- Elections ACT
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- Review into the size of the ACT Legislative Assembly
Review into the size of the ACT Legislative Assembly
Links to items on this page:
- Final report into the size of the ACT Legislative Assembly
- Expert reference group
- Terms of reference for the inquiry
- Discussion paper
- Public submissions
- Resources
Final report into the size of the ACT Legislative Assembly
The final report prepared by the Expert Reference Group on the size of the ACT Legislative Assembly was presented to the ACT Chief Minister on 28 March 2013. The Chief Minister publicly released the report on 16 April 2013.
Expert Reference Group
The ACT Chief Minister, Ms Katy Gallagher MLA, has appointed an Expert Reference Group to conduct a review into the size of the ACT Legislative Assembly. The Expert Reference Group has been asked to engage the community to examine if a change to the size of the Assembly is a way of meeting the needs of the ACT’s growing population.
The members of the Expert Reference Group are:
- Mr Phillip Green, ACT Electoral Commissioner (chair)
- Ms Anne Cahill Lambert, AM
- Emeritus Professor Meredith Edwards, AM
- Mr John Hindmarsh, AM
- Ms Louise Taylor
The Expert Reference Group has published a discussion paper and is seeking the views of the citizens of the ACT on the appropriate size of the Legislative Assembly of the ACT.
Key questions for this inquiry are:
- Is there a sufficient case to increase the size of the ACT Legislative Assembly?
- If so, what size should the Assembly be?
Public submissions to this inquiry were invited. The closing date for submissions was 1 March 2013.
Terms of reference for the inquiry
The Chief Minister, Katy Gallagher MLA, has specified the following terms of reference for this review into the size of the ACT Legislative Assembly:
The Chief Minister is establishing a review of the size of the ACT Legislative Assembly. This review will include the number of electorates and the number of members for each electorate.
A five member Expert Reference Group has been established to consider and report on these Terms of Reference.
In conducting the Review, the Expert Reference Group will:
- examine past reviews into the size of the Assembly;
- consider factors relevant to increasing the size of the Assembly;
- consider any limitations placed on changes to the size of the Assembly by the Proportional Representation (Hare-Clark) Entrenchment Act 1994; and
- recommend options for increasing the size of the Assembly, including the number of electorates and the number of members for each electorate.
In conducting the Review, the Expert Reference Group will undertake community consultation and provide an opportunity for making submissions.
Secretariat support for the review will be provided by Chief Minister and Treasury Directorate.
The Expert Reference Group is to report back to the Chief Minister by 31 March 2013.
Discussion paper
The Expert Reference Group has published a discussion paper to assist members of the public interested in making a written submission to the review of the size of the ACT Legislative Assembly. It provides information on issues relevant to determining whether the number of Members of the Legislative Assembly should be increased.
Public submissions
The Expert Reference Group sought public submissions in relation to this inquiry. Closing date for submissions was 1 March 2013. The following submissions were received.
- Meg Blackman - 18 January 2013
- Llois Cutts - 18 January 2013
- Ken Maher - 18 January 2013
- John Trueman - 18 January 2013
- James Walker - 18 January 2013
- Sheila Waterman - 18 January 2013
- Gosta Lynga - 21 January 2013
- Gary Richardson - 21 January 2013
- Abu Chowdhury - 22 January 2013
- Chris Ansted - 30 January 2013
- Greg Cornwell - 30 January 2013
- Corinne Appleby - 4 February 2013
- Martin Gordon - 5 February 2013
- George Williams - 18 February 2013
- John Warhurst - 19 February 2013
- Bruce Pollock - 21 February 2013
- Mirjina McDowall - 21 February 2013
- Kate Kelly - 23 February 2013
- Harry Evans - 24 February 2013
- Ewan Letts - 25 February 2013
- Keith Helyar - 25 February 2013
- Ted Quinlan - 25 February 2013
- Greg Hutchison - 25 February 2013
- RJ Salmond - 25 February 2013
- Robyn Coghlan - 26 February 2013
- YWCA - 27 February 2013
- Weston creek community council - 27 February 2013
- Andrew Leigh - 28 February 2013
- Timothy Walshaw - 28 February 2013
- William Reid - 28 February 2013
- Woden Valley Community Council - 28 February 2013
- United voice - 1 March 2013
- Property Council of Australia - 1 March 2013
- Ken Doyle - 1 March 2013
- Logan McLennan - 1 March 2013
- ACT Labor - 1 March 2013
- Simon Fisk - 1 March 2013
- Marian Sawer - 1 March 2013
- Christopher Warren - 1 March 2013
- Simon Hearder - 1 March 2013
- ACT Greens - 1 March 2013
- North Canberra Community Council - 1 March 2013
- Canberra Business Council - 1 March 2013
- Caroline Le Couteur - 1 March 2013
- Gungahlin Community Council - 1 March 2013
- Alan Duus - 1 March 2013
- Proportional Representation Society of Australia - 2 March 2013
- Robert and Wendy Altamore - 3 March 2013
- Inner South Canberra Community Council - 4 March 2013
- Labor Members - 4 March 2013
- Stephen Wallace - 4 March 2013
If you wish to make a submission but you do not want your submission to be made public, please specify this in your submission or in a covering letter.
Resources
The following resources may assist people wishing to make submissions to the inquiry into the size of the ACT Legislative Assembly.
Hawke, Allan, Governing the City State: One ACT Government—One ACT Public Service (2011)