The Chief Minister has defended the release of indicative costs for possible stadium projects in Canberra while the price for other projects, including light rail, remain under wraps.
Andrew Barr was challenged in the Legislative Assembly over the government's release of the figures, which showed the actual cost of delivering a new stadium in the ACT was above $1 billion and could be as much as $2.9 billion if the government went ahead with a Civic project.
"Different projects at different stages of development will have different costings or cost estimates," Mr Barr said.
"We have been clear in relation to each of the infrastructure projects and indicative cost, but we won't be signalling a final cost to the market ahead of procurement."
The ACT government has persistently declined to release the price of extending light rail from Commonwealth Park to Woden because they say it would prime the market before a competitive tender process.
Mr Barr also rejected the criticism of the stadium price estimates, which had been condemned by the Canberra Liberals, independent senator David Pocock and had been met with surprise by the Canberra Raiders and Brumbies.
The Liberals' Peter Cain asked whether Mr Barr would seek a refund from WT Partnerships, who completed the costing assessment for the ACT government, given the "widespread criticism and even ridicule".
Mr Barr said: "Well, look, I would take their advice over anything the Canberra Liberals have to say about infrastructure."
The Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate commissioned the 20-page report in September 2023 at a cost of $30,525.
The report estimated construction costs for a new stadium at Bruce, a knockdown rebuild of the existing Canberra Stadium or a new stadium on the Civic Olympic pool site.
The 20-page report prepared by WTP Australia showed the cost of building the new stadium at the Civic pool site was between $364 million and $557 million.
However, precinct works, a multi-storey car park, changes to Parkes Way and other contingencies to deliver the project contributed to the more than $2 billion estimates for a city stadium.
"The government is not pursuing a $2.9 billion outcome," Mr Barr said.
