How to watch the Legislative Assembly

Legislative Assembly (29 October 2026, 2:00 pm)

Housing policy oversight and local facilities

Fiona Carrick and 7 others

Members scrutinise Housing ACT delivery targets, vacancies and homelessness responses through an amended motion to increase transparency, then address long‑vacant Richardson shops, noting new tenancies, regulatory enforcement and community advocacy, alongside a correction of the record on capital procurement thresholds and minor procedural timing matters.

In this chapter

1. Housing ACT targets and vacancies: motion and adoptionFiona Carrick
2. Richardson shops redevelopment, papers noted and procedural correctionLaura Nuttall

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Legislative Assembly (29 October 2026, 2:00 pm)

Private members’ bills: electoral franchise and portable leave

Peter Cain and 8 others

Private members introduce and debate bills to extend the electoral franchise to 16‑ and 17‑year‑olds and permanent residents and to amend the portable long service leave scheme, exposing clear government–opposition differences on democratic participation, worker entitlements, small business costs and regulatory design, culminating in a division on the long service leave bill.

In this chapter

1. Electoral (Eligibility) Amendment Bill: extended franchise proposalsPeter Cain
2. Portable Long Service Leave review bill: debate and divisionMichael Pettersson

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Legislative Assembly (29 October 2026, 2:00 pm)

Question Time and procedural follow-up

Mark Parton and 17 others

Question Time covers capital procurement, health, housing, infrastructure and education issues, followed by rulings on written questions, clarifications on heat and smoke refuges and Birrigai works, Speaker’s procedural rulings and the formal shift to private members’ business.

In this chapter

1. Question Time: procurement, health, infrastructure and housingMark Parton
2. Post‑question time rulings, clarifications and move to private members’ businessJo Clay

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Legislative Assembly (29 October 2026, 10:00 am)

Emergency services workforce, fiscal transparency and housing legislation

The Assembly considers ACT Ambulance Service workforce pressures and station capacity, then unanimously backs enhanced access to budget initiative data, agrees on a process to review standing orders and reorders executive business before debating and passing the Housing and Consumer Affairs omnibus bill on strata, retirement villages, land titles and the gas phase‑out.

In this chapter

1. ACT Ambulance Service workforce pressures and Opposition critique
2. Budget initiatives data: enhanced fiscal transparency motion
3. Standing orders review and reordering of executive business
4. Housing and Consumer Affairs omnibus bill: strata, retirement villages and gas transition

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Legislative Assembly (29 October 2026, 10:00 am)

Health, education infrastructure and justice outcomes

Members examine major health and education capital works, maternity and birth centre models and school project costs, then turn to the final “Reducing Recidivism 25 by 25” report, debating justice reforms, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander outcomes, funding adequacy and party approaches to youth justice and reinvestment.

In this chapter

1. Health and education infrastructure program and birth centre model
2. Reducing Recidivism 25 by 25: outcomes and party positions

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Legislative Assembly (29 October 2026, 10:00 am)

Opening of sitting, petition and ministerial travel scrutiny

The sitting opens with formalities and a community petition on sports ground parking, then moves to the Chief Minister’s statement on the Vietnam trade mission and detailed Opposition scrutiny of ministerial and member travel practices, costs and disclosure before the Assembly votes to note the statement.

In this chapter

1. Opening of sitting and sports ground petition
2. Chief Minister’s Vietnam mission and member travel scrutiny

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Legislative Assembly (28 October 2026, 2:00 pm)

Short Statements and Formal Business: community events and procedural items

Peter Cain Liberal

Members deliver brief statements recognising Diwali and a remembrance event for people who have died from illicit drugs, before the Clerk tables a Cabinet document on the Tuggeranong ice sports facility and the government moves to adjourn. These items close the day’s formal decision‑making and transition into the adjournment debate.

In this chapter

1. 90‑second statements: Diwali and illicit drug deaths remembrancePeter Cain
2. Tuggeranong ice sports facility document tabled and adjournment moved

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Legislative Assembly (28 October 2026, 2:00 pm)

Private Members’ Business: gambling harm and clubs’ community contributions reform

Rebecca Vassarotti and 5 others

The Assembly examines the statutory clubs’ community contribution scheme funded by poker machine profits, weighing gambling‑related social harm and suicide risks against financial support for sport and community groups. Through motions and amendments, members and ministers canvass governance failures, transparency and audit issues, ethical concerns about reliance on gambling losses, options for an independent central fund and transition supports for clubs, ultimately passing an amended motion to review and reform the scheme while safeguarding community beneficiaries.

In this chapter

1. New item: Vassarotti moves on clubs’ community contributionsRebecca Vassarotti
2. Vassarotti: gambling harm, suicide and net community lossRebecca Vassarotti
3. Vassarotti: unstable pokies funding and scheme governanceRebecca Vassarotti

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Legislative Assembly (28 October 2026, 2:00 pm)

Private Members’ Business: public school funding model and 2027 budgets

Elizabeth Lee and 9 others

Opposition, Greens, crossbench and government MLAs debate a motion and amendments on 2027 public school budgets, contesting whether indicative allocations constitute cuts, how needs‑based funding and SRS/SRA settings are applied, and the adequacy of consultation and risk assessment. The debate highlights stakeholder concerns over learning support assistants, equity between public and non‑government schools, process transparency and ministerial accountability, culminating in agreement to Ms Lee’s motion as amended.

In this chapter

1. Public schools funding motion: Ms Lee moves notice No. 2
2. Ms Lee: scale and distribution of school budget cutsElizabeth Lee
3. Ms Lee: stakeholder concerns and lack of consultationElizabeth Lee

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Legislative Assembly (28 October 2026, 2:00 pm)

Private Members’ Business: introduction of Suicide Prevention Bill 2026

Mark Parton Liberal

A private member introduces the Suicide Prevention Bill 2026, outlining a territory‑wide suicide prevention framework, a proposed Suicide Prevention Council, agency‑level plans and reporting obligations, after which the Assembly adjourns the in‑principle debate to a future sitting. This segment sets up future policy consideration of governance, data and coordination for suicide prevention across ACT institutions.

In this chapter

1. Private members’ business opened: Suicide Prevention Bill introducedMark Parton
2. Suicide Prevention Bill 2026: in‑principle second reading speechMark Parton
3. Suicide Prevention Bill: debate adjourned and resumption scheduled

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Legislative Assembly (28 October 2026, 2:00 pm)

Post–Question Time: fiscal settings, integrity reviews and record corrections

Ed Cocks and 12 others

Following question time, ministers elaborate on tax and levy policies, EV and strata electrification support, competition policy and school equity funding, while the Chief Minister addresses procurement integrity reviews. Multiple members and ministers correct or clarify the record regarding health service letters and the Our Booris, Our Way partnership, and the Speaker rules on responsiveness under standing orders.

In this chapter

1. Chief Minister: City Centre Marketing and Improvements LevyEd Cocks
2. Attorney-General: EV charging in strata under Unit Titles Act
3. Finance Minister: interest-free loans for EV‑ready apartmentsLaura Nuttall

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Legislative Assembly (28 October 2026, 2:00 pm)

Question Time: portfolio scrutiny and policy challenges

Mark Parton and 12 others

Members question ministers across health, cost of living, environment, planning, child protection, industrial relations, business taxation, disaster readiness and social regulation, testing government performance, data and forward commitments through structured primary and supplementary questions. The segment surfaces key controversies including ACT health system pressures, inflation, soft‑plastics stewardship, school oversight, portable long service leave expansion, paediatric waiting list management, Working With Vulnerable People reforms and bushfire preparedness funding.

In this chapter

1. Q1 – Opposition Leader: ACT health system crisis claimsMark Parton
2. Q2 – Cost of living: ACT CPI above national rate
3. Q3 – Soft plastics recycling and federal stewardship lawsJo Clay

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Legislative Assembly (28 October 2026, 10:00 am)

Building and Construction Amendment Bill: housing delivery and regulatory settings

The Assembly debates and passes amendments to enable partial completion of dwellings under their original code, streamline building approvals (including for solar), and improve construction productivity, with Liberals and Greens supporting the bill while raising broader issues of housing affordability, build quality and consumer protections, before the Minister links it to wider planning reforms and the Assembly breaks for lunch.

In this chapter

1. Building and Construction Amendment Bill: Canberra Liberals’ housing affordability focus
2. Greens’ position: support for bill and solar, consumer protections
3. Minister Steel: partial completion pathway and construction productivity reforms
4. Minister Steel: regulatory performance, future reforms and bill passage

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Legislative Assembly (28 October 2026, 10:00 am)

Paediatric allergy clinic waitlist: cross‑party OPD

Members from all parties advance and support an order for documents on changes to the paediatric allergy clinic waitlist, seeking decision briefs, clinical justifications, risk assessments and data, with emphasis on transparency, clinical safety, stakeholder engagement and the real‑world impacts on affected families before the motion is agreed.

In this chapter

1. Paediatric allergy clinic OPD: intent and scope
2. Paediatric allergy clinic OPD: detailed questions and Dr Allen’s case
3. Cross‑party support: Greens emphasise transparency and clinical safety
4. Canberra Liberals: accountability for allergy waitlist changes

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Legislative Assembly (28 October 2026, 10:00 am)

Curtin Presbytery redevelopment: order for documents and planning powers

Opposition, Greens and government agree on an order for documents concerning the Curtin Presbytery community housing project, while ministers outline project funding, TPP status, consultation requirements and forthcoming Planning Act amendments to delegate key decisions to the Chief Planner, before the Assembly finalises the order and moves to the next item.

In this chapter

1. Curtin Presbytery redevelopment: opposition call for documents
2. Curtin Presbytery redevelopment: Greens and Government support for order
3. Planning Minister: Curtin Presbytery DA and delegation bill
4. Order for documents agreed: transition to paediatric allergy clinic OPD

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Legislative Assembly (28 October 2026, 10:00 am)

2027 Assembly sitting calendar: proposal and responses

The government proposes the 2027 sitting pattern with a restructured budget week and additional non‑executive business time, and crossbench and opposition members generally support the changes while pressing for earlier budget delivery and improved scrutiny and workload balance before the motion is agreed.

In this chapter

1. 2027 sitting calendar: Government proposal and rationale
2. 2027 sitting calendar: crossbench and opposition responses

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Legislative Assembly (28 October 2026, 10:00 am)

Canberra House Pattern Book and missing middle housing

The Housing Minister details missing middle planning reforms and the Canberra House Pattern Book to enable faster, higher‑quality medium‑density housing, followed by Greens and Liberals outlining conditional support focused on design quality, amenity, and implementation safeguards under streamlined approvals.

In this chapter

1. Housing Minister: Canberra House Pattern Book and missing middle reforms
2. Canberra House Pattern Book: Greens and Liberals’ positions

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Legislative Assembly (28 October 2026, 10:00 am)

AEDC developmental vulnerability: Assembly debate and motion

Opposition and crossbench members respond to worsening AEDC outcomes, highlighting economic pressures, ECEC quality, digital use, inequities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, access barriers and system performance before the Assembly agrees to take note of the report and the government’s response.

In this chapter

1. Mr Emerson: economic pressures, ECEC quality and regulation
2. Mr Emerson: screen use, digital policy and Thriving Kids
3. Mr Emerson: reversing AEDC trends through whole-of-government action

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Legislative Assembly (28 October 2026, 10:00 am)

Opening of sitting and AEDC statement

The Speaker opens the sitting, sets the agenda, and the Education Minister presents 2024 AEDC results, explains the Nous review, outlines Thriving Kids and foundational supports, and formally tables the Nous report and statement to initiate Assembly consideration.

In this chapter

1. Opening of sitting, Acknowledgement and reflection
2. Speaker: agenda and early childhood statement
3. Education Minister: AEDC 2024 results and rising vulnerability

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Legislative Assembly (27 October 2026, 2:00 pm)

Private members’ business: disability oversight and health access

The Assembly transitions from Question Time to private members’ business, debating the establishment of a disability death review scheme and then a motion on Canberra Health Services specialist waitlists and closed referrals, with cross‑party negotiation on legislative commitments, data and budget constraints, and fair processes for vulnerable patients before adopting amended motions.

In this chapter

1. From question time to private members’ business: disability death review scheme
2. Private members’ motion: CHS specialist waitlists and closed referrals

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Legislative Assembly (27 October 2026, 2:00 pm)

Opening of sitting and broad Question Time scrutiny

The sitting opens and moves into an extended Question Time covering health system accountability, corruption and procurement issues linked to Operation Kingfisher, education funding and school governance, planning and taxation settings, social services oversight, and union influence, highlighting ministerial positions and opposition challenges on integrity, service delivery and economic conditions.

In this chapter

1. Opening of sitting and health system accountability
2. Question Time: Operation Kingfisher, procurement and business climate
3. Question Time: education budgets, behaviour and Whitlam School procurement

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Legislative Assembly (27 October 2026, 10:00 am)

Firearms Prohibition Orders Bill: debate, safeguards and passage

The Assembly debates the Firearms Prohibition Orders Bill, with Liberals backing strong powers against organised crime and domestic violence, Greens and Human Rights Commission warning about warrantless searches and calling for a reasonable suspicion safeguard, and the minister defending the scheme’s design and oversight; after detailed consideration, government amendments are adopted, Greens amendments are defeated, the bill passes as amended and the sitting is suspended.

In this chapter

1. Firearms Prohibition Orders Bill: Canberra Liberals’ support
2. Firearms Prohibition Orders Bill: safeguards and oversight
3. Greens: concern over warrantless search powers

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Legislative Assembly (27 October 2026, 10:00 am)

Justice and Community Safety omnibus bill and scrutiny report

The Attorney‑General introduces the Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 (No 2) covering Industrial Court capacity, restorative justice case study use and Liquor Act consultation changes, after which the debate is adjourned and standing orders are suspended to table and commend Scrutiny Report No. 24 on recent legislative instruments and impact statements.

In this chapter

1. Justice and Community Safety Amendment Bill (No 2): introduction
2. Attorney‑General: Industrial Court and workload reforms
3. Attorney‑General: restorative justice and Liquor Act changes

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Legislative Assembly (27 October 2026, 10:00 am)

Electronic monitoring of alleged offenders: documents motion and timing

An opposition motion seeks documents on electronic monitoring feasibility and costs after National Cabinet commitments, prompting a government amendment to align document release with a 2027 feasibility report and Greens support for an extended timeframe but broader scope, before further debate on access to underlying documents and a sequence of votes agreeing to the amended motion.

In this chapter

1. Electronic monitoring schemes: opposition motion and request for documents
2. Government amendment: alignment with earlier feasibility motion and extended timeframe
3. Greens position: conditional support for extended timeframe and broader document scope

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Legislative Assembly (27 October 2026, 10:00 am)

Tabling of documents, inquiry extensions and question redirection rule change

The Assembly tables documents on the Tuggeranong ice sports facility, extends reporting deadlines for domestic violence and gambling‑exclusion bill inquiries, and amends standing order 122 to streamline executive redirection of misdirected questions on notice while retaining existing member rights and timeframes.

In this chapter

1. Tuggeranong ice sports facility: documents tabled
2. Legal Affairs Committee: extension on Domestic Violence Agencies Bill inquiry
3. Economics, Industry and Recreation Committee: extension on Gambling Exclusion Bill inquiry
4. Standing order 122: streamlining redirection of questions on notice

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Legislative Assembly (27 October 2026, 10:00 am)

Domestic, family and sexual violence strategy: funding, laws and scrutiny

The minister launches the 2026–2036 DFV strategy and first action plan, outlining major funding, service expansion, perpetrator programs, legislative reforms and information‑sharing powers alongside prevention and gender‑equity measures, with Greens and opposition speakers supporting the direction but pressing on housing levers, liquor law objectives, service mapping gaps, vague actions and implementation delays.

In this chapter

1. Minister Tough: commitment and new 10‑year DFV strategy
2. DFV strategy: funding, frontline and children’s services
3. Sexual violence responses and perpetrator programs

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Legislative Assembly (27 October 2026, 10:00 am)

Ministerial statement: ACT Carers Strategy and Assembly responses

The minister presents the final 2026–28 action plan under the ACT Carers Strategy with detailed initiatives across services, employment, education, health, discrimination law and respite, followed by Greens and opposition responses that welcome progress but emphasise carers’ finite capacity, inadequate respite beds and the need for stronger, tangible supports beyond recognition.

In this chapter

1. Ministerial statement: ACT Carers Strategy overview and final action plan
2. Carers Strategy priorities, women’s return to work and young carers in schools
3. Foster and kinship carers: Resources, recognition and Aboriginal children

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