By: Mark Parton
The Independent Specialist Advisor’s interim report to the Legislative Assembly Select Committee on the Fiscal Sustainability of the ACT, makes for sobering reading following its tabling, 2 March 2026.
The Independent Advisor confirmed that the Territory’s budget position has “deteriorated over the past decade” and that this deterioration is “entirely attributable to policy decisions”.
The report shows expense policy decisions have worsened the net operating balance by at least $7.2 billion over the past decade, while revenue decisions have offset only a fraction of that impact.
“This isn’t bad luck, it’s bad management,” said Canberra Liberals Leader, Mark Parton. “The report makes clear the deterioration in the ACT’s finances is the direct result of the Labor Government’s choices. They have never found a way to pay for their promises, and even what they’re spending isn’t delivering results.”
The report also highlights deeply concerning questions in areas like Health and Education, highlighting that the ACT spends more per student than any other jurisdiction, but “doesn’t get better outcomes”.
In health, the ACT spends more per person on public hospitals than the national average, yet “in important respects patients get worse results,” including emergency department timeliness and elective surgery waits.
“Canberrans are paying more and getting less,” Mr Parton said. “And this report proves it. Under Labor, we have high taxes, high per-capita spending, and worse outcomes.”
The report also warns the ACT Labor Government’s fiscal strategy is “vague and unspecific,” lacking numerical targets.
“This government has no clear plan, no discipline and no accountability,” Mr Parton said.
“It’s time to restore honest budgeting and disciplined spending, and a credible path to fiscal sustainability because Canberrans deserve real results in health and education, not just more expensive numbers in the Budget papers.”