To those who equate the ACT and federal governments as one and the same, it will come as a shock that, short of location-location, the two could not be further apart.
The ACT government achieved two national firsts this week with the opening of a fixed pill-testing site and an impending shutdown of all fossil-fuel-powered car and truck sales from 2035. It has, once again, scored itself the title of most progressive government to grace the nation.
So how does a territory bogged by the cement shoes of federal politics manage to be on the front foot of social policy innovation?
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr told Crikey it is a combination of its Murdoch-less media, strong parliamentary make-up, and Canberrans’ unabating appetite for a progressive agenda: “The Zed Seselja ejection and David Pocock election … sent a very clear signal about the median values of people in the ACT.”
For more than 20 years, the ACT has been Labor’s domain, with a sustained Labor-Greens coalition kicking off under Barr’s predecessor, Katy Gallagher, in 2012. Its political make-up has long lent itself to progressive policymaking, but Barr is clear that the collective Parliament is ahead of the curve: “Even the agendas pursued when the ACT had a Liberal government indicated a more progressive stance under all political parties.”
That said, internal splits between progressive and conservative wings of the ACT’s Liberal Party after a federal Senate reshuffle have made it easier for the Labor-Greens coalition to plough ahead on policy reforms.
The federal election result has affected ACT politics in more ways than one. Barr anticipates that the Albanese government will take the edge off policy points of difference and lingering perceptions that “ACT equals federal”.
“The political environment is less ripe for massive product differentiation between state and federal,” he said. “There will be a bit of a convergence around middle-of-the-road, centre-left politics, so the opportunity to stand out from the crowd is based on the first mover.”
And first mover the ACT continues to be.
The ACT might (like Canada and New Zealand) have a “Murdoch-free”. media but it still has to endure the Macquarie Radio Network which operates almost 24 hours bringing its spite and bias and vitriol against anything that is not supportive of Liberal Party governments Australia-wide. Broadcasts late at night and early mornings have to be heard to be believed with their mostly incorrect nonsense
ABC Classic and ABC Jazz are great for your blood pressure – a truly Murdoch and idiot-free zone 24 hours/day.
Fully agree.
As well as The Sky After Dark Comedy Show!
Agree, especially the overnight crazies who make Hadley sound sane & measured – no mean feat.
Voters who are more educated tend to vote more progressively.
That said, as an ACT resident, not all is fabulous. For a progressive government, our hospitals are very under-resourced. Recently, a young child recently died in an emergency department waiting room.
Likewise, schools are a very mixed bag. The wealthy suburbs benefit from well-heeled parents but poorer suburbs have under-resourced schools.
And as Paul Costigan mentioned, housing is absolutely abysmal. No social housing for people in need and a system that privileges those who can afford to leave social housing but choose not to because it’s better economically for them to purchase a rental property in another jurisdiction. There is no review process.
Moreover, the ACT government has been beholden to developers for years and there are concerns about quids pro quo. The ACT Integrity Commission needs to be better resourced and have broader powers.
Moby: yet again insinuation and nudge, nudge stuff!!! Evidence- I can only assume you voted for ZED and A Coe!!!
worth reading this piece
https://citynews.com.au/2022/mute-eviction-panel-sits-in-judgement-in-another-room/
and the second comment within – especially the figures on what the government says it budgeted for social housing ($699 million) and what it actually spends ($80.871 million) . The article is about a cruel program of involuntary relocation (evictions) being used to move out many older women tenants – so the land can be sold to raise funds for housing because there is little funds available for social housing. The number of homeless (3,000) hardly moves despite the many announcements. This is not a progressive government in reality.
declaration: I write opinion pieces for Canberra City News on these topics – but not the article above.
Declaration: This Paul Costigan writes weekly opinion pieces in the City News implying or insinuating that the ACT Labor/Greens Govt is corrupt, making terrible planning decisions and favouring developers generally. He provides no evidence or proof. the City News has been totally pro Liberal and anti- Labor for years!! There was never any comment or criticism about Abbott/Turnbull/ Morrison and Zed, in spite of the anti ACT rhetoric – the guy has very little credibility!! Does he truly care about social housing and all that means????????
To me, it’s just a matter of demographics. Considering how much Canberra operates on the knowledge economy (public service, companies wanting to deal with government, universities and the students who attend), it’s inevitable that the Territory’s politics is gonna reflect its population.
There’s no absence of Murdoch, though. The Australian and The Daily Telegraph are both sold and can be found in cafes.
There are spells where The Terrorgraph is being given away.
And as well The Sky After Dark Comedy Show is also free to air in the Canberra region , in a desperate attempt to boost its numbers.
So will keep the ALP and Greens honest apart from Crikey and The Australian. The ABC will fold.