The 2026-27 ACT budget will fund a package of initiatives to boost vital public health services to support the territory’s health workforce.

The investments include:

• $23.4 million dollars to operate the new Acute Palliative Care Unit at Canberra Hospital, with construction expected to be finished by December this year.
• An injection of $8.2 million to expand the Canberra Hospital Paediatric Fracture Clinic and establish a dedicated paediatric orthopaedic service, improving care closer to home for children with bone and soft tissue conditions.
• Investing $12.1 million to increase lung cancer specialist services, including the rapid access lung cancer clinic, supporting delivery of the National Lung Cancer Screening Program and enabling earlier detection.
• $3.9 million to go towards providing better access to specialised life-saving screening, treatment and support services at North Canberra Hospital for people at higher risk of breast cancer.

Minister for Health, Rachel Stephen-Smith, says this budget improves access to health care and supports better experiences for patients and staff.