The ACT opposition has slammed Tuesday's budget for slugging Canberrans and diverting money from health and education to fund light rail.
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But other reaction was largely positive on Tuesday evening, with the ACT Council of Social Service supporting its overall direction, and Unions ACT welcoming job-creating investment in infrastructure, and substantial new funding for public health, hospitals, and domestic violence.
Accounting giant PricewaterhouseCoopers said the continued progress on the government's five-year tax plan was "pleasing to see", and the slashing of the deficit and return to surplus by 2018-19 was welcome.
The ACT Property Council welcomed the removal of stamp duty for commercial properties valued at less than $1.5 million, but was disappointed with the lack of change to the "underperforming" lease variation charge.
Executive director Merlin Kong also feared changes to the land-tax system would hit apartment investors with a four-fold increase in annual taxes.
Mr Kong also said the small increase in the threshold for payroll tax would benefit only 40 businesses.
"With respect to payroll tax, we would have liked to see a more earnest move to increase the threshold to a higher level," he said.
Unions ACT has welcomed the job-creating investment in infrastructure, and new funding for public health, hospitals, and domestic violence.
Restaurants and cafes welcomed the increase to the payroll tax threshold to $2 million, and funding for a marketing campaign to advertise Canberra across the country and world.
In delivering his fifth budget as treasurer, Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the government was on track to return to a modest surplus in 2018-19, even with the significant spend on light rail.
But Opposition Leader Jeremy Hanson questioned the government's ability to return to surplus in 2018-19, something he described as "very unlikely".
"The reality is that Andrew Barr, since he's been the treasurer, has never delivered a surplus," Mr Hanson said.
"It always seems that he can forecast a surplus down the track, but never deliver one," he said.
The opposition continues to gear up for a fight over light rail at the October election, a project it estimates will cost $1.65 billion for the first stage.
The government's figure is $939 million in today's money for the 20-year project. In responding to the budget on Tuesday, Mr Hanson attacked the government's hike in rates for unit owners, who will pay 20 per cent more in rates in 2017-18.
He described that decision as "extraordinary".
"Fundamentally, it's very clear that this budget is all about the tram," he said.
"This is the start of the expense of $1.65 billion under this government for light rail.
"The reality is that if this government is re-elected in October, it's going to suck all the money out of health and education, we're going to see our rates continue to increase."
The government used its budget to announce a $20 million record new spend on family violence, which will be funded by a levy of $30 per household this year.
Mr Hanson said such a package should be a normal act of government, and should not require a new levy to be introduced.
"The decision to raise this as a levy, I think, is really indicative of where this government's head is at, and this is it's just trying to find money from wherever it can to pay for its tram," he said.
ACT Council of Social Service director Susan Helyar welcomed the budget, praising in particular funding for education initiatives for those with a disability, and drug and alcohol, trauma and mental health services.
Ms Helyar said the investment in new buses was welcomed, as were measures to improve the equality of access to critical infrastructure for those with a disability.
She said changes to the concession scheme were modest, particularly given the fears within the sector that the government was looking to glean savings in that area.
"We support the overall direction of the budget, and we think that the investments that have been made should help to turn off the tap on increasing vulnerability and increasing inequality," she said.
The ACT Council of Parents & Citizens Associations applauding new money for schools, including the $21.5 million for children with complex needs and challenging behaviours.
"Parents and schools will be relieved to have extra specialists, such as psychologists, available to help," vice-president Viv Pearce said.
