vehicle traffic. 

• For many people, affordable housing is on the outskirts, and they tell us they would rather use public transport but have to drive because of limited public transport options. 59 per cent of North Canberra residents travel by car while 83 per cent of people living in Tuggeranong travel by car. 

• Canberra has been ranked the least walkable major city in the country. 

WHY WE NEED CHANGE

Social cohesion in Australia is declining. Nationally, our sense of social inclusion and justice has dropped substantially and is the most significant factor dragging down our overall social cohesion. 40 percent of adults in the ACT say they are lonely – the highest rate of any jurisdiction in the country – compared to a national average of 32 per cent. Young adults are the loneliest.

Australia lags behind other OECD countries when it comes to public investment in arts and culture (ranked 26th out of 33 countries). In the ACT, our per-capita capital expenditure on arts and culture has declined from a high of above $60 in 2010-11 to less than $20 in 2021-22.

The Council of Capital City Lord Mayors’ latest report on night-time economy indicators show that Canberra is the worst performing capital city in the country with just 47 night-time businesses per 10,000 people.

We’re hearing not enough is being done to strengthen Canberra’s community connections. Part of the solution can be increasing the ACT Government’s level of collaboration with artists, creative communities and venue managers in order to activate our cultural and arts precincts and reinvigorate our local live music scene.

Canberra is proud of its multiculturalism but, despite past promises, our city lacks a purpose-built facility where multicultural communities can host major events of cultural significance.

WHY WE NEED CHANGE

Canberra's future is at a crossroads. The current focus on short-term gains and election cycles hinders our ability to plan for long-term, sustainable development that prioritises the wellbeing of current and future generations. This approach limits our potential for enduring prosperity and fails to capture the needs and aspirations of young people.                  

• Young people are particularly affected by climate change, mental health issues and the housing crisis. The Headspace National Youth Mental Health Survey 2022 reveals that more than 50 per cent of young people fear the future due to climate change, with many experiencing eco-anxiety on a daily basis. While the ACT has experienced fluctuating rates of teenage mental illness over the years, we regularly fare worse than the national average. 

• Recent researched by the Australian National University shows that many politically engaged young Australians feel disillusioned by politics and lack confidence in politicians’ ability to create meaningful change

• EveryGen’s Intergenerational Justice Policy Survey 2024 found that 81 per cent of young people believe Australian politicians think too short-term, 78 per cent support establishing a Commissioner for Future Generations, and 97 per cent believe that policies today should take into account the interests of future generations.

• Over 65 local species are facing extinction and environmental groups report insufficient funding is available to the sector to protect the natural biodiversity of our Bush Capital.

• Planning issues like poor canopy cover and public transport connectivity in new suburbs further highlight the need for a longer-term view of what we want for Canberra. 

• By adopting a longer-term vision for our city, we can ensure a prosperous and sustainable future focused on maximising the wellbeing of all current and future Canberrans.

WHY WE NEED CHANGE

Canberra is colloquially known as a ‘government town’ but employment opportunities are shifting, with 63 per cent of jobs now in the private sector. Efforts are needed to further diversify our private sector as a way of future-proofing our economy and broadening our revenue base. But the jurisdictional disadvantages of operating a business in the ACT create barriers to the economic diversification of our capital. Local business owners report feeling frustrated by the policies of the current government with some considering escaping the ‘Canberra tax’ by moving to a jurisdiction with policy settings that are more conducive to their success.

• The ACT is the highest-taxing jurisdiction in Australia, and has the highest taxation growth rate with per-capita taxation having increased by 24 per cent in the last two years.

• Payroll tax is significantly higher in the ACT than in any other jurisdiction.

• Canberra-based businesses pay the highest workers compensation insurance premiums in Australia in almost 75 per cent of industries. Premiums in the construction industry are almost twice the national average, and premiums are more than three times the national average for electricity, gas, water and waste service providers.

• With the higher cost of doing business in Canberra, the ACT has the highest rate of business closures in Australia and the lowest long-term survival rate for new businesses.

• Clearer pathways are needed for both domestic and international students and trainees to remain in Canberra after being educated and trained, including in the healthcare sector where experts are calling for government intervention to encourage people to ‘stay where they train’.

• With Australia’s second-oldest convention centre and over a decade of talk about a new stadium without breaking ground, we have consistently failed to realise our full potential when it comes to attracting major sporting, music, academic and business events to the national capital.

• Event-based tourism is further limited by weak regional transport connectivity combined with an unambitious events schedule lacking in private-sector collaboration.

WHY WE NEED CHANGE

The ACT can lead the way by adopting a more agile approach to governing that leans into our strengths and builds a culture of ongoing public-private collaboration, particularly when it comes to the development and implementation of cutting-edge technology. As a smaller jurisdiction with only two levels of government, we could choose to transform ourselves into Australia’s innovation capital, leading the nation by piloting novel solutions to complex problems. 

• With the most educated population in Australia, and the highest median income, Canberra is the ideal city to function as a test bed for new ideas.

• People in the ACT take out patents at twice the rate of the national average.

• We have the highest rate of start-ups in the country and the nation’s most tech-intensive workforce, with 14 per cent of local jobs being in tech.

• Workforce shortages exist in many industries, with recruiting and retaining skilled workers reported as an issue of primary concern for many innovative organisations.

• While local university and research institutions are well supported by innovation accelerators like the Canberra Innovation Network, many businesses either fail to traverse the valley of death as they attempt to scale, or are lured interstate or overseas when they reach scaleup phase due to the relative lack of government support, and capital, in the ACT.

• Opportunities abound to establish genuine collaborative partnerships between both levels of government, our sophisticated university and research ecosystem, and the private sector.

WHY WE NEED CHANGE

We’re hearing from many Canberrans who feel our elected officials are out of touch with people’s everyday lives. There's a strong sense in our community that politicians are only prepared to listen and take action when it's close to election time.

• Many people we speak with report not understanding what our leaders are trying to achieve, or why, and there’s a growing feeling that the decisions made by politicians have more to do with serving their own interests rather than our community’s interests.

• People want their voices heard and their needs addressed effectively. When representative democracy functions as it should, elected officials make themselves accountable to their community and ensure their decisions reflect their constituents' concerns, priorities and aspirations.

WHY WE NEED CHANGE

The ACT’s political landscape is plagued by a lack of accountability and transparency. We’re responding to community sentiment that having had the same government in power for nearly a quarter of a century has led to complacency and a lack of meaningful consultation, resulting in ineffective policies with insufficient evidence-based evaluation.

• Voter dissatisfaction is high, with many losing faith in local politicians and the political system. The growing disconnect between the government and its citizens results in a lack of trust and engagement. Given the challenges we’re facing, the current approach is no longer acceptable.
  
  
• According to a recent OECD survey, only 34 per cent of Australians trust political parties.
  
  
• Women have less faith in our institutions than men, with only 38 per cent of Australian women trusting the government compared to 54 per cent of men. The gap is even wider among younger women.   
   
• These trends underscore the need for a new kind of politics that prioritises accountability, transparency, genuine community consultation, and evidence-based decision-making.
  
  
• People are calling for leaders who are committed to our community's long-term interests and can help restore people’s faith in the political process, ensuring effective governance for all Canberrans.   

WHY WE NEED CHANGE

We’re hearing that people across the ACT are tired of waiting for action from our government. Detailed strategies and reports with strong recommendations seem to be published without ever being funded or implemented. We need more action to confront the challenges we’re facing. Our community wants to see the government follow through on overdue promises and commitments. Territorians expect basic government services to be delivered swiftly and accurately, with minimal wait times and errors. The Productivity Commission’s Report on Government Services 2024 highlights areas needing improvement in the ACT, including:

• Social housing services, where long waiting lists and poor dwelling conditions significantly impact some of our most vulnerable community members.
  
  
• The quality and accessibility of early childhood education and care services in the ACT, where reports of inconsistent funding and support for different types of childcare services have resulted in variable service quality and availability.
  
  
• Our aged care sector, which faces challenges affecting the availability and quality of both residential and home-based care. Long waiting times for services, limited residential care places, and the need for more comprehensive home care packages have been highlighted. Supply doesn’t seem to be keeping up with increasing demand.
  
  
• Insufficient access to mental health services in the ACT, with long waiting times for mental health support, inadequate resources for community-based mental health services, and a lack of integration between different levels of care.