To be frank, there is a difference between those who just want a WAY INTO Australia and those who commit and think about giving it a go in a state. We are the latter ones, but personally I know people, who got their visas through ACT but went straight to Victoria or NSW.
We have asked for release alternatively, but we are still in ACT after 14 month. We are still trying to make it work but it is very hard. Doing casual jobs here an there slows our resource consumption but will not make it stop. With no outlook for a full time job, we have no other options but to try our luck elsewhere- eventually. Holiday season coming up made us to wait a bit.
Regardless, that is a bit of piss off when people ask for a decision to be released without giving it a go. But, Quoll, it is the ACT government's fault that they fall short of attracting manufacturing (or private companies) to come to the territory. Canberra has the potential to become the Silicon Valley of Australia, but all the government cares about is getting another retail store open (IKEA).
Hard to sustain and grow an economy if the money is artificially injected into an area.