The ACT Government’s 2026-27 Budget delivers for all Canberrans, meeting key election commitments while leading the nation on progressive tax reform.
It’s a Budget that boosts housing supply, backs frontline services, invests in the health and wellbeing of Canberrans, and supports those in our community who need it most.
It’s a Budget that delivers the largest investment in new housing since self-government, driving real action to improve access to homes for current and future generations of Canberrans. It complements the Commonwealth Government’s policy settings to make home ownership more achievable and increase housing supply.
It’s a Budget that provides certainty and capacity to our community sector and strengthens frontline community services.
It’s a Budget that meets the future health needs of our city with construction investment in the new Northside Hospital in Bruce.
It’s also a responsible and responsive Budget, managing the Territory’s finances while making targeted investments where they are needed most, ensuring services keep pace with demand and changing economic conditions.
The Budget delivers a further year to year Headline Net Operating Balance improvement of $178.3 million from the estimated outcome from 2025-26 and it delivers a cash operating surplus from 2026-27, in line with the fiscal strategy set out last year.
Attributable to Chief Minister Andrew Barr:
“This Budget is about the future of Canberra, and making sure more people can be part of it. We are abolishing stamp duty for first home buyers, taking real action to open the door to home ownership and giving the next generation a fair shot.
“At the same time, we are building the Canberra of the future, with investment in more affordable housing, major infrastructure, and the jobs and industries that will drive our economy for decades to come. Labor has a clear plan to grow our city, strengthen our economy, and invest in the services Canberrans rely on.
“We are doing this responsibly, improving the Budget, making disciplined infrastructure choices and strengthening the foundations of a resilient, growing economy.”
Attributable to Treasurer Chris Steel:
“In times of economic uncertainty, nothing is more important than having stable and secure housing, and the centrepiece of this Budget is a new, generational investment in homes for Canberrans.
“This Budget represents another significant step forward in our long-term plan to grow housing supply, expand public and community housing, and make it easier for Canberrans to own their own home. This is also backed by our land release program and Missing Middle Housing Reforms.
“Conflict in the Middle East has had a significant impact on the ACT economy over the first half of 2026. The ACT economy remains resilient, growing faster than the rest of the country, with lower inflation and low unemployment.
“Through this Budget, we’re delivering targeted cost‑of living relief to Canberrans who need it most, with additional funding for food relief, family school expenses, tertiary student public transport concessions and crisis support.
“The Government is taking measured steps towards budget repair. The Budget includes savings measures to continue to slow the growth of public service expenditure and ensure our capital works program is sustainable and deliverable.
“We also recognise the important role the ACT’s community sector plays in supporting the most vulnerable people in our community and the pressures facing these vital partners. That’s why we are providing the sector with longer term funding certainty, recognising the need for additional funding to meet demand in key areas like responding to homelessness and domestic and family violence, and giving them confidence they can continue to deliver essential frontline services and support into the future.”
Attributable to Minister for Finance Rachel Stephen-Smith:
“This Budget continues the Government’s focus on responsible infrastructure investment, growing the ACT Public Service in a sustainable way and ensuring we are delivering the services Canberrans expect.
“The Budget delivers on key commitments we made to Canberrans across our health system, with a generational investment in the Northside Hospital project, and new and expanded health services across our public health system targeting needs identified by clinicians and consumers.”
