The ACT's politicians have lined up to criticise what they see as a litany of fiscal troubles in a long and winding Legislative Assembly debate on spending, but the government still managed to get its $9.5 billion budget through.
The passage of the appropriation bills on Thursday confirmed the ACT government would live to see another day, despite now operating without a formal deal with the Greens that had offered a paper guarantee of supply.
On Wednesday, the Legislative Assembly sat until 10.32pm - the latest sitting in more than 12 years - to debate the detail of the government's appropriation bill, the first since the Liberals and Greens talked about forming government at the start of the year.
The Greens and independent MLAs Fiona Carrick and Thomas Emerson voted with Labor to pass the budget. The Liberals and independent MLA Leanne Castley, who quit the Liberals earlier this year, voted against it.
Ed Cocks, the opposition's treasury spokesman, said a vote for the budget was a vote for Labor-led decline.
"The Canberra Liberals can't vote for this budget because it continues to send Canberra backward, and it continues to put Labor's political interests ahead of the best interests of our community, both today and into the future," Mr Cocks said.
Treasurer Chris Steel said the budget was handed down in a time of unprecedented scrutiny on the territory's finances, which he welcomed.
"With a better budget position and lower than forecast net debt, the government is delivering responsible and responsive fiscal management," Mr Steel said.
"Delivery against our fiscal strategy has been recognised through our credit rating. Standard & Poor's Global has confirmed the long-term credit rating for the Australian Capital Territory as AA with a stable outlook, reflecting continued confidence in the ACT's overall creditworthiness and financial resilience."
Greens leader Jo Clay was critical of the government spending $700,000 to underwrite low ticket sales in its existing theatre centre while it was building a new theatre, and questioned how the government was directing its money while local services were under pressure.
"There are lots of services that really matter to Canberrans that are being reduced, cut or not increased to meet our population needs. So these amounts of money that are coming out in the Treasurer's Advance are concerning," Ms Clay said.
While the Greens walked away from talks with Labor to strike a new supply-and-confidence agreement, Ms Clay had assured the government they would still pass the budget.
Ms Carrick supported the budget despite telling the Assembly she believed it was "already stretched", at risk of further global economic shocks and did not invest enough in efforts to attract people or investment to the Woden town centre.
"While it is nice to have another theatre, the fourth one in a row, a new convention centre and a new entertainment centre [in the city centre], there needs to be a balance with the social infrastructure our residents need in the districts," Ms Carrick said.
The budget also needed a "credible long-term plan" for public housing with clear improvement targets for tenants' experience in the system.
Mr Emerson, who has an agreement with Labor to guarantee supply, criticised the delay to the Kingston Arts Precinct, announced as part of a plan to save $700 million by delaying infrastructure spending, was critical of a low cap on the government's rates rebate scheme for pensioners and pointed to long wait lists for public housing.
