Issues · Arts, sport and culture
Libraries
Votes on whether to fund more library staff and opening hours.
Votes on library staffing, opening hours and closures.
What this can’t tell you
- Most decisions in the Assembly are made on the voices, with no names recorded. Only recorded votes appear here.
- Many of these votes are on changes to someone else’s motion. Voting against a change can mean “not like this” or “not funded yet”, not opposition to the idea. Each vote shows its stage.
- “No recorded vote” can mean the MLA wasn’t a member yet, or didn’t vote. It never means they abstained.
Each MLA
One square per vote, oldest first. A Aye, N No (not yet checked), no recorded vote.
- Andrew Barr · Kurrajong
LaborNo recorded vote on these - Caitlin Tough · Brindabella
LaborAAye 1, No 0 - Chris Steel · Murrumbidgee
LaborAAye 1, No 0 - Marisa Paterson · Murrumbidgee
LaborAAye 1, No 0 - Michael Pettersson · Yerrabi
LaborAAye 1, No 0 - Rachel Stephen-Smith · Kurrajong
LaborAAye 1, No 0 - Suzanne Orr · Yerrabi
LaborAAye 1, No 0 - Taimus Werner-Gibbings · Brindabella
LaborAAye 1, No 0 - Tara Cheyne · Ginninderra
LaborAAye 1, No 0 - Yvette Berry · Ginninderra
LaborAAye 1, No 0 - Andrew Braddock · Yerrabi
ACT GreensNAye 0, No 1 - Jo Clay · Ginninderra
ACT GreensNAye 0, No 1 - Laura Nuttall · Brindabella
ACT GreensNAye 0, No 1 - Rebecca Vassarotti · Kurrajong
ACT GreensNo recorded vote on these - Chiaka Barry · Ginninderra
Canberra LiberalsAAye 1, No 0 - Deborah Morris · Brindabella
Canberra LiberalsAAye 1, No 0 - Ed Cocks · Murrumbidgee
Canberra LiberalsAAye 1, No 0 - Elizabeth Lee · Kurrajong
Canberra LiberalsNo recorded vote on these - James Milligan · Yerrabi
Canberra LiberalsAAye 1, No 0 - Jeremy Hanson · Murrumbidgee
Canberra LiberalsAAye 1, No 0 - Leanne Castley · Yerrabi
Canberra LiberalsAAye 1, No 0 - Mark Parton · Brindabella
Canberra LiberalsAAye 1, No 0 - Peter Cain · Ginninderra
Canberra LiberalsAAye 1, No 0 - Fiona Carrick · Murrumbidgee
IndependentAAye 1, No 0 - Thomas Emerson · Kurrajong
IndependentAAye 1, No 0
The votes
- 1. 19 March 2025 · Libraries ACT—resourcing
A change to a Greens motion on libraries. It replaced calls for more staff and longer opening hours with financial modelling and a needs assessment. It passed. (our summary; the question as recorded is below)
Question as recorded: That the amendment be agreed to. Question resolved in the affirmative.
Voting No would count as for this issue (review in progress). The change removed the calls for more staff and longer hours.
Ayes 19, Noes 4. Who voted each way · Official record, p. 736 ·
Other Assembly decisions on arts, sport and culture
9 decisions on this topic since November 2024, newest first. Most were decided on the voices, without a recorded vote. Grouped into this topic by key words, so a few may belong elsewhere.
- 24 September 2026Tuggeranong ice sports facility: Documents: Order to tableMoved by Laura Nuttall · Passed on the voices, no names recorded · 1 change agreed first
- 16 September 2026Sporting infrastructure in tuggeranong: ImprovementMoved by James Milligan and Deborah Morris (co-sponsored) · Passed on the voices, no names recorded · 1 change agreed first
- 11 June 2026Sportsgrounds management and maintenance: ImprovementMoved by James Milligan · Passed on the voices, no names recorded
- 11 June 2026Molonglo valley playing fields: DevelopmentMoved by Fiona Carrick · Passed on the voices, no names recorded
- 4 February 2026Sporting facilities: Independent reportMoved by James Milligan · Passed on the voices, no names recorded · 1 change agreed first
What Canberrans said about arts, sport and culture
What they most wanted
- Support more live music, venues, festivals and events72%
- Support more diverse and inclusive events and festivals41%
- Support programs to engage young people and communities40%
From the 2025 Community Priorities Survey (ACT Government, YourSay Panel, summary report, April 2026), carried out 21 October to 4 November 2025: 1,801 people answered. An opt-in panel of Canberrans aged 18 and over, with extra young people recruited through a second panel, weighted by age, gender and region to match the 2021 Census. “What they most wanted” is out of the 228 people who picked this area; each could choose up to three. This shows what people told one survey. It isn’t a vote, and it doesn’t say how any MLA should vote.