Editing Canberra (section)

==Government and politics==
=== Territory government ===
{{See also|Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly|Electoral systems of the Australian states and territories}}
[[File:Entrance to the ACT Legislative Assembly building July 2022.jpg|thumb|ACT Legislative Assembly<br />and the statue ''Ethos'' (Tom Bass, 1961)]]
There is no local council or city government for the city of Canberra. The [[Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly]] performs the roles of both a [[city council]] for the city and a territory government for the rest of the Australian Capital Territory.<ref name="ass"/> However, the vast majority of the population of the Territory reside in Canberra and the city is therefore the primary focus of the ACT Government.

The assembly consists of 25 members elected from five districts using proportional representation. The five districts are [[Brindabella electorate|Brindabella]], [[Ginninderra electorate|Ginninderra]], [[Kurrajong electorate|Kurrajong]], [[Murrumbidgee electorate|Murrumbidgee]] and [[Yerrabi electorate|Yerrabi]], which each elect five members.<ref name="elecpage">{{cite web |title=Electorates 2016 election |date=27 April 2016 |url=http://www.elections.act.gov.au/electoral_boundaries/electorates/electorates_2016_election |publisher=Elections ACT |access-date=9 December 2016 |archive-date=3 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161103212449/http://www.elections.act.gov.au/electoral_boundaries/electorates/electorates_2016_election |url-status=live}}</ref> The Chief Minister is elected by the Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) and selects colleagues to serve as ministers alongside him or her in the Executive, known informally as the cabinet.<ref name="ass" />

Whereas the ACT has federally been dominated by Labor,<ref name="ABCelections2007" /><ref name="fras" /> the Liberals have been able to gain some footing in the ACT Legislative Assembly and were in government during a period of {{frac|6|1|2}} years from 1995 and 2001. Labor took back control of the Assembly in 2001.<ref name="state_el" /> At the 2004 election, Chief Minister [[Jon Stanhope]] and the Labor Party won 9 of the 17 seats allowing them to form the ACT's first majority government.<ref name="state_el" /> Since 2008, the ACT has been governed by a coalition of Labor and the Greens.<ref name="state_el" /><ref name="anniv">{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/05/11/2566162.htm |title=Turbulent 20yrs of self-government |date=11 May 2009 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=31 January 2010 |archive-date=10 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110165810/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-05-11/turbulent-20yrs-of-self-government/1679008 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/act-election-2016/guide/preview/ |title=2016 ACT Election Preview |first=Antony |last=Green |author-link=Antony Green |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=9 December 2016 |archive-date=20 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220072314/http://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/act-election-2016/guide/preview/ |url-status=live}}</ref> {{As of|2022}}, the Chief Minister was [[Andrew Barr]] from the Australian Labor Party.

The Australian federal government retains some influence over the ACT government. In the administrative sphere, most frequently this is through the actions of the [[National Capital Authority]] which is responsible for planning and development in areas of Canberra which are considered to be of national importance or which are central to Griffin's plan for the city,<ref name="nca">{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalcapital.gov.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=315&Itemid=284 |title=Administration of National Land |date=18 December 2008 |publisher=[[National Capital Authority]] |access-date=13 May 2010 |archive-date=18 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218171546/http://www.nationalcapital.gov.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=315&Itemid=284 |url-status=live}}</ref> such as the Parliamentary Triangle, Lake Burley Griffin, major approach and processional roads, areas where the Commonwealth retains ownership of the land or undeveloped hills and ridge-lines (which form part of the Canberra Nature Park).<ref name="nca" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalcapital.gov.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=312&Itemid=281 |title=Capital Works Overview |date=23 October 2008 |publisher=[[National Capital Authority]] |access-date=13 May 2010 |archive-date=16 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090516063457/http://www.nationalcapital.gov.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=312&Itemid=281 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalcapital.gov.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=314&Itemid=283 |title=Maintenance and Operation of Assets |date=23 October 2008 |publisher=[[National Capital Authority]] |access-date=13 May 2010 |archive-date=16 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090516063401/http://www.nationalcapital.gov.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=314&Itemid=283 |url-status=live}}</ref> The national government also retains a level of control over the Territory Assembly through the provisions of the ''[[Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988]]''.<ref>{{cite Legislation AU|Cth|act|acta1988482|Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988}}</ref> This federal act defines the legislative power of the ACT assembly.<ref>{{cite Legislation AU|Cth|act|acta1988482/sch4.html|Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988}} Schedule 4.</ref>

=== Federal representation ===
The ACT was given its first federal parliamentary representation in 1949 when it gained a seat in the House of Representatives, the [[Division of Australian Capital Territory]].{{sfn|Sparke|1988|p=289}}<ref name="1948act" /> However, until 1966, the ACT member could only vote on matters directly affecting the territory and did not count for purposes of forming government.<ref name="1948act">{{cite web |title=ACT Representation (House of Representatives) Act 1974 (Cth) |publisher=[[National Archives of Australia]] |url=https://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item-sdid-116.html |access-date=29 January 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216225427/https://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item-sdid-116.html |archive-date=16 December 2017}}</ref> In 1974, the ACT was allocated two Senate seats and the House of Representatives seat was divided into two.{{sfn|Sparke|1988|p=289}} A third was created in 1996, but was abolished in 1998 because of changes to the regional demographic distribution.<ref name="ABCelections2007" /> At the 2019 election, the third seat has been reintroduced as the [[Division of Bean]].

The House of Representatives seats have mostly been held by Labor and usually by comfortable margins.<ref name=ABCelections2007>{{cite web |title=Canberra |url=http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/2007/guide/canb.htm |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=29 December 2007 |access-date=31 January 2010 |archive-date=9 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190309231931/http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/2007/guide/canb.htm |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=fras>{{cite web |title=Fraser |url=http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/2007/guide/fras.htm |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=29 December 2007 |access-date=31 January 2010 |archive-date=10 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110165728/http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/2007/guide/fras.htm |url-status=live}}</ref> The Labor Party has polled at least seven percentage points more than the [[Liberal Party of Australia|Liberal Party]] at every federal election since 1990 and their average lead since then has been 15 percentage points.<ref name=state_el>{{cite web |title=Past election results |url=http://www.abc.net.au/elections/act/2008/guide/pastelections.htm |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=31 January 2010 |archive-date=10 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110165751/http://www.abc.net.au/elections/act/2008/guide/pastelections.htm |url-status=live}}</ref> The ALP and the Liberal Party held one Senate seat each until the [[2022 Australian federal election|2022 election]] when Independent candidate [[David Pocock]] unseated the Liberal candidate [[Zed Seselja]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-14/david-pocock-independent-wins-act-senate-unseats-zed-seselja/101149606 |title=ACT elects David Pocock as first independent senator, unseating Liberal Zed Seselja |publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |date=14 June 2022 |access-date=7 July 2022 |archive-date=2 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702104341/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-14/david-pocock-independent-wins-act-senate-unseats-zed-seselja/101149606 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Judiciary and policing ===
{{Main|Magistrates Court of the Australian Capital Territory|Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory|ACT Policing}}
{{See also|Crime in the Australian Capital Territory}}
[[File:High Court of Australia building, Canberra 03.jpg|thumb|[[High Court of Australia]]]]
The [[Australian Federal Police]] (AFP) provides all of the constabulary services in the territory in a manner similar to state police forces, under a contractual agreement with the ACT Government.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.afp.gov.au/recruitment/faqs/frequently_asked_questions_sworn.html#general |title=Frequently Asked Questions |date=19 November 2009 |publisher=[[Australian Federal Police]] |access-date=21 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100103094447/http://www.afp.gov.au/recruitment/faqs/frequently_asked_questions_sworn.html |archive-date=3 January 2010}}</ref> The AFP does so through its community policing arm [[ACT Policing]].<ref name="afpact">{{cite web |url=http://www.afp.gov.au/act.html |title=ACT Policing |publisher=[[Australian Federal Police]] |date=16 March 2010 |access-date=23 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100127071930/http://www.afp.gov.au/act.html |archive-date=27 January 2010}}</ref>

People who have been charged with offences are tried either in the [[Magistrates Court of the Australian Capital Territory|ACT Magistrates Court]] or, for more severe offences, the [[Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory|ACT Supreme Court]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.courts.act.gov.au/supreme/page/view/288 |title=History of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court |publisher=The Supreme Court of the ACT |access-date=7 March 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20160516215953/http://www.courts.act.gov.au/supreme/page/view/288 |archive-date=16 May 2016}}</ref> Prior to its closure in 2009, prisoners were held in [[Remand (detention)|remand]] at the [[Belconnen Remand Centre]] in the ACT but usually imprisoned in New South Wales.<ref>{{cite web |last=Laverty |first=Jo |url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2009/05/07/2563620.htm |title=The Belconnen Remand Centre |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=21 May 2009 |access-date=23 April 2010 |archive-date=29 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130429135239/http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2009/05/07/2563620.htm |url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Alexander Maconochie Centre]] was officially opened on 11 September 2008 by then Chief Minister [[Jon Stanhope]]. The total cost for construction was $130&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kittel |first=Nicholas |url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/videos/2008/11/26/2430325.htm |archive-date=1 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501045814/http://www.abc.net.au/local/videos/2008/11/26/2430325.htm |title=ACT prison built to meet human rights obligations |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=26 November 2008 |access-date=23 April 2010}}</ref> The [[ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal]] deal with minor civil law actions and other various legal matters.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.familycourt.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/FCOA/home/court_lists/Canberra/ |publisher=[[Family Court of Australia]] |title=Canberra Court List |access-date=13 May 2010 |archive-date=3 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100503082812/http://www.familycourt.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/FCOA/home/court_lists/Canberra/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.courts.act.gov.au/magistrates/TelephoneList1.htm |title=Court Listing |publisher=ACT Law Courts and Tribunals |access-date=13 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502091554/http://familycourt.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/FCOA/home/court_lists/Canberra/ |archive-date=2 May 2013}}</ref>

Canberra has the lowest rate of crime of any capital city in [[Australia]] {{as of|lc=yes|2019}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://police.act.gov.au/crime |title=Crime |website=Australian Federal Police. ACT Policing |date=7 March 2016 |access-date=23 February 2019 |archive-date=28 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228133000/https://police.act.gov.au/crime |url-status=live}}</ref> {{As of|2016}}, the most common crimes in the ACT were property related crimes, unlawful entry with intent and [[motor vehicle theft]]. They affected 2,304 and 966 people (580 and 243 per 100,000 persons respectively). [[Homicide]] and related offences—murder, attempted murder and manslaughter, but excluding driving causing death and conspiracy to murder—affect 1.0 per 100,000 persons, which is below the national average of 1.9 per 100,000. Rates of [[sexual assault]] (64.4 per 100,000 persons) are also below the national average (98.5 per 100,000).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4510.0Main+Features12016?OpenDocument |title=4510.0 – Recorded Crime – Victims, Australia, 2016 |date=6 July 2017 |publisher=[[Australian Bureau of Statistics]] |access-date=7 December 2017 |archive-date=8 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208231412/http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4510.0Main+Features12016?OpenDocument |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Census 2016 AUS|id=8|name=Australian Capital Territory |access-date=7 December 2017|quick=on }}</ref><ref>{{Census 2016 AUS|id=0|name=Australia |access-date=7 December 2017|quick=on }}</ref> However the 2017 crime statistics showed a rise in some types of personal crime, notably burglaries, thefts and assaults.