The Labor Party is unlikely to use the change of leadership to walk away from its major commitments to build a light rail line down Northbourne Avenue or buy back asbestos contaminated homes, despite a budget in tatters.
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Political experts were united in their view on Friday that there would be no major policy shift under an Andrew Barr-led ACT government, despite growing financial pressures caused by the massive hole left in the budget by the Mr Fluffy asbestos house buyback plan.
Australian National University political scientist John Warhurst said the political cost of a major change such as delaying or scrapping light rail would be too great.
"If they had a mind to do that this would certainly create an opportunity to do that, you are cut a bit of slack when you come into a role like that and Andrew Barr, assuming he becomes Chief Minister, will enjoy a bit of a honeymoon period," Professor Warhurst said.
"But they've got too much invested in it to back out completely. As a Treasurer Andrew Barr would be well aware of where things are up to and he wouldn't be able to come in and say he was somehow unaware that things were that bad."
Professor Warhurst said Mr Barr would have an opportunity in the lead-up to the next election to make major policy changes.
Visiting Fellow at the Crawford School of Public Policy Norman Abjorensen agreed, saying the Gallagher government had been remarkably unified and was unlikely to make major changes with a new leader.
"I would say they are pretty much locked in for now." Mr Abjorensen said. "Everyone has their own pet projects in the bottom drawer, so we can expect to see those come out in due course, but I don't know there's much they will want to do in the short term, and the state of the budget will probably stop them from making too many major new commitments in any case."
