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Public Matter

Issues · Climate and environment

Trees, bushland and lakes

Votes on whether to add protections or funding for trees, bushland and lakes beyond current rules.

Votes on tighter tree removal rules, protecting bushland at the Ainslie Volcanics site and funding for cleaner lakes.

How the 25 MLAs voted

3 always for · 2 both ways · 3 against · 16 always against · 1 not in these votes

Based on 3 recorded votes. 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.

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.

Always voted for (3)

Voted both ways (2)

  • Fiona Carrick · Murrumbidgee
    Fiona Carrick Independent    For in 2 of 3 votes
  • Thomas Emerson · Kurrajong
    Independents for Canberra    For in 2 of 3 votes

Voted against (3)

Always voted against (16)

Not in any of these votes (1)

The votes

  1. 1. 8 April 2025 · Planning (Ainslie Volcanics) Amendment Bill 2025Not yet checked

    A Greens bill to protect bushland at the Ainslie Volcanics site from a planned phone tower. It was voted down at the first stage.

    Voting Aye counts as for this issue. The bill aimed to protect the site's bushland.

    Result: Ayes 6, Noes 17. Who voted each way

  2. 2. 8 May 2025 · Urban Forest (Approval Criteria) Determination 2025 (No 1)—disallowable instrument 2025-16—amendmentNot yet checked

    A Greens motion to change the rules on when trees can be removed, so that a tree being dead or in a bad spot is not enough on its own. It was voted down.

    Voting Aye counts as for this issue. It would have made it harder to remove trees.

    Result: Ayes 4, Noes 20. Who voted each way

  3. 3. 28 October 2025 · Lakes and waterways—water qualityNot yet checked

    A Greens change to a Liberal motion on lake water quality, committing to fund the remaining Healthy Waterways projects. It was voted down.

    Voting Aye counts as for this issue. It would have committed money to cleaner lakes and waterways.

    Result: Ayes 6, Noes 19. Who voted each way

What Canberrans said about climate and environment

15%picked “Taking climate action and switching to clean energy” as one of their top three priorities for the ACT Government
60%of everyone surveyed agreed enough is currently being done about it

What they most wanted

  • Support energy-efficiency upgrades/electrification of buildings62%
  • Protect and restore the natural environment57%
  • Stronger regulations and policies to reduce emissions53%

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 283 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.