Former opposition leader Peter Dutton’s public service policy proved an own goal. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
The Canberra Liberals have passed a motion in support of the Australian Public Service in the wake of May’s disastrous federal election result.
The motion was among 11 matters voted on at the party’s Divisional Policy Convention this week (9 September).
Former federal opposition leader Peter Dutton’s attacks on public servants contributed to the party’s poor result, not just in the national capital but across Australia.
The motion said the party should affirm its commitment to the honourable pursuit of public service in all its form including the traditional areas of military, politics and volunteering, and the public service.
“The Canberra Liberals note the effect policy development had on the 2025 federal election campaign; in particular the policy to cut 41,000 public servants and the public service work from home policy,” the motion stated.
It called on the party’s approach to the public service to reflect its principles.
“Improvements or savings in the public service should be principles based, rather than focusing on numbers of people,” it stated.
“Similarly, the party should avoid policies that disparage Canberra. The experience of this election shows such approaches are not viewed well in contemporary Australia, making us seem heartless.”
The motion suggested the federal party should draw more on the local party’s experience and expertise in this area.
“The federal party should cultivate a strong culture of evidence-based policy development and of drawing on expertise in addition to its traditional strengths in the business sector,” it said.
“This should include utilising the ACT division’s considerable expertise in public administration.”
A motion at the convention from the Young Liberals calling for the repeal of the Urban Forest Act 2023 was softened to replace it with “an act which better balances private property rights and safety”.
The act is the cause of considerable angst in the community.
The party believes the problems posed by owners needing to apply for a permit to lop limbs of dangerous trees on their own property is probably the number one issue raised with all MLAs.
Other motions covered service delivery, childcare funding, roads, increasing bus services, small business failures, the failure of the ACT to secure 2027 Rugby World Cup games and antisemitism.
The Young Liberals called on MLAs to continue its policy, subject to budget considerations, to increase the frequency of buses and public transport along suburban routes, increase the number and coverage of existing routes and support proposals for expanding the fleet, including different bus size options.
It called on its MLAs to continue to take all steps to increase school bus routes across Canberra so school children had the opportunity to catch a bus to their school in the local catchment area through to attending college.
The Young Liberals also moved for the party to support a call for the Federal Government to fund childcare by allocating support directly to the child, allowing parents to choose caregivers, including family members.
