ACT Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee will highlight the importance of bringing back interstate and international students to Canberra as a key area to reviving the territory's economy post-lockdown.
Ms Lee will say the ACT government should work with the federal government in a range of areas, including infrastructure and the return of international students, in her budget reply speech on Friday.
The Opposition Leader will also use the speech to criticise the ACT government over a lack of further business support in the 2021-22 budget.
"This lockdown and the incursion of Delta has exposed once again Labor and the Greens' arrogant and complacent governance of our territory over the last 20 years," Ms Lee will say.
"Despite the efforts of the community and our hardworking frontline workers, the lockdown and its economic fallout will leave lasting consequences on business, on families and on vulnerable Canberrans."
Speaking on Thursday, Ms Lee was scathing of the budget, which she labelled a "band-aid" that she claimed outlined very few new projects.
"This is a government that is very good at spin. It knows how to market things and package announcements that are actually old money," she said.
In Friday's budget speech, Ms Lee will point to four areas that she believes are key to the post-pandemic economic recovery. These include a boost to local businesses, getting children back to the classroom safely and jobs for local tradespeople.
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She will also call on the territory government to work with the Commonwealth and universities on bringing back international students.
"Canberra is the knowledge capital of Australia and we can be the knowledge capital of the world," she said.
"We must work with the Commonwealth government, our universities and the tertiary education sector on a plan to get international students back to our city as soon as we can safely do so.
"Not only do our international students support our university and tertiary and vocational education sectors, they also bring a richness of their culture, language and voice - making our city more vibrant, more dynamic."
