The ACT economy is always stronger when the Commonwealth government invests in our city and region.

This is true regardless of the political colour of the national government.

The economic data backs this in, when John Howard sacked thousands of public servants, the ACT economy went into recession against a backdrop of a growing national economy.

And between 2013-15, the ACT economy went into another slowdown with GSP per capita falling for the first time since 1995, again off the back of Liberal cuts to the public service.

Since Labor was elected federally, the ACT economy has returned to being one of the strongest in the country, recording the fastest GSP growth of any jurisdiction in 2024-25.

Clearly decisions of Commonwealth governments matter here. The Albanese government understands this.

We back Canberra, both as the nation's capital and as a vibrant and growing city in its own right.

That's why we've protected the Australian Public Service after a decade of cuts, outsourcing and attacks by the Coalition.

So the criticism from my political opponent that the Commonwealth government is to blame for not supporting Civic just isn't supported by the facts.

Whilst the number of Commonwealth leases in Canberra City has fallen slightly in recent years as agencies make better use of office space (a policy supported by the Liberals in government), the number of public servants working from those buildings has actually increased. In 2023 approximately 20,200 federal public servants worked in Civic by 2025 these figures have grown to more than 21,000 staff.

Earlier this year the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations pre-committed to lease 46,500 square metres of office space in the new London Central development in the CBD with other Commonwealth entities actively looking for office accommodation in the city.

There is no blanket rule or policies preventing agencies from leasing older buildings. The energy efficiency requirements apply only to certain new long-term leases over a specified size. Where a lease does not meet those requirements, no minimum NABERS rating applies. Any claim that older buildings in the city can't comply is simply wrong.

Now of course, if there was a political party, say the Liberal party, who promised to sack 40,000 Canberra-based public servants this would severely impact Civic and every other town centre in Canberra. It would gut our town and it would also force the territory economy into recession.

And it seems that the Liberal Party haven't learnt from the last election about attacks on public servants and the work they do.

Just last month the Leader of the Opposition have announced they would abolish the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, which employs thousands of public servants, including many based in Civic. Also for the chopping block are agencies and public servants working on housing.

Now I would suggest that abolishing entire departments in Canberra is a far bigger threat to jobs and local businesses in Civic than routine office moves.

And whilst we see our role as a big employer in town as important its not the only way Albanese government invests in Canberra. We have supported light rail, we're partnering with the ACT government to deliver a new Convention, Entertainment and Civic Precinct, we have increased funding for hospitals, schools and housing.

We are also opening three new bulk billing GP clinics and we have $10 million on the table to support respite care for older Canberrans, with more to do as there always is.

We will continue to work with ACT government and businesses to ensure Civic remains a great place to work, shop, dine and do business.

It's going to take more than opinion pieces in our local newspaper to make Canberrans forget what the Coalition did to this city when they were in government and the promise they made to abolish 40,000 Canberra jobs when they were in opposition.

Those are the policies that hurt local businesses, hurt confidence and hurt Canberra. And they are the ones every Canberran should be opposing.

03 July 2026