Canberra Liberals Leader Mark Parton MLA and Ed Cocks MLA introduced a co-sponsored motion seeking to condemn Senator Katy Gallgher for her failure to waive the ACT’s historic housing debt to the Commonwealth Government, which is currently worth $66 million.
While expressing some reservations about targeting individuals, Thomas spoke in support of the motion, highlighting that Senator Gallagher had pushed for the debt to be waived from opposition but failed to waive it during her time in government, resulting in a significant detrimental impact on Canberrans.
ACT Labor moved amendments to acknowledge that the Albanese Government has provided unprecedented funding for social and affordable housing to states and territories and that the Commonwealth has also set record housing targets. This amendment was supported, but an additional amendment seeking to remove condemnation of Senator Gallagher and replace it with a call on the Commonwealth Government to waive the ACT’s historic housing debt was opposed by Thomas, the Canberra Liberals and the ACT Greens. Thomas opposed this amendment on the grounds that it watered down the motion and because multiple unsuccessful calls on the Commonwealth to waive the debt had been made over many years.
The ACT Greens moved an amendment broadening the condemnation of Senator Gallagher to include her ACT Labor colleagues in the House of Representatives. This amendment was supported by Thomas and the Canberra Liberals, passing the Assembly despite opposition from ACT Labor.