ACT Government: Andrew Barr welcomes Albanese Labor government

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr has welcomed the Albanese Labor Government at the Assembly and slammed the outgoing Federal Liberal government. Find out what he said.

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr has welcomed the Albanese Labor government in a speech to the ACT Legislative Assembly.

When Assembly sat on Wednesday Mr Barr described the election of a federal Labor government as a “significant opportunity” for the ACT to enact reforms and projects which had been “blocked or stalled” under the Morrison Liberal Government.

“I have engaged with Prime Minister Albanese and subsequently outlined our commitments and joint priorities in writing,” Mr Barr said.

“(I have) spoken with federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher and Energy and Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen; and met yesterday with Senator-elect David Pocock.

“I look forward to continuing to engage with our federal counterparts and to ensure Canberra is no longer relegated to an afterthought by the Federal Government.”

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr has welcomed the Albanese Labor Government. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Mr Barr also took the opportunity to criticise the previous federal Liberal government’s treatment of the Nation’s Capital.

Specifically Barr cited Australian Public Service cutbacks, the lack of territory rights and infrastructure funding as sore spots.

“For nearly a decade, the ACT has been overlooked or treated as a second-class jurisdiction,” Mr Barr said.

“The Australian Public Service was cut back, demoralised, decentralised and contracted out.

“We didn’t receive a fair share of funding to invest in the infrastructure and services our growing city needs.

“All too often (this left) the Territory Government to do the heavy lifting without a Federal partner.

“Efforts to restore Territory rights were consistently blocked.”

Mr Barr criticised the Coalition’s “culture war” focused election campaign and described the election result as a “rejection of the ultra-conservative politics of division”.

“The result was a resounding rejection of division and fear – most egregiously whipped up during the federal election campaign in the form of attacking marginalised and vulnerable trans kids,” he said.

“A campaign that has brought long-term shame to the party involved.”

Liberal Senator Zed Seselja is projected to lose his senate seat. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gary Ramage

Mr Barr also took aim at the record of ACT Liberal Senator Zed Seselja, who is projected to lose his seat to independent candidate David Pocock.

“The Canberra Liberals will become the first major party in 50 years to fail to return a Territory Senator,” Mr Barr said.

In relation to Mr Seselja’s record on territory rights Mr Barr called out the liberal senator for voting against the restoration of Territory Rights “despite knowing this is something the majority of his constituency wanted”.

“The election of a more socially-progressive parliament – including two ACT senators that actually respect the ACT’s right to make its own laws – puts us in a much better position to see the Andrews Bill scrapped.”

Originally published as ACT Government: Andrew Barr welcomes Albanese Labor government