Capital investment, Albanese to rev up Canberra with new investment framework with the ACT

The Prime Minister announced the National Capital Investment Framework with the ACT government in a keynote speech to the ACT Labor conference on Saturday, outlining an agreement to collaborate more closely on economic development.

There is little initial detail about the new framework but it is understood it seeks to address community concern about decades of under-investment in ACT infrastructure.

Mr Albanese said he was proud to announce the federal government would work alongside the ACT government to create the investment framework.

"This is about us working together to create new jobs, build new infrastructure and ensure that Australia's capital is as modern, vibrant and strong as the nation it serves," he said.

In a rev up for the party faithful, Mr Albanese slammed the Coalition over a long list of "no" positions and for allowing buckets to be used for water leaks at cash-starved national collecting institutions.

"They don't respect the public service - or public institutions," he said.

"There's a theme here - they just don't like the public."

Chief Minister Andrew Barr told the conference the investment framework would build on work already under way between the territory and the Commonwealth.

"It demonstrates the value of Labor governments at both territory and federal levels, working together for the benefit of our community," he said.

"And it recognises the ACT's right to self-determination and capacity to make its own laws, and conduct its parliamentary processes without interference."

Mr Barr said the framework provided "overdue recognition of Canberra's unique role as the national capital".

"It will assist the territory government to deliver the infrastructure projects that our growing city needs," Mr Barr said.

Project funding from the Commonwealth has already been earmarked for a new major sporting arena, an expanded light rail network, new bridges and roads, Mr Barr will say, while the economy would also benefit from improved funding for national cultural institutions and a national security precinct in the parliamentary triangle.

Mr Albanese told Labor members that, in a change from the previous Coalition government, he was keen on a more constructive approach to working with the territory government.

"As our national capital, it is tasked with gathering together all the diverse threads of our national history, our national democracy and our national identity," he said in a speech seen by The Canberra Times.

"Canberra has the responsibility, as John Curtin said when he opened the Australian War Memorial, to be the 'sanctuary of Australia's traditions'. But also to educate and inspire future generations."

"This is where Canberra belongs to all Australians, which is why our Government is investing in Canberra's future."

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Every jurisdiction except the ACT has a city deal to leverage Commonwealth funding or private investment for infrastructure projects such as stadiums.

In April, independent senator David Pocock got community and business backing for a possible investment-driving city deal or partnership for the national capital region, but there has been no further movement.

Mr Albanese lauded Canberra as his "home away from home" for most of his working life, noting the city was different to every other Australian city and deserving of more.

But the Prime Minister saved his ire for the disgrace of the robodebt scandal, saying the unlawful, "crude and cruel" debt recovery scheme would "stand forever as one of the worst policy failures by any Australian government".

Mr Albanese blamed the robodebt's existence on a decade "trying to hollow-out the public service" while outsourcing to private consultants.

"The robodebt scheme was the inevitable consequence of a Liberal government fixated on cutting the humans out of human services and ripping the social justice out of social services," Mr Albanese said.

"Robodebt was wrong, it was illegal, it should never have happened - and friends, we will make sure it never happens again. Because we are a government that respects the public service as an honourable profession."

Mr Barr said the federal government now respected the values and role of the public service.

"With two Labor governments here in the ACT, now is the time for us to continue delivering more for the people who we represent," he said.

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