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Government of the Australian Capital Territory

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Government of the Australian Capital Territory
Overview
Established
PolityAustralian Capital Territory
LeaderChief Minister (Andrew Barr)
Appointed byLegislative Assembly
Main organCabinet
Ministries9 government directorates
Responsible toLegislative Assembly
Annual budgetA$8.4 billion (2023–2024)[1]
Headquarters220 London Circuit, Canberra
Websiteact.gov.au

The Government of the Australian Capital Territory, also referred to as the Australian Capital Territory Government or ACT Government, is the executive branch of the Australian Capital Territory. The leader of the party or coalition with the confidence of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly forms government. Unlike the Australian states and the Northern Territory, the Legislative Assembly directly elects one of their number to be the Chief Minister as the head of the government, rather than being appointed by a Governor or Administrator.[2]

Since December 2014, the Chief Minister has been Andrew Barr, leader of the Labor Party. Following the 2024 ACT election, Labor formed a minority government of 10 members, after the Greens moved to the crossbench and dissolved the coalition that had been in place since 2012.[3]

Ministers are appointed by the Chief Minister.[4] The current ministry of the Australian Capital Territory (Fourth Barr Ministry) comprises eight of the 25 members of the Legislative Assembly.[5]

Constitutional framework

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The ACT has internal self-government, but Australia's Constitution does not afford the territory government the full legislative independence provided to Australian states. Government for the Australian Capital Territory is outlined in Commonwealth legislation; the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988.[6] Nonetheless, the ACT is governed according to the principles of the Westminster System, a form of parliamentary government based on the model of the United Kingdom.

Legislative power rests with the unicameral Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly.

Executive power rests formally with the Executive, which consists of the Chief Minister and Ministers, and is informally called the Cabinet.

Judicial power is exercised by the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory and a system of subordinate courts, but the High Court of Australia and other federal courts have overriding jurisdiction on matters which fall under the ambit of the Australian Constitution.

The ACT does not have a separate system of local government such as that seen in the Australian States and the Northern Territory. In the ACT, government functions that would usually be handled by local government are instead directly handled by the Territory government.

Current Ministry

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Main articles: Fourth Barr Ministry and Opposition (Australian Capital Territory)

The current arrangement of the incumbent ministry (Fourth Barr Ministry) of the ACT was appointed on 6 November 2024, comprising eight Labor Party members.[5]

Party Portrait Minister Portfolio
Labor Andrew Barr
  • Chief Minister
  • Minister for Economic Development
  • Minister for Tourism and Trade
Labor Yvette Berry
  • Deputy Chief Minister
  • Minister for Education and Early Childhood
  • Minister for Housing and New Suburbs
  • Minister for Sport and Recreation
Labor Rachel Stephen-Smith
  • Minister for Health
  • Minister for Mental Health
  • Minister for Finance
  • Minister for the Public Service
Labor Chris Steel
  • Treasurer
  • Minister for Planning and Sustainable Development
  • Minister for Heritage
  • Minister for Transport
Labor Tara Cheyne
  • Manager of Government Business
  • Attorney-General
  • Minister for Human Rights
  • Minister for the Night-Time Economy
  • Minister for City and Government Services
Labor Suzanne Orr
  • Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs
  • Minister for Climate Change, Environment, Energy and Water
  • Minister for Disability, Carers and Community Services
  • Minister for Seniors and Veterans
Labor Michael Pettersson
  • Minister for Business, Arts and Creative Industries
  • Minister for Children, Youth and Families
  • Minister for Multicultural Affairs
  • Minister for Skills, Training and Industrial Relations
Labor Marisa Paterson
  • Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services
  • Minister for Women
  • Minister for the Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence
  • Minister for Corrections
  • Minister for Gaming Reform

ACT Government Directorates

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220 London Circuit in Civic, which houses the main offices of the ACT Government
The Access Canberra service centre in Belconnen

The ACT Government is served by a unified ACT Public Service agency, reporting to a single Head of Service.

Administrative units, known as Directorates, are grouped under areas of portfolio responsibility. Each Directorate is led by a Director-General who reports to one or more Ministers.

As of November 2020, there are nine Directorates:[7]

Agencies and Authorities

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  • City Renewal Authority
  • Suburban Land Agency

Independent Authorities

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  • Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission
  • Office of the Work Health and Safety Commissioner

Public Authorities and Territory Owned Corporations

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The ACT Government also has a number of Public Authorities and Territory Owned Corporations:[8]

  • ACT Building & Construction Industry Training Fund Board: providing funding for the training of eligible workers in the ACT building and construction industry.
  • ACT Long Service Leave Authority: administers portable long service leave schemes.
  • ACT Teacher Quality Institute: an independent statutory authority established to build the professional standing of ACT teachers and to enhance the community's confidence in the teaching profession through professional regulation and practical initiatives to raise teacher quality.
  • Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) is the ACT Government operated vocational educational provider.
  • Cultural Facilities Corporation: manages the Canberra Theatre Centre; the Canberra Museum and Gallery (CMAG).
  • EvoEnergy: owns and operates the ACT electricity and gas networks as well as gas networks in Queanbeyan and Palerang shires and Nowra.
  • Icon Water Limited: providing drinking water and wastewater services to the ACT and surrounding regions.

The following are officers of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly:

See also

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References

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  1. ^ ACT Government (June 2023). "Australian Capital Territory Budget 2023-24: Budget Outlook" (PDF).
  2. ^ "Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 – Sect 40".
  3. ^ "ACT Greens say 'business as usual won't cut it' as the party confirms it won't form another coalition with Labor". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 6 November 2024. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
  4. ^ "Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 – Sect 39".
  5. ^ a b "A progressive and proven ACT Cabinet". Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
  6. ^ "Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988".
  7. ^ "ACT Government Directorates". ACT Government. 24 December 2012. Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  8. ^ "Public Authorities and Territory Owned Corporations". ACT Government.
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