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

  • jim gibson
    answered 2026-04-02 10:36:22 +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
  • jim gibson
    answered 2026-04-02 10:35:55 +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
  • Nicholas Boulding
    answered 2026-04-02 10:35:51 +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
  • Edward Burnard
    answered 2026-04-02 10:24:18 +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
  • Edward Burnard
    answered 2026-04-02 10:24:01 +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
  • lorraine ayton
    answered 2026-04-02 10:20:43 +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
  • Derek Newton
    answered 2026-04-02 10:20:21 +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
  • lorraine ayton
    answered 2026-04-02 10:20:05 +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
  • Derek Newton
    answered 2026-04-02 10:20:01 +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
  • Derek Newton
    answered 2026-04-02 10:19:35 +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
  • Derek Newton
    answered 2026-04-02 10:19:32 +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
  • Derek Newton
    answered 2026-04-02 10:19:19 +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
  • lorraine ayton
    answered 2026-04-02 10:19:17 +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
  • Ashley Elias
    answered 2026-04-02 10:13:04 +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
  • Ashley Elias
    answered 2026-04-02 10:12:44 +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
  • Ashley Elias
    answered 2026-04-02 10:11:08 +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
  • Sue Davies
    answered 2026-04-02 10:10:04 +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
  • Sue Davies
    answered 2026-04-02 10:09:40 +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
  • Sue Davies
    answered 2026-04-02 10:09:06 +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
  • P Pullen
    answered 2026-04-02 10:03:57 +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
  • P Pullen
    answered 2026-04-02 10:03:08 +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
  • P Pullen
    answered 2026-04-02 10:01:56 +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
  • John Kerr
    answered 2026-04-02 09:44:18 +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
  • David Melandri
    answered 2026-04-02 09:33:05 +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
  • David Melandri
    answered 2026-04-02 09:32:42 +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
  • Garry Sowter
    answered 2026-04-02 09:32:21 +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
  • David Melandri
    answered 2026-04-02 09:31:55 +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
  • Garry Sowter
    answered 2026-04-02 09:31:54 +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
  • Garry Sowter
    answered 2026-04-02 09:31:19 +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
  • Ralph Hart
    answered 2026-04-02 09:27:23 +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: No
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