Liberal MLAs Deborah Morris and James Milligan introduced a motion to the Assembly calling on the Government to table an investment plan for the $16.265 million that was budgeted for the now-scrapped Tuggeranong Ice Rink, and to ensure all of this funding would go to new projects, not projects that have already been promised.
Labor introduced an amendment that removed a line from the motion condemning the Government for failing to follow through on its election commitment, and replaced it with a note that the proposed rink was shelved because it did not represent value for money for the Territory. This was opposed by all non-Labor MLAs. Labor moved an additional amendment that extended the deadline to table the $16.265 million investment plan from October 2026 to February 2027, which was supported unanimously by the Assembly.
The Greens moved an additional amendment that called for the Tuggeranong community to be meaningfully consulted on the allocation of the $16.265 million, and for the ACT Government to work with the owners of the Phillip Ice Rink to ensure it remains operational, and to develop a plan for the future of ice sports facilities in the ACT. This was agreed to unanimously.
Thomas spoke in support of the motion, highlighting multiple examples of the ACT Government making promises regarding new infrastructure before doing sufficient due diligence around site constraints. He cited a recent case of the Canberra Aquatic Centre site, where the Government has indicated the site may not be suitable for a deep-water dive pool, and the planned Home of Football at Throsby which Capital Football withdrew funding for after it became clear the project could not be delivered on the proposed site with the level of funding provided.
The motion, as amended, passed with unanimous support.