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'Canberra bashing has to stop': ACT Chief Minister

Friday, 12 Feb 2016 05:02:27 | James Fettes

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr has lashed out at a series of Federal Government funding cuts and the relocation of public service jobs away from the capital.

In a strongly worded letter to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Mr Barr called for a stop to funding cuts such as those imposed on Canberra's national institutions.

It was revealed on Thursday that several of the nation's top institutions, including the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery, were facing $20 million cuts from the Government's efficiency dividend.

The funding will be stripped from the six Canberra institutions over the next four years, with job losses and cuts to exhibitions on the cards.

And on Wednesday, the Federal Government announced three research bodies were set to be relocated to regional centres, leaving only a small presence in Canberra.

In response, Mr Barr said the "ideologically driven Canberra bashing" had to stop.

"The Prime Minister should honour his predecessor's commitment to stop cutting our city," Mr Barr said.

"Canberra-based national institutions are not a political plaything and I have written to the Prime Minister to remind him of his obligations to the Canberra community."

"It is concerning that in the space of a few days, our national institutions have come under attack, government research jobs have been ripped out of Canberra and heads of departments are threatening to move senior roles to other cities."

Mr Barr said he was working to diversify Canberra's economy, but cuts would make that job more challenging.

"I have asked the Prime Minister for a fair go for Canberra," he said.

"Any other Australian city would get hundreds of millions in federal assistance if their major employer cut jobs like this."

Mr Turnbull's office said it was unable to comment until it had received the letter.

AustraliaPlus


 

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