A proposal to abandon the Westminster system of government in the ACT and replace it with a “government of territory unity” model has emerged from a public forum examining the future of self-government in Canberra.

About 100 people attended a panel discussion at the Irish Club on Monday night, where former ACT political leaders Bernard Collaery, Gary Humphries, Michael Moore and Caroline Le Couteur reflected on their original visions for self-government and how the territory’s governance could be improved.

Among the ideas canvassed was replacing the traditional Westminster model with a system where all MLAs would collectively debate and develop policy, with the Legislative Assembly selecting ministers based on skills and merit rather than party affiliation.

Other proposals included dismantling the ACT’s directorate structure so departments report directly to ministers rather than the chief minister’s officials, ending strict cabinet and party solidarity rules to allow MLAs to cross the floor without penalty, and establishing a standing citizens’ assembly made up of randomly selected residents.

Participants also discussed increasing the number of MLAs in the Assembly, noting comparisons between the ACT’s population and parliamentary representation and that of Tasmania.

The forum was the first event in a broader community-led discussion being organised by the Canberra Alliance for Participatory Democracy (CAPaD) and Active Democracy Bean.

CAPaD convener Peter Tait said the group wanted to hear more community views on how the Assembly and government could be strengthened.

An online poll seeking feedback on governance reforms will run from June 16 to June 24, ahead of a community co-design workshop scheduled for June 28 at the Woden Valley Uniting Church in Curtin.

The workshop will consider proposals generated through the poll and develop recommendations for democratic and governance reform in the ACT.

The ACT has operated under self-government since 1989, with its Legislative Assembly broadly based on Westminster parliamentary traditions, including cabinet government and party-based executive decision-making. The forum heard arguments that alternative governance models could improve accountability, representation and community participation in decision-making.

A public report is expected to be produced following the co-design workshop.