A larger Assembly - do more MLAs make for better government?

Hosted in partnership with the Canberra Alliance for Participatory Democracy as part of the Reimagining Governance for the ACT public event series

The ACT has long had the least democratic representation per capita in Australia. Its tight Assembly works comparatively well, together with friendships still forming across the aisle, with relatively good governance taking place. However, as ministerial responsibility has expanded and national trends of polarisation and lack of transparency have taken hold in Canberra, one long-advocated for suggestion is to increase the number of Members of the Legislative Assembly.

This event will explore the history of parliamentary expansions, benefits and drawbacks, and opportunities to encourage the ACT and Commonwealth Governments to agree that more representation could lead to better democracy and better government - bearing in mind the current Inquiry into electoral representation in the ACT.

In recent events in the Re-Imagining Governance for the ACT series, Canberrans' suggestions to enable MLAs to better manage portfolio workloads included:

- introducing new electorates of 5 members, equal to existing electorates

- adding additional members to the existing electorates

- creating an upper house for the ACT, akin to other states and territories

- creating local government councils, and

- creating a standing Citizens' Assembly for the ACT.

This is an opportunity to shape the future of governance in the ACT.

Speakers:

Brodie Knox, public servant and community volunteer, passionate about democratic reform

Bill Browne, Director of The Australia Institute’s Democracy & Accountability Program

A small donation would be appreciated to cover printing, stationery and the occasional room hire as we are a small unfunded community group.