Canberra Liberals Leader Elizabeth Lee has raised concerns about population projections released by the ACT Government last week that estimates 784,000 people will be living in Canberra by 2060.

Ms Lee said these projections highlight what the Canberra Liberals have been saying for some time now that the Labor-Greens government has failed to adequately plan for a growing Canberra after over 20 years in government.

“It is estimated Canberra will need an extra 100,000 homes by 2050 and we are already well behind where we need to be due to the Labor-Greens government’s failure to prioritise housing, including continually strangling the release of land in the ACT,” Ms Lee said.

“The Canberra Liberals have continually advocated for genuine choice when it comes to housing, but we know this government is wedded to an infill agenda that is not meeting the needs of Canberrans.

“Canberra is also suffering from long-term neglect of our health system, including the longest emergency department wait times in the country; hazardous and toxic materials in our schools and a chronic teacher shortage; smallest police force in the country; a housing affordability crisis; and serious long-term neglect of our suburbs, following over 20 years of a Labor-Greens government.

“If the priorities of this government are not in fixing our broken hospitals, schools, community safety, housing, and basic municipal services, how can Canberrans have any faith our city is well prepared for a growing capital?

“The truth is, this Barr-Rattenbury government has no desire to prioritise key government services and has pulled hundreds of millions of dollars out of our health system, public housing, critical road upgrades and cut education funding over the last decade in order to pay for the tram.”

Ms Lee also highlighted that Canberra’s northside will nearly double in population with the inner north to grow by almost 130 per cent while southern suburbs will decline in size.

“It is very concerning that southern suburbs of Canberra are projected to decline in size over the coming years, which follows decades of neglect by Labor and the Greens,” Ms Lee said.

“These projections show that this government has no plan or desire to reinvigorate our suburbs or provide the desperately needed housing and basic services that Canberrans deserve.

“Last year the Canberra Liberals called for a feasibility study to be conducted that would explore environmental impacts of future housing in West Tuggeranong which was voted down by Labor and the Greens because they have no interest in revitalising the south of Canberra.

“Ultimately all this government is offering to southern Canberra suburbs, is a tram that will not be delivered for decades, will be slower than a properly functioning bus network and will cost billions upon billions with the money to be taken from other key areas such as health, education and city services.

“By not proceeding with the $3 billion tram to Woden, the Canberra Liberals are committed to ensuring all Canberra suburbs are prioritised as they should and not left neglected as they have been for so long under Labor and the Greens,” Ms Lee concluded.