ACT government staff could need to forego pay rises for four years if the Liberals win office in October, under a scenario unions have prepared to highlight the cost of opposition policies.
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The alternatives, UnionsACT says, would be to sack 1000 to 1200 public servants, severely cut community services or plunge further into deficit.
The peak body commissioned economist Angela Jackson, a former federal Labor adviser, to analyse the costs of Liberal policy statements and commitments, after the Barr government published its own analysis earlier this month.
Ms Jackson estimated the policy changes would cost at least $404 million over the four-year budget cycle, and potentially as much as $497 million.
She prepared her analysis before the Liberals pledged last week to spend $395 million expanding the Canberra Hospital.
However, opposition treasury spokesman Alistair Coe dismissed the findings as inaccurate "spin from UnionsACT, because it's clear that they're doing Labor's bidding".
The Liberals have committed to returning the budget to surplus before the Barr government's projection of 2018-19, but are yet to release a savings plan.
The opposition's greatest expense, Ms Jackson found, was its commitment to scrap the government's light-rail contract. That decision, even accounting for offsetting savings, would cost $217 million to $235 million.
Other significant costs included an expanded rapid bus network ($70 million), 60 extra beds at Calvary public hospital ($36 million) and a board of inquiry into the Mr Fluffy asbestos debacle ($34 million).
UnionsACT secretary Alex White said he commissioned the analysis in the absence of information from the opposition.
"It is time for the Canberra Liberals to explain to the public how they plan to fund their election promises," he said.
"If [Opposition Leader Jeremy] Hanson and Mr Coe dispute these figures, they must provide their own detailed costings to the public.
"The cost of Mr Hanson's promises to public sector workers, such as nurses, teachers and other public servants is uncertainty. Are jobs at risk? Will wages and superannuation be frozen?"
Mr Coe said the Liberals would submit their policies to the Treasury for costing, a process which had not yet begun.
"It's a shame that UnionsACT has been silent on Andrew Barr's unfair rates increases, which are driving up the cost of living, including rent, and are particularly hard-hitting on families with low incomes," Mr Coe said.
"The Canberra Liberals are proud of our policy of more nurses and doctors at an expanded Canberra Hospital, restoring the funding Labor cut from the police, establishing eight rapid bus routes across Canberra, more support for students with special needs, and more."
