The Interest Bill
Is Ticking.

Canberra Deserves
A Responsible Budget.

ACT borrowings are rising. Interest costs are climbing. The longer we wait, the harder it becomes to protect the services Canberrans rely on.

Interest Costs Canberra
$2.3M
Every Day
From 1 July 2026  ·  $836.0M in 2026–27
ACT Debt Clock Source: 2026–27 Budget Outlook (Tables 3.8.8, 3.8.9, F.1). Released June 2026.
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Total Territory Borrowings
$14,989,920,000
Total Territory Borrowings
In 2025–26  Live
$23.62B by 2028–29
📊
Total Territory Net Debt
$13,068,000,000
Net Debt (Total Territory)
In 2025–26  Live
$16.77B by 2028–29
Total Interest This Term of Government
$0
Total Territory Interest
Since the 19 Oct 2024 election  Live
Accruing at $1.80M / day in 2025–26
In 2026–27, interest will cost Canberra $836 million. That’s:
📅
$2.29M
Per Day
🕐
$95,439
Per Hour
$1,591
Per Minute
$26.51
Per Second
Interest costs even more tomorrow. Every second we wait adds to the burden.
What Does This Mean for Canberra?
👥

Services Under Pressure

More spent on interest means less for hospitals, schools, police, roads, housing and cost-of-living relief.

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Debt Rising Faster Than Most Realise

Total Territory borrowings are forecast to rise by $6.5 billion between 2025–26 and 2028–29.

💰

Higher Interest = Less Flexibility

It's harder to respond to shocks and invest in the priorities that matter most when debt costs dominate.

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100% Passed to the Next Generation

None of this debt is being paid down today. Every dollar — and the interest on it — is handed to young Canberrans and future generations to repay.

Interest Expense — History & Forecast

($ Million, Total Territory) — Actuals: audited CAFS 2010–11 to 2024–25  ·  Forecast: 2026–27 Budget Outlook
⚡ Total Territory interest expense has risen from $83M in 2010–11 to a forecast $1.233B in 2029–30 — almost a fifteen-fold increase, and overtakes $1B a year from 2028–29.
Net Debt Trajectory Net Debt ($B, Total Territory) — Actuals: audited CAFS 2010–11 to 2024–25  ·  Forecast: 2026–27 Budget Outlook (Table E.2)
⚡ Total Territory net debt has grown from $91M in 2010–11 to $11.2B in 2024–25, and is forecast to reach $17.3B by 2029–30. That's a near-190-fold increase across the series — debt has roughly doubled every four to five years.

The Path Can Change

Debt is not destiny. Budget discipline can change the path.

✓ Honest Budgeting

Clear reporting, no hidden costs, no shifting figures between years to obscure the real position.

✓ Disciplined Spending

Prioritise essential services, maintain what we have, and test major projects properly before committing.

✓ A Credible Path Back to Sustainability

Set measurable fiscal targets and report progress publicly, with real accountability.

Canberra Can Do Better.

Join the campaign for honest budgeting, disciplined spending, and a credible path back to sustainability.

Join the Campaign
Take Action