More MPs for Canberra

More MPs for Canberra

 

“Increasing the size of parliament is what great Labor leaders do.”

 

So said Anthony Albanese's right-hand man, Special Minister of State, Senator the Hon Don Farrell in his address to the National Press Club on Monday, 30 March 2026.

Whilst the Prime Minister has shied away from discussing the issue, the Labor controlled Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters is pursuing the expansion of the Australian Parliament the current 150 member House of Representatives by 28 MPs with the number of senators being boosted from 76 to 90.

 

1. Do you support an Act of Parliament to increase the size of the House of Representatives, potentially from 151 to 175 (or more), with a corresponding increase in the number of senators?

During an address at the National Press Club on Monday, 30 March 2026, in his capacity as Special Minister of State, Senator the Hon Don Farrell, raised the issue of increasing the number of MPs in time for the next election from 76 to 90, meaning that the six States would each have 14 senators rather than 12, as at present. The Territories of the ACT and the Northern Territory would increase their Senate representation from two to three each.

Showing 167 reactions

  • Anthony Gray
    answered 2026-04-03 10:12:09 +1100
    Q: 2. Do you think the government should hold a plebiscite before proceeding with an Act of Parliament to increase the size of the Parliament?
    A: Yes
  • Anthony Gray
    answered 2026-04-03 10:11:29 +1100
    Q: 1. Do you support an Act of Parliament to increase the size of the House of Representatives, potentially from 151 to 175 (or more), with a corresponding increase in the number of senators?
    A: No
  • Barbara Smith
    answered 2026-04-02 22:57:09 +1100
    Q: 3. Would you support a referendum to increase the term of the House of Representatives from three years to four years, with a resultant increase in the term of senators from six years to eight years?
    A: No
  • Barbara Smith
    answered 2026-04-02 22:56:46 +1100
    Q: 2. Do you think the government should hold a plebiscite before proceeding with an Act of Parliament to increase the size of the Parliament?
    A: Yes
  • Barbara Smith
    answered 2026-04-02 22:50:16 +1100
    Q: 1. Do you support an Act of Parliament to increase the size of the House of Representatives, potentially from 151 to 175 (or more), with a corresponding increase in the number of senators?
    A: No
  • Louise Hardy
    answered 2026-04-02 21:50:24 +1100
    Q: 3. Would you support a referendum to increase the term of the House of Representatives from three years to four years, with a resultant increase in the term of senators from six years to eight years?
    A: No
  • Louise Hardy
    answered 2026-04-02 21:50:01 +1100
    Q: 2. Do you think the government should hold a plebiscite before proceeding with an Act of Parliament to increase the size of the Parliament?
    A: Yes
  • Louise Hardy
    answered 2026-04-02 21:49:37 +1100
    Q: 1. Do you support an Act of Parliament to increase the size of the House of Representatives, potentially from 151 to 175 (or more), with a corresponding increase in the number of senators?
    A: No
  • Simon Cole
    answered 2026-04-02 20:50:45 +1100
    Q: 3. Would you support a referendum to increase the term of the House of Representatives from three years to four years, with a resultant increase in the term of senators from six years to eight years?
    A: No
  • Simon Cole
    answered 2026-04-02 20:50:10 +1100
    Q: 2. Do you think the government should hold a plebiscite before proceeding with an Act of Parliament to increase the size of the Parliament?
    A: No
  • Simon Cole
    answered 2026-04-02 20:50:01 +1100
    Q: 1. Do you support an Act of Parliament to increase the size of the House of Representatives, potentially from 151 to 175 (or more), with a corresponding increase in the number of senators?
    A: No
  • Jeffrey Eacersall
    answered 2026-04-02 20:45:02 +1100
    Q: 3. Would you support a referendum to increase the term of the House of Representatives from three years to four years, with a resultant increase in the term of senators from six years to eight years?
    A: No
  • Jeffrey Eacersall
    answered 2026-04-02 20:44:20 +1100
    Q: 2. Do you think the government should hold a plebiscite before proceeding with an Act of Parliament to increase the size of the Parliament?
    A: Yes
  • Jeffrey Eacersall
    answered 2026-04-02 20:43:34 +1100
    Q: 1. Do you support an Act of Parliament to increase the size of the House of Representatives, potentially from 151 to 175 (or more), with a corresponding increase in the number of senators?
    A: No
  • Val Barron
    answered 2026-04-02 19:16:43 +1100
    Q: 3. Would you support a referendum to increase the term of the House of Representatives from three years to four years, with a resultant increase in the term of senators from six years to eight years?
    A: No
  • Val Barron
    answered 2026-04-02 19:16:27 +1100
    Q: 2. Do you think the government should hold a plebiscite before proceeding with an Act of Parliament to increase the size of the Parliament?
    A: Yes
  • Val Barron
    answered 2026-04-02 19:15:55 +1100
    Q: 1. Do you support an Act of Parliament to increase the size of the House of Representatives, potentially from 151 to 175 (or more), with a corresponding increase in the number of senators?
    A: No
  • Denise O'Neill
    answered 2026-04-02 18:47:06 +1100
    Q: 1. Do you support an Act of Parliament to increase the size of the House of Representatives, potentially from 151 to 175 (or more), with a corresponding increase in the number of senators?
    A: No
  • Anonymous answered 2026-04-02 18:18:23 +1100
    Q: 3. Would you support a referendum to increase the term of the House of Representatives from three years to four years, with a resultant increase in the term of senators from six years to eight years?
    A: Yes
  • Isaac Douek
    answered 2026-04-02 16:53:29 +1100
    Q: 3. Would you support a referendum to increase the term of the House of Representatives from three years to four years, with a resultant increase in the term of senators from six years to eight years?
    A: Yes
  • Isaac Douek
    answered 2026-04-02 16:52:20 +1100
    Q: 2. Do you think the government should hold a plebiscite before proceeding with an Act of Parliament to increase the size of the Parliament?
    A: No
  • Isaac Douek
    answered 2026-04-02 16:52:11 +1100
    Q: 1. Do you support an Act of Parliament to increase the size of the House of Representatives, potentially from 151 to 175 (or more), with a corresponding increase in the number of senators?
    A: No
  • Shelley Miller
    answered 2026-04-02 14:00:53 +1100
    Q: 3. Would you support a referendum to increase the term of the House of Representatives from three years to four years, with a resultant increase in the term of senators from six years to eight years?
    A: No
  • Shelley Miller
    answered 2026-04-02 14:00:34 +1100
    Q: 2. Do you think the government should hold a plebiscite before proceeding with an Act of Parliament to increase the size of the Parliament?
    A: No
  • Shelley Miller
    answered 2026-04-02 14:00:23 +1100
    Q: 1. Do you support an Act of Parliament to increase the size of the House of Representatives, potentially from 151 to 175 (or more), with a corresponding increase in the number of senators?
    A: No
  • nick minchin
    answered 2026-04-02 13:33:45 +1100
    Q: 3. Would you support a referendum to increase the term of the House of Representatives from three years to four years, with a resultant increase in the term of senators from six years to eight years?
    A: No
  • nick minchin
    answered 2026-04-02 13:33:34 +1100
    Q: 2. Do you think the government should hold a plebiscite before proceeding with an Act of Parliament to increase the size of the Parliament?
    A: Yes
  • nick minchin
    answered 2026-04-02 13:33:14 +1100
    Q: 1. Do you support an Act of Parliament to increase the size of the House of Representatives, potentially from 151 to 175 (or more), with a corresponding increase in the number of senators?
    A: No
  • Benjamin Clarke
    answered 2026-04-02 13:13:40 +1100
    Q: 3. Would you support a referendum to increase the term of the House of Representatives from three years to four years, with a resultant increase in the term of senators from six years to eight years?
    A: No
  • Benjamin Clarke
    answered 2026-04-02 13:13:01 +1100
    Q: 2. Do you think the government should hold a plebiscite before proceeding with an Act of Parliament to increase the size of the Parliament?
    A: No
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