← All decisions

1. What was proposedEd CocksLiberal · Opposition
   Read the original wording (250 words)

   That this Assembly: (1) notes the: (a) 2025–2026 Budget Review; and (b) importance of accurate and complete budgeting and forecasts to trust and confidence in the Government; (2) acknowledges that the Budget Review shows: (a) the General Government Sector Headline Net Operating Balance deficit for 2025–2026 is now $499.1 million, compared with forecasts of $146.2 million in the Pre-Election Budget Update, $117.1 million in the February 2025 Budget Review, and $424.9 million in the June 2025 Budget; (b) the cash deficit for 2025-2026 is $1.2 billion, compared with forecasts of $956.7 million in the Pre-Election Fiscal Outlook, $1.05 billion in the February 2025 Fiscal Review, and $1.056 billion in the June 2025 Budget; and (c) interest expenses for 2025–2026 are now $648 million, compared with forecasts of $580 million in the Pre-Election Fiscal Outlook, $604 million in the February 2025 Fiscal Review, and $629 million in the June 2025 Budget; (3) further acknowledges that the Budget Review headline figures do not account for the: (a) full cost of ACT Labor election commitments; (b) full cost of ACT Public Service pay rises anticipated under the Enterprise Bargaining Agreement; and (c) cost of continuing community service funding arrangements that are due to expire during the forward estimates; (4) affirms that the Budget Review reflects a further deterioration in the Territory’s budget position and does not represent a turnaround; and (5) expresses concern that continued deterioration of the Budget position presents a risk to government services, infrastructure and fiscal sustainability. Debate ensued.

2. Proposed changeChris SteelLabor · Minister25 February 2026

   Added the operating cash figure and hospital funding outcomes to the background, and left the criticism in. Our summary, review in progress

   The exact wording of this change

   , together: 1. After paragraph (2)(b), insert: “(c) the net cash from operating activities deficit for 2025-2026 in the Budget Review is $15.7 million compared with a budget forecast deficit of $129.6 million, $132 million surplus in the Pre-Election Budget Update and $128.1 million surplus in the February 2025 Budget Review; and”. 2. After paragraph (3)(c), insert: “(d) the outcomes of the new National Health Reform Agreement;”. Debate continued.

   Agreed on the voices. No individual votes were recorded. Its wording is in the final text.

3. What the Assembly decidedAgreed

   Decided on the voices: no individual votes were recorded, so this doesn’t show that every MLA agreed.

   Final agreed wording, with changes marked

   That this Assembly: (1) notes the: (a) 2025–2026 Budget Review; and (b) importance of accurate and complete budgeting and forecasts to trust and confidence in the Government; (2) acknowledges that the Budget Review shows: (a) the General Government Sector Headline Net Operating Balance deficit for 2025–2026 is now $499.1 million, compared with forecasts of $146.2 million in the Pre-Election Budget Update, $117.1 million in the February 2025 Budget Review, and $424.9 million in the June 2025 Budget; (b) the cash deficit for 2025-2026 is $1.2 billion, compared with forecasts of $956.7 million in the Pre-Election Fiscal Outlook, $1.05 billion in the February 2025 Fiscal Review, and $1.056 billion in the June 2025 Budget; (c) the net cash from operating activities deficit for 2025-2026 in the Budget Review is $15.7 million compared with a budget forecast deficit of $129.6 million, $132 million surplus in the Pre-Election Budget Update and $128.1 million surplus in the February 2025 Budget Review; andSteel (d) interest expenses for 2025–2026 are now $648 million, compared with forecasts of $580 million in the Pre-Election Fiscal Outlook, $604 million in the February 2025 Fiscal Review, and $629 million in the June 2025 Budget; (3) further acknowledges that the Budget Review headline figures do not account for the: (a) full cost of ACT Labor election commitments; (b) full cost of ACT Public Service pay rises anticipated under the Enterprise Bargaining Agreement; (c) cost of continuing community service funding arrangements that are due to expire during the forward estimates; and (d) the outcomes of the new National Health Reform AgreementSteel; (4) affirms that the Budget Review reflects a further deterioration in the Territory’s budget position and does not represent a turnaround; and (5) expresses concern that continued deterioration of the Budget position presents a risk to government services, infrastructure and fiscal sustainability.

   Original and final wording compared

   taken out put in

   That this Assembly: (1) notes the: (a) 2025–2026 Budget Review; and (b) importance of accurate and complete budgeting and forecasts to trust and confidence in the Government; (2) acknowledges that the Budget Review shows: (a) the General Government Sector Headline Net Operating Balance deficit for 2025–2026 is now $499.1 million, compared with forecasts of $146.2 million in the Pre-Election Budget Update, $117.1 million in the February 2025 Budget Review, and $424.9 million in the June 2025 Budget; (b) the cash deficit for 2025-2026 is $1.2 billion, compared with forecasts of $956.7 million in the Pre-Election Fiscal Outlook, $1.05 billion in the February 2025 Fiscal Review, and $1.056 billion in the June 2025 Budget; [taken out: and](c) [put in: the net cash from operating activities deficit for 2025-2026 in the Budget Review is $15.7 million compared with a budget forecast deficit of $129.6 million, $132 million surplus in the Pre-Election Budget Update and $128.1 million surplus in the February 2025 Budget Review; and (d)]interest expenses for 2025–2026 are now $648 million, compared with forecasts of $580 million in the Pre-Election Fiscal Outlook, $604 million in the February 2025 Fiscal Review, and $629 million in the June 2025 Budget; (3) further acknowledges that the Budget Review headline figures do not account for the: (a) full cost of ACT Labor election commitments; (b) full cost of ACT Public Service pay rises anticipated under the Enterprise Bargaining Agreement; [taken out: and](c) cost of continuing community service funding arrangements that are due to expire during the forward estimates; [put in: and (d) the outcomes of the new National Health Reform Agreement;](4) affirms that the Budget Review reflects a further deterioration in the Territory’s budget position and does not represent a turnaround; and (5) expresses concern that continued deterioration of the Budget position presents a risk to government services, infrastructure and fiscal sustainability. [taken out: Debate ensued.]

   Compared word by word by computer, ignoring punctuation. It shows what differs, not which change made each difference; the steps above show that.