8 hours ago
ACT opposition leader's first budget reply speech upstaged by Greens' health levy opposition
Despite her long career in show business, Leanne Castley may never have been upstaged quite like she was in the ACT Legislative Assembly on Thursday.
But the last week may have provided material for some new country songs.
The Canberra Liberals leader rose to her feet for her first budget reply speech; a major set piece event for someone who admits she's not a "typical politician".
At the conclusion, she left the chamber with an easy smile, embraced by supporters congratulating her on a job well done.
Yet it was the speech that followed — from ACT Greens Leader Shane Rattenbury — that left the biggest mark on budget week.
The Greens' decision to oppose the government's $250 health levy is a sign that, when it comes to passing bills in this assembly, the Animal Farm theory applies; some MLAs are more equal than others.
The Liberals can but oppose, while the Greens — flexing their crossbench muscle — are the ones the government must pay attention to.
This is arguably the most significant political fight the minor party has picked with its former coalition partner so far.
The question now is how the fight ends.
Negotiations began yesterday, with no clear resolution.
The Greens have indicated they're open to means-testing the levy, if it can't be removed from the budget entirely.
But if either side makes the political calculation they should play hard ball, its fate could hang in the balance for months, with the assembly not sitting again until September.
Greater costs for ratepayers may have been foreshadowed when Treasurer Chris Steel said there would be "tough decisions" at his mid-year budget update.
The levy, however, shocked many — and stands in stark contrast to the pre-election budget we got last year which contained few, if any, surprises.
It's not unusual for governments to get the tough budget out of the way in the first year of a term.
But this is also not Labor's first term.
By bringing down a budget of this nature after 24 years in office, the government is setting a high bar for itself to have made significant improvements by the time voters next go to the polls.
Part of why Labor was successful last year even after six terms was the ability to stake a claim as the superior economic managers.
The chief minister famously accused the opposition of "magic pudding economics" during the leaders debate.
He might have been wishing for his own magic pudding this week.
The events of the last few days have taken some of the attention away from an opposition leader, who could have used an unobstructed moment in the spotlight.
Ever since Peter Cain's departure from shadow cabinet last week, Leanne Castley has struggled for clear air, with an ongoing dispute about exactly how his resignation came about.
Her budget reply was the ideal opportunity, but through no fault of her own, it failed to provide the kind of moment she was after.
Attention now turns to the forthcoming announcement of the revised shadow cabinet, which may provide another reset moment.
If there is any lesson from a budget week, it is surely that nobody gets everything they want.
