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Sunday, October 11, 2026 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Calls grow for ACT governance rethink

The ACT Legislative Assembly. Photo: Paul Costigan

A community group is launching a series of public forums and workshops examining whether the ACT’s system of government needs reform, arguing there is growing dissatisfaction with the way the Territory is governed.

The Canberra Alliance for Participatory Democracy (CAPaD), together with Active Democracy Bean, will host the five-part Re-imagining Governance for the ACT series across winter and spring.

CAPaD convener Peter Tait said the initiative was prompted by a sense among some Canberrans that the Territory’s political system requires renewal.

“The feeling among Canberrans is that the ACT government is tired and there needs to be renewal,” Mr Tait said.

“This may go beyond just changing parties, to thinking about how we might change how our government actually works. What would a government that really works for Canberrans and nature look like?”

The series will explore the operation of the ACT Legislative Assembly, the role of community councils, whether increasing the number of MLAs would improve government, and the potential establishment of a standing citizens’ assembly.

The first event, Reimagining How the ACT Assembly Might Work: Looking Back, Looking Forward, will be held at the Canberra Irish Club in Weston on June 15. Former ACT political leaders including Gary Humphries, Michael Moore and Caroline Le Couteur are scheduled to take part, with former chief minister Kate Carnell also invited.

A second event on June 28 will bring community members together for a co-design workshop aimed at developing proposals for democratic and governance reform.

Between the two June events, CAPaD will run an online Pol.is poll to gather public ideas and feedback on possible reforms.

The remaining events are scheduled for August, October and November, focusing on community councils, the size of the Legislative Assembly and citizens’ assemblies.

Information about the events, registrations and the online poll is available through the CAPaD website.

 

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One Response to Calls grow for ACT governance rethink

Ian Meikle says: 6 June 2026 at 3:48 pm

CLIVE WILLIAMS writes “Canberrans deserve better governance. After more than two decades in power, the ACT Labor Government has become arrogant and complacent.
“Public concerns about major spending and service failures often meet with minimal response from Chief Minister Barr and his ministers.
“Residents regularly raise legitimate concerns about the Territory’s growing budget deficits, value of the light rail project, prolonged closure of Big Splash, annual kangaroo slaughter, train service to Sydney, condition of public swimming pools, questionable development deals, etc.
“They seldom seem to attract a government response. This is not how a healthy democracy should work. Long-term one-party dominance in the ACT Legislative Assembly has dulled accountability.
“Since self-government in 1988, federal intervention in governance has been possible, but only in exceptional cases — and remains politically unlikely. So what can ACT residents do when the government appears to be asleep at the wheel?
“Practical options are limited to public pressure through advocacy, media scrutiny, community campaigns, and — ultimately — the ballot box. Unfortunately, the next election is still over two years away. Obviously, most of the current MLAs will need to lift their game considerably if they hope to earn re-election on 21 October 2028.”

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