ACT Greens leader Jo Clay said the Greens aren’t planning to bring down the Labor Government, or make a deal with the Canberra Liberals. Photo: Ian Bushnell.
The ACT Greens have ruled out a new confidence and supply agreement with Labor for the remainder of the term after the two parties failed to agree on firm commitments covering renters, libraries, disability support, climate and the environment.
But Greens Leader Jo Clay stressed the decision would not trigger an election, and her party was not seeking to bring down the Labor Government or form an alternative government with the Canberra Liberals.
Instead, the Greens will remain on the crossbench, leaving the minority government to secure the numbers it needs in the Legislative Assembly as individual matters arise.
Ms Clay said the sticking point was not necessarily the policies themselves, but Labor’s unwillingness to commit to what would be delivered and by when.
“So it was that lack of accountability that is what fell through,” Ms Clay said.
Labor rejected that characterisation, saying there was substantial common ground but it could not agree to some fixed delivery dates, specific funding commitments and prescribed ways of implementing policy.
The decision ends negotiations that began in August and leaves the parties to work together issue by issue and budget by budget for the rest of the term.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr said there were also some proposals Labor simply could not support.
“We approached these discussions constructively and in good faith. While we were unable to reach agreement on every issue, they were positive and productive conversations that identified substantial areas of common ground,” Mr Barr said.
“It’s disappointing we could not find compromise on some issues in the best interest of delivering a shared progressive policy agenda for Canberra.”
Andrew Barr was disappointed that agreement would not be reached to deliver a “progressive policy agenda”. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
The Greens say that over several rounds of negotiations, Labor would not commit within this term to a portable rental bond scheme and a stronger Rental Ombudsman, or to restoring weekend services at Kippax and Erindale libraries by July 2027.
They also sought protection for the Western Edge and conservation areas, greater shared decision-making with Traditional Custodians, stronger gambling harm reduction measures and an end to government funding for horse racing.
On climate, the Greens wanted at least $5 million a year to implement the government’s climate action plan and a clear plan to phase out petrol and diesel transport.
They also wanted Labor to spend $90 million already allocated by the ACT Government for foundational disability supports, to prevent what the Greens described as a potential “cliff edge” for Canberrans who will lose or have their NDIS supports reduced.
“These are reasonable things to request for the community. They are all consistent with what Canberrans have told us they want,” Ms Clay said.
Labor, however, said the disagreement in many cases was about how policies should be implemented rather than the objective itself.
The government said it was willing to support the broad intent of several proposals but could not accept highly prescriptive implementation pathways, fixed deadlines, specified funding commitments or predetermined policy mechanisms.
It said decisions needed to remain informed by consultation, budget processes, implementation and operational considerations, emerging evidence and the Territory’s financial circumstances.
One point of contention Ms Clay highlighted was Canberra’s libraries.
The Greens wanted weekend services at Kippax and Erindale restored by July 2027, pointing to more than 3500 Canberrans who have called for weekend access.
Ms Clay also criticised Labor’s position on horse racing, saying that while the government would not accept the Greens’ demands, it had sought their support for another six years of funding for the racing industry.
Mr Barr rejected the broader suggestion that the failure to reach a deal reflected a lack of willingness by Labor to act.
“The suggestion that this outcome reflects a lack of ambition or commitment from the government is simply wrong,” he said.
“Labor is getting on with the job of building more homes, strengthening public services, supporting jobs and economic growth, advancing climate action and delivering on our commitments to Canberrans.”
The Greens’ insistence on deadlines was partly driven by their experience with the previous confidence-and-supply agreement.
After the 2024 election, former Greens leader Shane Rattenbury reached an agreement with Mr Barr that saw the Greens move to the crossbench and support him as Chief Minister in exchange for a series of policy commitments. That agreement expired when Mr Rattenbury retired.
Ms Clay said the Greens believed commitments from that agreement involving household food organics and garden organics (FOGO), protection of the Ainslie Volcanics and maternity services had either been breached or were unlikely to be delivered.
Despite walking away from a new deal, the Greens will support passage of the current ACT Budget.
Ms Clay said earlier Budget negotiations had resulted in concessions including preventing the return of the health levy and increasing funding for the community sector.
“This budget is not perfect, but this budget is a budget that the Greens will support passage of, but we will need to discuss future budgets with the Labor government,” she said.
Ms Clay also ruled out another attempt to negotiate a confidence and supply agreement later this term. She said the Greens were not looking to form government with the Canberra Liberals.
Instead, Labor and Greens parliamentary leaders have agreed to meet before each sitting week, while the parties will also engage ahead of future budgets.
Labor said it would work with the Greens, independents and Liberals on a case-by-case basis to get legislation through the Assembly.
