Attorney-General, Simon Corbell, introduced two bills that together increase the size of the assembly and allow for five members to be returned from each of five electorates at the 2016 ACT election increasing the size from the current 17 members representing three electorates.
“This is an important reform which will improve representative democracy and good governance for the people of Canberra,” Mr Corbell said. ‘These amendments are consistent with the findings of an expert reference group, chaired by the Electoral Commissioner, on the size of the Legislative Assembly.’ Mr Corbell added.
Mr Corbell pointed that the size of the assembly was originally set by the Commonwealth in the ACT Self-Government Act in 1988.
“Canberra has come a long way since self-government. We have grown as a population. Our Assembly is responsible for making laws for territory and local government functions. It has wider functions than parliaments in other states and the Northern Territory, none of which have fewer than 25 members.” Mr Corbell commented.