THE Liberal opposition claims the ACT government has “significantly” underspent on a number of health infrastructure projects across the territory.

Shadow Health Minister Leanne Castley says figures from the 2021-22 Capital Works Program show $60.4 million was allocated for Canberra Health Services projects last financial year, but only $46.4 million was spent.

“That’s an underspend of $14 million,” says Shadow Health Minister Leanne Castley.

Castley says the underspend has affected eight major health projects including upgrades to the Canberra Hospital, and expanded pharmacy and medical imaging services.

“Our health system is at breaking point and it is astounding to see the Labor-Greens government failing to spend money it has allocated to important projects that are well behind schedule,” she says.

She says the ACT government has a “history of underspending in health”.

“Figures from June 30 2021 reveal almost one third of the $78.2 million promised health funding was not spent, resulting in an underspend of over $25 million on critical health projects,” she says.

“The Health Minister has an appalling track record of underspending tens of millions of vital health dollars year after year.”