Call for public service office block proposals 'sneaky': ACT Opposition

ABC An artist's impression of the ACT Government office building originally proposed in 2011.

The Canberra Liberals have accused the ACT Government of "sneaking" plans for a new public service office block in Civic back onto public agenda.

ACT Minister for Economic Development Andrew Barr has today called for expressions of interest from the private sector for the construction of a new office building and the renewal of existing office space in the city.

To be considered, the accommodation must be within 10 minutes walking distance of the ACT Legislative Assembly and provide 40,000 square metres of office space.

Opposition spokesman for economic development Brendan Smyth said the ACT Government had been "quite sneaky" in bringing their plan for a new office block back into the public realm.

In 2010 the ACT Government spruiked plans to build a new office block in Civic worth $430 million - a move which was criticised by some in the property sector for ignoring existing office accommodation options.

But funds earmarked for the building were diverted to public health infrastructure in early 2012. At the time, Treasurer Andrew Barr said the new office block would go ahead, but in partnership with the private sector.

Mr Smyth has questioned why the ACT Government chose to make the plan public just a couple of days after the final hearings of the ACT's Select Committee on Estimates.

"You have to first question why none of this was mentioned by the Government in the budget papers," he said.

"This is clearly a big undertaking and it can only be seen as a cynical attempt to avoid scrutiny."

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Call for public service office block proposals 'sneaky': ACT Opposition