ELIZABETH Lee will announce a $100 million policy to upgrade Canberra’s “neglected” suburbs at a Press Club lunch on Monday. 

In the speech, an outline of her vision for Canberra in the lead up to the 2024 ACT election, the Canberra Liberals leader will say, under this policy, every suburb in Canberra will be eligible for additional funding for local community projects that will directly benefit local residents, local neighbourhood areas and the local environment.

“This funding will be aimed at much needed community facilities that have for too long been
neglected under this Labor-Greens government,” will say in her speech.

“Our suburbs and neighbourhoods are the bedrock of our city. They are the places where we live,
where we bring up our children, where we socialise with friends and family, go to school and where
we come together as a community.

“It is in our suburbs, the heart of our community, where I start building my vision for a better
Canberra.”

The Putting Your Suburb First policy will allocate funding based on the number of households in each suburb, with a larger amount focussed on the bigger, older suburbs. Residents will be able to make a case for funding for their local neighbourhoods based on what they need.

“This policy recognises that each Canberra suburb is unique and it’s the people who live there that
know what their community needs. This policy will put the choice firmly in the hands of the
community on what they want to see in their own suburb.

“The ACT Labor-Greens government has neglected our suburbs for far too long and their own Better Suburbs program has been more smoke and mirrors as highlighted by the current sorry state of many of our suburbs.”

In her press club address Ms Lee will outline her priority areas which include:

• Investing in frontline workers.
• Creating a world-class health system.
• Developing a nation-leading education system.
• Providing genuine opportunities for home ownership.
• Making the city safer.
• Supporting small business, innovation and investment.
• Bringing the world’s best events to Canberra.
• Moving the city forward with a practical transport system.
• Looking after the environment and wildlife.
• Getting the basics right.

“In one-year Canberrans will have a choice between a fresh, energetic Liberal team that I lead, and
an arrogant, out of touch Labor-Greens government,” Ms Lee said.

“Canberra deserves a government that does not take the community for granted and a government
that will genuinely listen and govern in the best interests of the people that is serves.”