Political capital

Time to end Canberra’s love affair with Labor?

It’s not a claim the Labor Party would ever want to be heard making, but it’s true: Labor is the natural party of government in Canberra.

Its credentials for that title are pretty hard to argue with. The ALP has contested House of Reps seats in the ACT on 33 occasions since 1977. It has won 32 of those races, almost always by crushing margins. Its record in the Legislative Assembly is almost as impressive: it has won eight of the 10 elections since self-government, usually at a canter.

A large part of the reason Canberrans so consistently back Labor is self-interest. Labor is the party of big spending and big government. Big government equals more money sloshing through the Canberra economy. For locals, that means you get employment choices in the public service, your house retains its value and there are jobs for your kids.

But last week’s federal budget is a reminder that this simple equation urgently needs to be rethought. Josh Frydenberg became a born-again Keynesian, and the huge cash splash that resulted is designed to supercharge the economic recovery from Covid. Whatever its long-term economic merits, one outcome is certain: the Canberra economy will be in overdrive for at least the next five years.

This is not, however, an aberration in Liberal behaviour toward Canberra, but in fact the reemergence of a sustained pattern. It was Robert Menzies’ decision to shift government departments to Canberra in the 1960s that gave the city the character we recognise today. Conversely, some of the most sustained job cutting in the public service in the last 30 years occurred in the final term of the Keating Government.

Howard initially reduced government spending, and Canberra hurt badly for a couple of years. But by the late 1990s, Commonwealth spending under Howard was surging again, and Canberra’s economy was growing strongly. A similar pattern is all but guaranteed courtesy of the latest Frydenberg Budget.

Consider this test of who has been the bigger benefactor of Canberra: which party built the national institutions erected here since World War II? The answer is the Liberal Party. Go on, count them: the National Library, the National Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, etc, etc. The one major exception is the National Gallery, commenced by Whitlam. Even then, it’s telling that in the four decades since Whitlam, few of his ALP successors have bothered to add to the national treasures.

It could fairly be argued that the Liberal largesse toward Canberra has been more the product of accident than design. But what could also fairly be argued is that Labor has grown to take the ACT for granted.

Given that Canberra has fared just as well, overall, under Liberal governments as Labor ones, isn’t it time Canberra voters hedged their bets by making at least one of the Federal seats here more marginal? Not to change the Liberal Party’s view of Canberra, but to change Labor’s?

WITH GARY HUMPHRIES AO, FORMER ACT CHIEF MINISTER AND ACT SENATOR

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Revamped ChooseCBR scheme to start in June

Following the mixed results of the December 2020 ChooseCBR discount voucher scheme, the ACT Government this week announced a reworked version of the scheme offering $2 million worth of discounts will start next month.

From Wednesday 9 June, registered customers will be able to use vouchers daily at participating businesses and receive: $10 off when you spend $20 or more; $20 off when you spend $40 or more; and $50 off when you spend $100 or more.

The eligibility conditions for businesses have been tweaked to allow any small business with a turnover of under $10 million to be accepted, doing away with the JobKeeper criterion.

The commencement date of 9 June, just before the Queen’s Birthday long weekend and at the start of winter, was a tactical decision to support businesses through a traditionally quiet period.

Dickson Dumpling House owner Max Jing said he had a positive experience participating in last year’s trial and is keen to let his customers know when the scheme recommences.

“When you’re supporting one business in Canberra, you’re supporting the broader Canberra community,” Mr Jing said.

According to Canberra Business Chamber CEO Graham Catt, business feedback from the December 2020 trial was that more marketing and communication aimed at businesses and customers was needed, and that the format of the initial scheme was too complex.

To improve visibility this time around, marketing materials will be physically sent out to registered businesses in the form of a toolkit providing posters, QR codes, a range of translated resources in 14 languages, as well as badges for staff.

Approximately $200,000 will be spent promoting the program and businesses across the ACT have been contacted encouraging them to sign up.

A total of 336 businesses signed up either before or during December’s ChooseCBR trial, a number Minister for Business Tara Cheyne believes will be “much higher” this time around.

Mr Catt said a number of “really positive changes” have been made ahead of the full rollout, citing higher voucher values; discounts that match spending one for one; customers being able to use vouchers every day; and more resources and tools for businesses.

The Canberra Liberals welcomed the changes to the scheme following

Dickson Dumpling House owner Max Jing is keen to let his customers know when the ChooseCBR scheme recommences.

the December 2020 trial, saying the government had “heeded” their feedback by expanding eligibility and offering more significant discounts.

“I called on the Minister to go back to the drawing board and am pleased she has overhauled the program,” Shadow Business Minister Leanne Castley said. – Denholm Samaras

Local doctor spotlight: The patient advocate

Dr Nguyet Phan and registrar Dr Elizabeth Muller who have recently joined the Ochre team in Calwell. Dr Nguyet Phan, who recently joined the team at Ochre Medical Centre Calwell, has worked in a wide range of practices from inner Sydney to rural Mount Isa and Hervey Bay in Queensland. “I’ve experienced it all now,” she laughs. Mount Isa was both interesting and challenging, she says. “You are taught about the challenges of Indigenous health in remote areas when you study medicine, but you don’t really experience it until you actually work on the ground in a more isolated area. It was my first real experience of people with poor access to healthcare. There just aren’t many doctors out there, so minor things can get left untreated and then become an emergency in a way that just wouldn’t happen in the city.” Before becoming a doctor, Dr Phan worked as a physiotherapist for three years. “That background definitely helps my work as a GP, especially when I see patients with musculoskeletal issues,” she says. She chose to become a GP because she says she likes a bit of everything and also the opportunity to provide holistic care. “I wasn’t one of those people in medical school who thought ‘I really want to focus on a particular part of the body or area of medicine’, I like variety.” “Just last week I saw a new patient with a background of mental health problems who has been struggling with his marriage. He had taken a couple days off work to get back on track and he was concerned about how his leave would be viewed at work. After we had talked, he asked me to call his boss. When I did, I explained he had been very proactive in getting help and he

was now ready to come back. I find it very rewarding to be able to advocate for patients in this way.” Dr Phan’s family is also enjoying Canberra: “We’re aiming to settle here permanently because we love the city and the surrounding area. We’ve been enjoying exploring the local trails and mountain biking at Mt Stromlo. We’ve also taken trips to Thredbo a couple of times and camped in Kosciuszko National Park.” “The kids are loving their new school and the cafes and restaurants are also really good - similar in quality to Sydney and definitely better than Queensland, in my view!” Dr Phan is accepting new patients at Ochre Medical Centre Calwell and is available every Wednesday and Thursday.

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You don’t need to be an existing patient, but you do need to be eligible. Visit www.healthdirect.gov.au to check and make an online booking.

Medicare-supported Telehealth appointments COVID-19 and Flu vaccinations available and highly recommended Ochre Medical Centre Calwell 5/7 Webber Crescent, Calwell Phone 6291 0045 www.ochrehealth.com.au