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Motion · 25 March 2026

ACT historic housing debt waiver

Wording in the final text came from Yvette BerryLabor · Minister (1), Shane RattenburyGreens · Crossbench (2)

In short

Proposed
Mark Parton and Ed Cocks brought this motion together (co-sponsored) on 25 March 2026.
Changed
4 changes proposed by 2 MLAs; 3 agreed, from Yvette Berry and Shane Rattenbury.
Decided
Agreed as changed, in a recorded vote of 12 to 8.
Final wording
Compared with the original, 34 words taken out and 200 words put in. See every difference
  1. What was proposed (co-sponsored)Mark PartonLiberal · OppositionEd CocksLiberal · Opposition
    Read the original wording (250 words)

    That this Assembly: (1) notes that the: (a) ACT carries a $66 million historic housing debt to the Commonwealth; (b) historic housing debt was determined under the then Labor Commonwealth Government; (c) underlying housing liability was accumulated under the then Labor Commonwealth Government before ACT self-government; and (d) historic housing debt was inherited from the Commonwealth Government under terms determined by the Commonwealth Government; (2) acknowledges that other state and territory governments have had historical housing-related debts waived, including: (a) $320 million in South Australian debt in 2013; and (b) $157 million in Tasmanian debt in 2019; (3) further notes that: (a) the ACT’s Labor Senator and former ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher campaigned to waive the ACT Government’s housing debt during the 2022 federal election campaign; (b) Senator Gallagher in Senate Estimates on 22 October 2019 said to Senator Seselja as Assistant Minister for Finance, in respect to waiving the ACT’s historic housing debt, “you’re in a position of power. You get to sign it off.”; (c) Senator Gallagher has been the federal Minister for Finance since 2022; and (d) as the Minister for Finance, ACT Senator Gallagher has refused to waive the Territory’s historic housing debt; and (4) condemns Senator Gallagher for her sustained failure to waive the ACT’s historic housing debt. Debate ensued. Paper: Ms Berry (Minister for Homes, Homelessness and New Suburbs) presented the following paper: ACT historic housing debt principal balances and interest paid from financial years ending 30 June 2000 to 30 June 2026—Table, undated.

  2. Proposed changeYvette BerryLabor · Minister25 March 2026

    Grouped by key words as: added a new call or point, changed a number or target.

    The exact wording of this change

    After all text in paragraph (1)(d), insert: “(e) in the past five years, the Labor Commonwealth Government has provided unprecedented funding for social and affordable housing to states and territories, including the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund, $2 billion Social Housing Accelerator Fund, $1.5 billion National Housing Infrastructure Facility and the $10 billion First Home Buyers Fund; and (f) the Commonwealth Government has also set record housing targets, through the National Housing Accord, which demonstrates an unprecedented level of commitment to increasing supply right across the housing continuum;”.

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

  3. Proposed changeYvette BerryLabor · Minister25 March 2026

    Grouped by key words as: rewrote the proposal.

    Before

    (4) condemns Senator Gallagher for her sustained failure to waive the ACT’s historic housing debt. Debate ensued. Paper: Ms Berry (Minister for Homes, Homelessness and New Suburbs) presented the following paper: ACT historic housing debt principal balances and interest paid from financial years ending 30 June 2000 to 30 June 2026—Table, undated.

    After this change

    (4) calls on the Commonwealth Government to waive the ACT’s historic housing debt

    The exact wording of this change

    to the motion, as amended: Omit all text in paragraph (4), substitute: “(4) calls on the Commonwealth Government to waive the ACT’s historic housing debt”.

    Not agreed in a recorded vote, 8 to 12.

    Ayes 8

    • Andrew Barr, Taimus Werner-Gibbings, Yvette Berry, Suzanne Orr, Marisa Paterson, Michael Pettersson, Chris Steel, Caitlin Tough

    Noes 12

    • Chiaka Barry, Jeremy Hanson, James Milligan, Peter Cain, Leanne Castley, Mark Parton, Ed Cocks
    • Andrew Braddock, Laura Nuttall, Jo Clay, Shane Rattenbury
    • Thomas Emerson
  4. Proposed changeShane RattenburyGreens · Crossbench25 March 2026

    Grouped by key words as: rewrote the proposal.

    The exact wording of this change

    to the motion, as amended: In paragraph (4), omit all words after “Senator Gallagher”, substitute: “and her ACT Labor colleagues in the House of Representatives for their sustained failure to secure the waiving of the ACT’s historic housing debt”. Debate continued.

    Agreed in a recorded vote, 12 to 8. Its wording is in the final text.

    Ayes 12

    • Chiaka Barry, Jeremy Hanson, James Milligan, Peter Cain, Leanne Castley, Mark Parton, Ed Cocks
    • Andrew Braddock, Laura Nuttall, Jo Clay, Shane Rattenbury
    • Thomas Emerson

    Noes 8

    • Andrew Barr, Taimus Werner-Gibbings, Yvette Berry, Suzanne Orr, Marisa Paterson, Michael Pettersson, Chris Steel, Caitlin Tough
  5. Proposed changeShane RattenburyGreens · Crossbench25 March 2026

    Grouped by key words as: added a new call or point, changed a number or target.

    The exact wording of this change

    to the motion, as amended: Add: “(5) calls on the Government by the first sitting week in May 2026 to: (a) provide information on how much interest has been paid by the ACT Government on the debt since 2001; and (b) write to the Commonwealth Finance Minister, Senator Gallagher, conveying the request of the Assembly that the Commonwealth waive the $66 million housing debt noting that: (i) the Commonwealth has already waived public housing debt in South Australia and Tasmania; (ii) Tasmanian and South Australian Governments are able to apply for funding through the Housing Australia Future Fund; and (iii) the ACT Government will invest the $66 million in the provision of new public housing.”. Debate continued.

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

  6. What the Assembly decidedAgreed

    Recorded vote on the final question

    Ayes 12

    • Chiaka Barry, Jeremy Hanson, James Milligan, Peter Cain, Leanne Castley, Mark Parton, Ed Cocks
    • Andrew Braddock, Laura Nuttall, Jo Clay, Shane Rattenbury
    • Thomas Emerson

    Noes 8

    • Andrew Barr, Taimus Werner-Gibbings, Yvette Berry, Suzanne Orr, Marisa Paterson, Michael Pettersson, Chris Steel, Caitlin Tough
    Final agreed wording, with changes marked

    That this Assembly: (1) notes that the: (a) ACT carries a $66 million historic housing debt to the Commonwealth; (b) historic housing debt was determined under the then Labor Commonwealth Government; (c) underlying housing liability was accumulated under the then Labor Commonwealth Government before ACT self-government; (d) historic housing debt was inherited from the Commonwealth Government under terms determined by the Commonwealth Government; (e) in the past five years, the Labor Commonwealth Government has provided unprecedented funding for social and affordable housing to states and territories, including the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund, $2 billion Social Housing Accelerator Fund, $1.5 billion National Housing Infrastructure Facility and the $10 billion First Home Buyers Fund; and (f) the Commonwealth Government has also set record housing targets, through the National Housing Accord, which demonstrates an unprecedented level of commitment to increasing supply right across the housing continuumBerry; (2) acknowledges that other state and territory governments have had historical housing-related debts waived, including: (a) $320 million in South Australian debt in 2013; and (b) $157 million in Tasmanian debt in 2019; (3) further notes that: (a) the ACT’s Labor Senator and former ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher campaigned to waive the ACT Government’s housing debt during the 2022 federal election campaign; (b) Senator Gallagher in Senate Estimates on 22 October 2019 said to Senator Seselja as Assistant Minister for Finance, in respect to waiving the ACT’s historic housing debt, ‘you’re in a position of power. You get to sign it off.’; (c) Senator Gallagher has been the federal Minister for Finance since 2022; and (d) as the Minister for Finance, ACT Senator Gallagher has refused to waive the Territory’s historic housing debt; (4) condemns Senator Gallagher and her ACT Labor colleagues in the House of Representatives for their sustained failure to secure the waiving of the ACT’s historic housing debtRattenbury; and (5) calls on the Government by the first sitting week in May 2026 to: (a) provide information on how much interest has been paid by the ACT Government on the debt since 2001; and (b) write to the Commonwealth Finance Minister, Senator Gallagher, conveying the request of the Assembly that the Commonwealth waive the $66 million housing debt noting that: (i) the Commonwealth has already waived public housing debt in South Australia and Tasmania; (ii) Tasmanian and South Australian Governments are able to apply for funding through the Housing Australia Future Fund; and (iii) the ACT Government will invest the $66 million in the provision of new public housingRattenbury.

    Original and final wording compared

    That this Assembly: (1) notes that the: (a) ACT carries a $66 million historic housing debt to the Commonwealth; (b) historic housing debt was determined under the then Labor Commonwealth Government; (c) underlying housing liability was accumulated under the then Labor Commonwealth Government before ACT self-government; [taken out: and](d) historic housing debt was inherited from the Commonwealth Government under terms determined by the Commonwealth Government; [put in: (e) in the past five years, the Labor Commonwealth Government has provided unprecedented funding for social and affordable housing to states and territories, including the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund, $2 billion Social Housing Accelerator Fund, $1.5 billion National Housing Infrastructure Facility and the $10 billion First Home Buyers Fund; and (f) the Commonwealth Government has also set record housing targets, through the National Housing Accord, which demonstrates an unprecedented level of commitment to increasing supply right across the housing continuum;](2) acknowledges that other state and territory governments have had historical housing-related debts waived, including: (a) $320 million in South Australian debt in 2013; and (b) $157 million in Tasmanian debt in 2019; (3) further notes that: (a) the ACT’s Labor Senator and former ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher campaigned to waive the ACT Government’s housing debt during the 2022 federal election campaign; (b) Senator Gallagher in Senate Estimates on 22 October 2019 said to Senator Seselja as Assistant Minister for Finance, in respect to waiving the ACT’s historic housing debt, ‘you’re in a position of power. You get to sign it off.’; (c) Senator Gallagher has been the federal Minister for Finance since 2022; and (d) as the Minister for Finance, ACT Senator Gallagher has refused to waive the Territory’s historic housing debt; [taken out: and](4) condemns Senator Gallagher [taken out: for][put in: and]her [put in: ACT Labor colleagues in the House of Representatives for their]sustained failure to [taken out: waive][put in: secure]the [put in: waiving of the]ACT’s historic housing debt; [taken out: Debate ensued. Paper: Ms Berry (Minister for Homes, Homelessness]and [taken out: New Suburbs) presented][put in: (5) calls on]the [taken out: following paper:][put in: Government by the first sitting week in May 2026 to: (a) provide information on how much interest has been paid by the]ACT [taken out: historic][put in: Government on the debt since 2001; and (b) write to the Commonwealth Finance Minister, Senator Gallagher, conveying the request of the Assembly that the Commonwealth waive the $66 million]housing debt [taken out: principal balances][put in: noting that: (i) the Commonwealth has already waived public housing debt in South Australia]and [taken out: interest paid from financial years ending 30 June 2000][put in: Tasmania; (ii) Tasmanian and South Australian Governments are able]to [taken out: 30 June 2026—Table, undated.][put in: apply for funding through the Housing Australia Future Fund; and (iii) the ACT Government will invest the $66 million in the provision of new public housing.]

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

Check the official record

  • Minutes of Proceedings No 54, 25 March 2026, item 17

Find these on the Assembly’s chamber documents page. Wording is quoted from the Minutes, © ACT Legislative Assembly, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Our reading is automatic and may contain errors; agreeing to a motion is not the same as doing what it asks. Report a problem

ACT historic housing debt waiver · Public Matter