The CFMEU has called for the Albanese government to boost the ACT and NT’s Senate seats to four in line with a parliamentary committee’s recommendation.
A Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters report, released on Monday, says the territories should each be represented by four senators, up from two.
CFMEU ACT and National Secretary Zach Smith and NT Attorney-General Chansey Paech successfully amended the ALP’s platform at national conference in August, committing federal Labor to increasing the territories’ Senate representation.
“The ACT’s population is fast approaching Tasmania which has six times the Senate representation,” Mr Smith said.
“The federal government needs to fully implement these recommendations if it’s serious about strengthening our democracy
“Anything less than four senators would be totally unfair for voters in the ACT who have been under-represented for too long.
“Australia hasn’t changed its number of senators since 1983 when the population was 15 million. Given we’re now a nation of more than 26 million people it’s time we updated our parliament.”
Mr Peach said the NT needed a bigger voice in federal parliament.
“Boosting Senate representations for Territorians is crucial for our remote and rural communities,” Mr Peach said.
“Locking in four senators will be a major benefit for Indigenous communities and our pastoral sector.”
