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.
How the 25 MLAs voted
3 for · 19 against · 3 not in these votes
Based on 1 recorded vote. For each vote we show which side counts as “for” this issue, and count how often each MLA voted on that side. This describes how they voted, not whether they were right. With fewer than 3 votes there are too few to show a pattern, so we only say which way each MLA voted.
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.
- Summaries say whose proposal each vote was on, so you can see when an MLA voted on their own motion or amendment.
Not yet checked. The plain-English summaries and the links between these votes and this issue were drafted with AI help and haven’t been checked by a person yet. The votes themselves are exactly as recorded in Hansard.
Each MLA
Squares show each vote, oldest first: for, against, not voting.
Voted for (3)
- Andrew Braddock · Yerrabi
ACT GreensFor in 1 of 1 vote - Jo Clay · Ginninderra
ACT GreensFor in 1 of 1 vote - Laura Nuttall · Brindabella
ACT GreensFor in 1 of 1 vote
Voted against (19)
- Caitlin Tough · Brindabella
LaborFor in 0 of 1 vote - Chiaka Barry · Ginninderra
Canberra LiberalsFor in 0 of 1 vote - Chris Steel · Murrumbidgee
LaborFor in 0 of 1 vote - Deborah Morris · Brindabella
Canberra LiberalsFor in 0 of 1 vote - Ed Cocks · Murrumbidgee
Canberra LiberalsFor in 0 of 1 vote - Fiona Carrick · Murrumbidgee
Fiona Carrick IndependentFor in 0 of 1 vote - James Milligan · Yerrabi
Canberra LiberalsFor in 0 of 1 vote - Jeremy Hanson · Murrumbidgee
Canberra LiberalsFor in 0 of 1 vote - Leanne Castley · Yerrabi
Canberra LiberalsFor in 0 of 1 vote - Marisa Paterson · Murrumbidgee
LaborFor in 0 of 1 vote - Mark Parton · Brindabella
Canberra LiberalsFor in 0 of 1 vote - Michael Pettersson · Yerrabi
LaborFor in 0 of 1 vote - Peter Cain · Ginninderra
Canberra LiberalsFor in 0 of 1 vote - Rachel Stephen-Smith · Kurrajong
LaborFor in 0 of 1 vote - Suzanne Orr · Yerrabi
LaborFor in 0 of 1 vote - Taimus Werner-Gibbings · Brindabella
LaborFor in 0 of 1 vote - Tara Cheyne · Ginninderra
LaborFor in 0 of 1 vote - Thomas Emerson · Kurrajong
Independents for CanberraFor in 0 of 1 vote - Yvette Berry · Ginninderra
LaborFor in 0 of 1 vote
Not in any of these votes (3)
- Andrew Barr · Kurrajong
LaborNot in any recorded vote on this issue - Elizabeth Lee · Kurrajong
Canberra LiberalsNot in any recorded vote on this issue - Rebecca Vassarotti · Kurrajong
ACT GreensNot in any recorded vote on this issue
The votes
- 1. 19 March 2025 · Libraries ACT—resourcingNot yet checked
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.
Voting No counts as for this issue. The change removed the calls for more staff and longer hours.
Result: Ayes 19, Noes 4. Who voted each way
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.