2028 Australian Capital Territory election

2028 Australian Capital Territory election

←  2024 21 October 2028 [1] 2032 →
All 25 seats in the ACT Legislative Assembly 13 seats needed for a majority
Leader Andrew Barr Mark Parton Party Labor Liberal Leader since 11 December 2014 10 November 2025 Leader's seat Kurrajong Brindabella Last election 10 seats, 34.1% 9 seats, 33.5% Current seats 10 9 Seats needed 3 6   FCI Leader Shane Rattenbury Fiona Carrick Party Greens Fiona Carrick Leader since 20 October 2012 7 June 2024 Leader's seat Kurrajong Murrumbidgee Last election 4 seats, 12.2% 1 seat, 2.7% Current seats 4 1 Seats needed 9 N/A
Incumbent Chief Minister Andrew Barr Labor

The 2028 Australian Capital Territory election is expected to be held on 21 October 2028 to elect all 25 members of the unicameral ACT Legislative Assembly. ^[2]

The Labor Party, led by chief minister Andrew Barr, has been in government in the ACT since 2001 and will be seeking an eighth consecutive term in office. ^[3] They are expected to be challenged by the Liberal Party, the Greens, several other minor parties and independents. ^{[4] [5]}

Background

Assembly composition

Independents for Canberra (IFC) won 8.5% of the vote at the 2024 election, with one candidate – party leader Thomas Emerson – elected in the Kurrajong electorate. On 5 February 2025, Emerson resigned from IFC. ^[6] The party was subsequently voluntarily deregistered on 10 July 2025. ^{[7] [8]}

On 28 October 2025, then opposition leader Leanne Castley suspended Peter Cain and Elizabeth Lee from the Liberal Party caucus because of their decision to cross the floor and vote for a longer parliamentary sitting calendar. ^{[9] [10]} Castley, along with her deputy, resigned on 10 November 2025 and was replaced by Mark Parton under who Cain and Lee returned to the partyroom.

Electoral system

The election will be conducted by the ACT Electoral Commission (also known as Elections ACT). ^[11]

All members of the Legislative Assembly are elected by the Hare-Clark system of proportional representation, with the parliament divided into five electorates, each electing five members:

• Brindabella – contains the district of Tuggeranong
• Ginninderra – contains the district of Belconnen (except the suburbs of Giralang and Kaleen)
• Kurrajong – contains the districts of Canberra Central (excluding Deakin, Forrest, Red Hill, and Yarralumla), Jerrabomberra, Kowen and Majura
• Murrumbidgee – contains the districts of the Woden Valley, Weston Creek, Molonglo Valley, and the South Canberra suburbs of Deakin, Forrest, Red Hill, and Yarralumla
• Yerrabi – contains the districts of Gungahlin, Hall and the Belconnen suburbs of Giralang and Kaleen

Political parties

See also: List of political parties in Australia § Australian Capital Territory

As of November 2025 ^[update] , 13 political parties are registered with Elections ACT. ^[12] Additionally, the Canberra Socialists and Pauline Hanson's One Nation have stated their intentions to contest the 2028 election. ^{[13] [14]}

• Animal Justice Party
• Australian Labor Party (ACT Branch)
• Australian Multicultural Party
• Belco Party (ACT)
• Canberra Progressives
• Democratic Labour Party (DLP)
• Family First Party (ACT)
• Fiona Carrick Independent
• Liberal Party of Australia (A.C.T. Division)
• Libertarian Party
• Sustainable Australia Party
• The ACT Greens
• The Community Action Party

References

1. "So when is the next federal election? A quick guide". Parliament of Australia. 22 August 2022. Archived from the original on 5 October 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2025. ACT Legislative Assembly elections are held on the third Saturday in October every 4 years.
2. Lindell, Jasper (2 October 2024). "No Woden light rail contract signed until after 2028 ACT election". The Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 6 November 2025. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
3. Nothling, Lily (19 October 2025). "It's been called Canberra's 'forever government' — but ACT Labor's brand is growing tired". ABC News. Archived from the original on 6 November 2025. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
4. Lindell, Jasper (8 May 2025). "'We will need every one': Castley not interested in ACT public service cuts". The Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 9 May 2025. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
5. Fenwicke, Claire (17 July 2025). "Independents for Canberra is no more, Canberra Socialists get ready to launch". Region Canberra. Archived from the original on 22 July 2025. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
6. "Current Members of the legislative assembly". Elections ACT. Archived from the original on 13 March 2025. Retrieved 10 July 2025. Mr Emerson was elected as a candidate for the registered political party, Independents for Canberra. Mr Emerson resigned from the party on 5 February 2025 to sit in the Assembly as a non-party MLA.
7. "Deregistration of Independents for Canberra". Elections ACT. 10 July 2025. Archived from the original on 10 July 2025. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
8. Lindell, Jasper (10 July 2025). "No longer a political party, Independents for Canberra vows to stay involved". The Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 10 July 2025. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
9. Bovill, Monte (28 October 2025). "Canberra Liberals suspend backbenchers Elizabeth Lee and Peter Cain from party room". ABC News. Archived from the original on 6 November 2025. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
10. Bushnell, Ian (28 October 2025). "Divided Liberals: Castley suspends Cain and Lee from party room". Region Canberra. Archived from the original on 6 November 2025. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
11. Coleman, James (11 February 2025). "Elections for fun and profit: What the ACT election cost the parties, cost you, and who made money?". Region Canberra. Archived from the original on 9 September 2025. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
12. "Register of political parties". Elections ACT. Archived from the original on 6 November 2025. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
13. "New party for Canberra". LG Focus. 10 July 2025. Archived from the original on 6 November 2025. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
14. "MASSIVE NEWS! One Nation is launching a Canberra Branch. We will contest ACT elections in the future". Facebook. Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party. 6 November 2025. Archived from the original on 6 November 2025. Retrieved 6 November 2025.