Anger over Abbott comment on moving jobs outside Canberra

On Monday, Mr Abbott said during an interview with a Geelong radio station that as many federal public jobs as reasonably possible should be located outside Canberra.

Labor MLA Chris Bourke will move a motion in the Assembly on Wednesday asking Speaker Vicki Dunne to write to Mr Abbott about his comments.

Mr Abbott would be asked to: “Respond in writing to the Assembly on his intentions on the federal public service including any current plans to relocate departments, agencies or other Canberra based entities outside of the ACT’’.

He would also be asked to endorse a statement of commitment to the national capital signed by the federal government in 2012.

The statement included a “commitment for Canberra remaining the heart of the Australian Public Service and the primary location of government department and agencies’’.

Chief Minister Katy Gallagher said Mr Abbott should make clear before the election what commitment he had for Canberra.

“He needs to make it clear on that: what is his commitment to Canberra, what his commitment is to the public service and any plans he has to move agencies and departments out of Canberra,’’ she said.

“I don’t think you can just have these little asides – because these asides to media and journalists are actually [about] people’s livelihoods. And it’s not just public servants, it’s small business operators in this town as well.’’