Australian Capital Territory House of Assembly
Encyclopedia
The Australian Capital Territory House of Assembly was the main elected representative body of the Australian Capital Territory
between 1975 and 1986, when preparations began to be made for the granting of self-government to the Territory. It served a largely advisory role, with most powers over the Territory still lying in the hands of the relevant federal minister through the life of the Assembly.
and after the opening of the first Parliament House in 1927, an ACT Advisory Council was established to administer the capital. In 1974 this became a fully elected Legislative Assembly, advising the Department of the Capital Territory. In 1979 this became a House of Assembly of 18 elected members, which was dissolved in 1986. In 1978 a referendum
on self-government was defeated, with 68 per cent of voters recording a No vote. The federal Labor
government of Prime Minister
Bob Hawke
set up a Self-Government Task Force in 1986 to report on the government of the ACT.
government, as a response to frequent criticism about the lack of representation for the citizens of the territory. The territory had been represented for decades by the then increasingly criticised Advisory Council, a purely advisory body. Whitlam had appointed the local federal MP, Kep Enderby
, as Minister for the ACT, and Enderby sought to create a new representative body along the lines of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly
, which had been created in 1974 and at the time was not self-governing. Elections were held for the first Legislative Assembly that year, with representatives of the Australian Labor Party
, Liberal Party of Australia
, Australia Party
, and several independents taking seats in the Assembly. Unlike its Northern Territory counterpart, it was not made self-governing in 1977.
The new Assembly began sitting in the then-Civic Offices, later renovated to become the current Legislative Assembly Building
. An independent MLA, Jim Pead, took office as the first President (the equivalent of the Speaker) of the new body. Gordon Walsh became the first leader of the Labor caucus, with Dr Peter Hughes
leading the Liberal caucus. Both were replaced in 1977; Walsh joined the nascent Australian Democrats
, and was replaced as leader by Peter Vallee, Hughes quit the Liberal Party and was replaced as leader by Jim Leedman. Ivor Vivian became the leader of the Australia Party
, before being replaced by Walsh in 1977. The first Assembly saw two prominent members on its benches: future federal ministers Ros Kelly
and Susan Ryan
. Ryan resigned during the first term, successfully seeking a seat in the Senate.
The second election for the Assembly was held in 1979, and saw a change in name from the Legislative Assembly to the House of Assembly. The election saw the addition of a fourth party, with the conservative Family Team led by Bev Cains
winning a seat. It also saw the election of future self-government ministers Greg Cornwell
and Paul Whalan
. A third election was held in 1982, which saw the introduction of a more partisan system. The Liberals held a majority in the Assembly, with Leedman becoming Leader of the House, and new Labor leader Ken Doyle becoming the minority leader. He was to be short-lived as leader, with Maurene Horder succeeding him after only two years.
The last Assembly also saw the creation of an office of Speaker, filled by independent MHA Harold Hird
. The final election also saw the election of future Liberal Chief Minister Trevor Kaine
. It was allowed to expire in 1986 due to plans to introduce full self-government for the territory. After some years of discussions, the House of Assembly was replaced with the current Legislative Assembly in 1989, with new Labor leader Rosemary Follett
becoming the first Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory
.
Voting was not compulsory for the House of Assembly, and its influence was limited. Many of its prominent figures retired rather than contest the elections for the new Legislative Assembly in 1989; several others, including outgoing Speaker Harold Hird
and Family Team leader Bev Cains were soundly defeated. Three MHAs, however—Greg Cornwell, Trevor Kaine, and Paul Whalan—went on to be elected to the new parliament, and later served in major roles.
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...
between 1975 and 1986, when preparations began to be made for the granting of self-government to the Territory. It served a largely advisory role, with most powers over the Territory still lying in the hands of the relevant federal minister through the life of the Assembly.
Background
Three years after the seat of government was established at CanberraCanberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
and after the opening of the first Parliament House in 1927, an ACT Advisory Council was established to administer the capital. In 1974 this became a fully elected Legislative Assembly, advising the Department of the Capital Territory. In 1979 this became a House of Assembly of 18 elected members, which was dissolved in 1986. In 1978 a referendum
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
on self-government was defeated, with 68 per cent of voters recording a No vote. The federal Labor
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
government of Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Australia
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
Bob Hawke
Bob Hawke
Robert James Lee "Bob" Hawke AC GCL was the 23rd Prime Minister of Australia from March 1983 to December 1991 and therefore longest serving Australian Labor Party Prime Minister....
set up a Self-Government Task Force in 1986 to report on the government of the ACT.
Creation of the Assembly
The assembly was first created in 1975 by the WhitlamGough Whitlam
Edward Gough Whitlam, AC, QC , known as Gough Whitlam , served as the 21st Prime Minister of Australia. Whitlam led the Australian Labor Party to power at the 1972 election and retained government at the 1974 election, before being dismissed by Governor-General Sir John Kerr at the climax of the...
government, as a response to frequent criticism about the lack of representation for the citizens of the territory. The territory had been represented for decades by the then increasingly criticised Advisory Council, a purely advisory body. Whitlam had appointed the local federal MP, Kep Enderby
Kep Enderby
Keppel Earl "Kep" Enderby QC is a former Australian politician and retired judge. Enderby was a member of the House of Representatives, representing the Australian Labor Party between 1970 and 1975, and became a senior cabinet minister in the Gough Whitlam government...
, as Minister for the ACT, and Enderby sought to create a new representative body along the lines of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly
Northern Territory Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory is the unicameral parliament of the Northern Territory in Australia. It sits in Parliament House, located on State Square, close to the centre of the city of Darwin.-History:...
, which had been created in 1974 and at the time was not self-governing. Elections were held for the first Legislative Assembly that year, with representatives of the Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
, Liberal Party of Australia
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
, Australia Party
Australia Party
The Australia Party was the name of a minor political party in Australia ....
, and several independents taking seats in the Assembly. Unlike its Northern Territory counterpart, it was not made self-governing in 1977.
The new Assembly began sitting in the then-Civic Offices, later renovated to become the current Legislative Assembly Building
Legislative Assembly Building, Canberra
The ACT Legislative Assembly Building, also known as the South Building, is located on the southern side of Civic Square, London Circuit, Civic in the Australian Capital Territory....
. An independent MLA, Jim Pead, took office as the first President (the equivalent of the Speaker) of the new body. Gordon Walsh became the first leader of the Labor caucus, with Dr Peter Hughes
Peter Hughes (Australian politician)
Peter Dalton Hughes is a former Australian politician. He was the first leader of the Liberal Party in the Australian Capital Territory House of Assembly....
leading the Liberal caucus. Both were replaced in 1977; Walsh joined the nascent Australian Democrats
Australian Democrats
The Australian Democrats is an Australian political party espousing a socially liberal ideology. It was formed in 1977, by a merger of the Australia Party and the New LM, after principals of those minor parties secured the commitment of former Liberal minister Don Chipp, as a high profile leader...
, and was replaced as leader by Peter Vallee, Hughes quit the Liberal Party and was replaced as leader by Jim Leedman. Ivor Vivian became the leader of the Australia Party
Australia Party
The Australia Party was the name of a minor political party in Australia ....
, before being replaced by Walsh in 1977. The first Assembly saw two prominent members on its benches: future federal ministers Ros Kelly
Ros Kelly
Ros Kelly AO was a member of the Australian House of Representatives for the Division of Canberra from 18 October 1980 to 30 January 1995. She was a minister in the governments of Bob Hawke and Paul Keating....
and Susan Ryan
Susan Ryan
Susan Maree Ryan AO is an Australian educator who served as a Senator for the Australian Capital Territory 1975–87...
. Ryan resigned during the first term, successfully seeking a seat in the Senate.
The second election for the Assembly was held in 1979, and saw a change in name from the Legislative Assembly to the House of Assembly. The election saw the addition of a fourth party, with the conservative Family Team led by Bev Cains
Bev Cains
Beverley Mary Evelyn "Bev" Cains is a former Australian politician.Cains was elected to the Australian Capital Territory House of Assembly in 1979 as a member of the Family Team; she was the party's sole representative until 1982, when she was joined by Betty Hocking. The House of Assembly ceased...
winning a seat. It also saw the election of future self-government ministers Greg Cornwell
Greg Cornwell
Gregory Gane "Greg" Cornwell , former Australian politician, was a member of the unicameral Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly elected to the multi-member single constituency Assembly and later elected to represent the multi-member electorate of Molonglo for the Liberal...
and Paul Whalan
Paul Whalan
Paul Whalan is an Australian political lobbyist, former politician and was a member of the multi-member single constituency first Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly, representing the Australian Labor Party. Whalan was elected in 1989 and resigned from the Assembly on 30 April 1990...
. A third election was held in 1982, which saw the introduction of a more partisan system. The Liberals held a majority in the Assembly, with Leedman becoming Leader of the House, and new Labor leader Ken Doyle becoming the minority leader. He was to be short-lived as leader, with Maurene Horder succeeding him after only two years.
The last Assembly also saw the creation of an office of Speaker, filled by independent MHA Harold Hird
Harold Hird
Harold James Hird , an Australian politician, was a member of the unicameral Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly representing the electorate of Ginninderra for the Liberal Party of Australia from 1995 to 2001...
. The final election also saw the election of future Liberal Chief Minister Trevor Kaine
Trevor Kaine
Trevor Thomas Kaine , an Australian politician, was Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory from 1989 to 1991, and was elected a multi-member single electorate first unicameral Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly, from 1989 to 2001, initially as a member of the Liberal...
. It was allowed to expire in 1986 due to plans to introduce full self-government for the territory. After some years of discussions, the House of Assembly was replaced with the current Legislative Assembly in 1989, with new Labor leader Rosemary Follett
Rosemary Follett
Rosemary Follett AO , Australian politician, was the first Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory. She was the first woman to become head of government in an Australian state or territory....
becoming the first Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory
Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory
The Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory is the head of government of the Australian Capital Territory. The leader of party with the largest representation of seats in the unicameral Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly usually takes on the role...
.
Voting was not compulsory for the House of Assembly, and its influence was limited. Many of its prominent figures retired rather than contest the elections for the new Legislative Assembly in 1989; several others, including outgoing Speaker Harold Hird
Harold Hird
Harold James Hird , an Australian politician, was a member of the unicameral Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly representing the electorate of Ginninderra for the Liberal Party of Australia from 1995 to 2001...
and Family Team leader Bev Cains were soundly defeated. Three MHAs, however—Greg Cornwell, Trevor Kaine, and Paul Whalan—went on to be elected to the new parliament, and later served in major roles.
Members
- Members of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly, 1975–1979Members of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly, 1975–1979This is a list of members of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly from 1975 to 1979. This was the first time this body sat; it was not self-governing at this time....
- Members of the Australian Capital Territory House of Assembly, 1979–1982Members of the Australian Capital Territory House of Assembly, 1979–1982This is a list of members of the Australian Capital Territory House of Assembly from 1979 to 1982. The ACT was not self-governing at this time....
- Members of the Australian Capital Territory House of Assembly, 1982–1986Members of the Australian Capital Territory House of Assembly, 1982–1986This is a list of members of the Australian Capital Territory House of Assembly from 1982 to 1986. The ACT was not self-governing at this time....