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Public Matter

Issues · Transport

Public transport commitments

Votes on whether to commit to more or faster public transport than the government has planned.

Votes on calls for more frequent buses, bus lanes, cheaper fares and faster light rail expansion, beyond the government's existing plans. Voting against these is not the same as opposing public transport.

How the 25 MLAs voted

4 mostly for · 2 both ways · 2 against · 6 mostly against · 10 always against · 1 not in these votes

Based on 5 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.

Mostly voted for (4)

Voted both ways (2)

  • Deborah Morris · Brindabella
    Canberra Liberals    For in 1 of 2 votes
  • Fiona Carrick · Murrumbidgee
    Fiona Carrick Independent    For in 2 of 5 votes

Voted against (2)

Mostly voted against (6)

  • James Milligan · Yerrabi
    Canberra Liberals    For in 1 of 4 votes
  • Chiaka Barry · Ginninderra
    Canberra Liberals    For in 1 of 5 votes
  • Ed Cocks · Murrumbidgee
    Canberra Liberals    For in 1 of 5 votes
  • Leanne Castley · Yerrabi
    Canberra Liberals    For in 1 of 5 votes
  • Mark Parton · Brindabella
    Canberra Liberals    For in 1 of 5 votes
  • Peter Cain · Ginninderra
    Canberra Liberals    For in 1 of 5 votes

Always voted against (10)

Not in any of these votes (1)

The votes

  1. 1. 5 December 2024 · Transport Canberra—bus frequencyNot yet checked

    The government's change to a Greens motion on bus services. The Greens wanted buses every 20 minutes on weekdays and 30 minutes on weekends by 2028. The change replaced this with hourly weekend services from 2025 and a plan by March 2025. It passed.

    Voting No counts as for this issue. The change replaced firm service targets with a smaller commitment.

    Result: Ayes 13, Noes 8. Who voted each way

  2. 2. 26 June 2025 · Tuggeranong—roadsNot yet checked

    A Greens change to a Labor motion about Tuggeranong roads, asking for transport spending in Tuggeranong to shift towards public transport, cycling and walking. It was voted down.

    Voting Aye counts as for this issue. The change asked for more of the transport budget to go to public transport.

    Result: Ayes 5, Noes 16. Who voted each way

  3. 3. 24 March 2026 · Fuel security—impact on cost of livingNot yet checked

    A Greens change to a Liberal motion on fuel prices. It swapped a call to cut fuel excise for free public transport for concession card holders and a tax on gas exports. It was voted down.

    Voting Aye counts as for this issue. It called for free and cheaper public transport.

    Result: Ayes 6, Noes 16. Who voted each way

  4. 4. 24 March 2026 · Fuel security—impact on cost of livingNot yet checked

    Mr Emerson's change to the same motion, calling for trial bus lanes and pop-up bike lanes during the fuel crisis. It was voted down.

    Voting Aye counts as for this issue. It called for bus lanes.

    Result: Ayes 6, Noes 16. Who voted each way

  5. 5. 26 May 2026 · Light rail—expansionNot yet checked

    A Greens motion calling for faster light rail expansion across Canberra. It was voted down.

    Voting Aye counts as for this issue. A vote for more light rail.

    Result: Ayes 3, Noes 20. Who voted each way

What Canberrans said about transport

27%picked “Improving public transport and active travel options” as one of their top three priorities for the ACT Government
47%of everyone surveyed agreed enough is currently being done about it

What they most wanted

  • Expand and improve public transport infrastructure66%
  • Improve active travel infrastructure55%
  • Increase frequency of bus services55%

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 453 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.