Greg Cornwell has floated the idea of increasing the number of members of the Legislative Assembly at a very inopportune time. Of course, it is never opportune to think of increasing the number, salaries or conditions of politicians.
As it happens the ACT elects the fewest number of politicians per head than any state or territory, by far. The Assembly covers both state and local-government functions.
Mr Cornwell argues that the small number of MLAs and the small ministry is not good for government, and that $700,000 would be money well spent on four more MLAs and increasing the ministry from four to five. The advantages of a fifth ministry would be to spread the portfolios among more MLAs. The difficulties of multiple portfolios have been seen by both sides since self-government. Health and Education were difficult for Gary Humphries; sport, health and industrial relations were hard for Wayne Berry and now Treasury, Health and Chief Minister are a handful for Kate Carnell.
There would be also some merit in having equal electorates of seven members, though equally could be achieved by cutting Molonglo to five.
The other short-coming in the ACT is that our MLAs have the lowest pay and poorest conditions (by a long way) than elsewhere in Australia. It must deter some good candidates.
There is a good case for increasing numbers, pay and the ministry, but it will have to wait until the next economic boom.