How Canberra’s decisions take shape

What the record shows

Most motions that pass are changed first

MLAs outside the ministry brought 167 motions and 155 passed. 100 of those 155 were changed by another MLA before the final vote.

• Liberal MLAs61 of 87
• Greens MLAs21 of 35
• Independent MLAs11 of 22
• Labor backbenchers8 of 17

changed by another MLA passed as movedA change can be a compromise, a correction or a rewrite. When a change is agreed, its mover won a majority of the Assembly over to their wording; that shows influence, not whether the motion got better or worse. Ministers’ motions aren’t counted here. A motion co-sponsored by MLAs from two groups counts in each group's row, and once in the total above. Select a group to read its motions.

What MLAs add to other people’s motions

Every MLA outside the ministry, in alphabetical order. For each: the motions they brought, how many of the changes they proposed were agreed, and what those changes tend to add.

1. Chiaka Barry12 motions brought3 co-sponsored with other MLAs3 changes agreed2 found word for word in the final textAll three were on community motions: less red tape for food relief groups, and condemning antisemitism alongside other racism.
2. Andrew Braddock13 motions brought2 co-sponsored with other MLAs18 changes agreed13 found word for word in the final text, 4 can’t be checkedMostly transport (7 of 18) and how government works (4). Tends to add buses and active travel, and to reshape the terms of inquiries and reviews.
3. Peter Cain6 motions brought3 co-sponsored with other MLAs1 change agreed1 found word for word in the final textHis agreed change asked for a public NDIS roadmap with deadlines and six-monthly reports.
4. Fiona Carrick12 motions brought1 co-sponsored with other MLAs14 changes agreed9 found word for word in the final text, 2 can’t be checkedSpread across many areas with no single focus. The common thread is consultation, regular reporting and independent reviews, plus services for growing suburbs.
5. Leanne Castley22 motions brought2 co-sponsored with other MLAs2 changes agreed0 found word for word in the final text, 1 can’t be checkedHer agreed changes set the time span for a document order and rewrote a motion on reporting members' entitlements.
6. Jo Clay11 motions brought4 co-sponsored with other MLAs17 changes agreed13 found word for word in the final text, 4 can’t be checkedMostly planning and housing (9 of 17), including changes to a planning bill. Tends to add public and community housing, community consultation, and reports with deadlines.
7. Ed Cocks12 motions brought3 co-sponsored with other MLAs12 changes agreed9 found word for word in the final text, 2 can’t be checkedMostly about how the Assembly and its committees work (5 of 12), plus health and environment. Tends to add reporting deadlines, document orders and committee arrangements.
8. Thomas Emerson11 motions brought2 co-sponsored with other MLAs23 changes agreed19 found word for word in the final text, 2 can’t be checkedSpread across many areas, most often community safety, transport and education. The common thread is adding support services, prevention and community consultation.
9. Jeremy Hanson6 motions brought1 change agreed1 found word for word in the final textHis agreed change added childcare cost figures and steps to expand out-of-hours care.
10. Elizabeth Lee4 motions brought3 co-sponsored with other MLAs0 changes agreedHer one change, land use support for not-for-profit childcare, was not agreed.
11. James Milligan6 motions brought2 co-sponsored with other MLAs4 changes agreed2 found word for word in the final textMostly transport (2 of 4). His changes added cost modelling for library staffing, a public register of path projects and new bus routes.
12. Deborah Morris15 motions brought2 co-sponsored with other MLAs1 change agreed1 found word for word in the final textHer agreed change added the problems found at police buildings to a motion on police facilities.
13. Laura Nuttall9 motions brought1 co-sponsored with other MLAs12 changes agreed8 found word for word in the final text, 3 can’t be checkedMostly schools and early childhood (7 of 12), including changes to an education bill. Tends to add consultation with educators, families and the community sector.
14. Mark Parton22 motions brought4 co-sponsored with other MLAs1 change agreed1 found word for word in the final textHis agreed change set up a select committee on government procurement.
15. Shane Rattenbury5 motions brought2 co-sponsored with other MLAs12 changes agreed8 found word for word in the final text, 3 can’t be checkedMostly justice and safety (4 of 12) and housing (3), plus health. Tends to add research evidence, and asks for funding for support services and more public reporting.
16. Caitlin Tough9 motions brought2 changes agreed1 found word for word in the final text, 1 can’t be checkedHer agreed changes set committee sizes and added zoning detail and review steps for the Richardson shops.
17. Rebecca Vassarotti2 motions brought1 co-sponsored with other MLAs5 changes agreed3 found word for word in the final textAll on justice and safety (3) or health (2). Tends to add consultation with community organisations and detail on community services.
18. Taimus Werner-Gibbings8 motions brought1 change agreed1 found word for word in the final textHis one change, to his own motion, widened it to more public defibrillators.

Bringing motions and changing other people’s are both part of the job, and neither count says how much something mattered. When the Minutes name more than one MLA as moving a motion (co-sponsored), it counts as brought for each of them, so these numbers add up to more than the number of motions. Why the numbers look like this: Labor governs in minority, with 10 of the 25 seats, so it needs at least three votes from outside Labor to pass anything. Changes from the Greens, the independents or the Liberals are often agreed as part of getting that support, and the opposition brings most motions. A change counts as found word for word when at least 90% of its new wording is in the final text; changes that only take words out, bill amendments and motions whose final text isn’t printed can’t be checked that way. The line under each name is our summary of every change that MLA moved. Select a name to see the changes it rests on.