2026-07-24
ACT Greens Deputy Leader and democracy spokesperson Andrew Braddock MLA has today welcomed the publication of an independent review of the ACT’s implementation of the Latimer House Principles on the Separation of Powers – and said yesterday's Integrity Commission findings make the authors' recommendations more urgent than ever.
Lines attributable to Andrew Braddock, Member for Yerrabi:
"Yesterday's Integrity Commission findings are a reminder that even well-designed institutions require vigilant oversight and enforcement – and that the recommendations of this review, including an expanded Assembly with greater capacity for scrutiny, have never been more relevant.
"The Integrity Commission's findings of serious corrupt conduct in the ACT executive is a powerful reminder of why strong democratic institutions, genuine separation of powers, and robust oversight mechanisms are practical safeguards that protect the public.
“The Latimer House Principles are best practice for parliaments, the judiciary and the executive. The independent review found that the ACT’s governance institutions are, in the main, well-constructed, especially when compared with those of the states.
"However, the review also recommended expanding the Assembly to 35 Members, stating that 'the problem in the ACT is not insufficient safeguards and procedures, which is the problem in many other jurisdictions. The problem is that an insufficient number of elected Members of the Assembly presents a risk that many of the Territory's achievements will be undermined'.
"What yesterday showed is that even good systems require vigilant oversight, sufficient numbers of elected representatives to provide scrutiny, and accountability mechanisms with real teeth.
"Former Chief Minister Katy Gallagher commissioned her own independent review of the Assembly's size, which in 2013 examined the practical workloads of the legislature and recommended that the Assembly expand to 35 MLAs by no later than 2024, with the current 25 MLAs intended as an interim step.
"Those past recommendations are being vindicated."
The review also highlighted the relevance of the caretaker conventions to oversight of executive government, and the importance of Members' staffing allocations being determined by an independent authority rather than the Chief Minister.
“I welcome all of the recommendations. The Greens will be playing our part to see they are adopted in full," said Mr Braddock.
This review of the separation of powers is scheduled to take place every two terms of the Assembly. The ACT has been recognised as a pioneering jurisdiction for its adoption of the Latimer House Principles and its regular reviews of their implementation – an achievement of the ACT Greens under the leadership of Meredith Hunter in 2008.