A.C.T. Government Facing Defeat Over Soccer Stadium Fiasco

The Liberal Government of the Australian Captial Territory is expected to be thrown out of office in the coming week. Chief Minister Kate Carnell will face a no-confidence motion in the House of Assembly on Tuesday.

Following the announcement of withdrawal of support by independent member, David Rugendyke, the 5-year-old government appears to be heading for certain defeat.

The government has been hit hard by a recent report outlining unlawful spending of $24 million on the redevelopment of the $45 million Bruce stadium. Disclosure of an unauthorised $9.7 million overnight loan from the Commonwealth Bank, used to balance the government's books, appears to have been the final straw in an ongoing saga.

Parliamentary approval of spending and loan-raising measures is a fundamental element of the Westminster parliamentary system.

The ACT Legislative Assembly has 17 members. Both the ALP and Liberal Party have 6 seats each. The balance of power is held by 3 independents. There is one Green member and one representative of the United Canberra Party.

The government appears to have been brought undone by an autocratic "can-do" mentality by Carnell which has resulted in sloppy administration and lack of attention to legal, administrative and parliamentary detail.

• Carnell faces the boot over soccer stadium fiasco

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