Plans to expand the ACT Legislative Assembly to 25 members at the 2016 election won't come cheap for taxpayers, with millions in additional costs each year from new backbenchers and a larger government ministry.
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Tuesday's historic vote will see eight more Canberrans receive the base rate of pay for Assembly members of $132,775, likely to have increased by anything up to a further 6 per cent by the time of the next poll – representing a further $1.1 million extra each year.
One or two ministers could join the present six, each of whom receive $225,718, a 70 per cent loading for their large portfolio responsibilities.
An expert reference group commissioned by ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher to consider the expanded Assembly estimated the annual increase in costs for the new members' salary, their staff and allowances to be about $3.28 million, plus about $652,000 annually for each additional minister.
ACT politicians are paid less than their counterparts federally and in all other jurisdictions except Tasmania.
The Legislative Assembly is currently housed in the 1950s South Building on London Circuit, complete with a purpose-built chamber added in 1993.
Modifying its present 23-member configuration will set the territory back about $50,000, but the increase in Assembly size is also expected to see the top floor ministerial wing moved to accommodate offices for ordinary members.
A working group to be established by Ms Gallagher and Speaker Vicki Dunne is likely to consider establishing new ministerial accommodation in the adjacent North Building or in nearby rented commercial office space.
Either option will be expensive. The required renovations for offices inside the existing building, likely to be undertaken in the lead-up to the October 2016 election, is expected to cost something in the order of $400,000.
Fit-outs of furniture and other equipment will range between $15,000 for ordinary members and $50,000 for ministers.
Ms Gallagher said on Tuesday that present members could be required to move out of their offices ahead of the election to allow renovations to take place.
ACT Electoral Commissioner Phil Green said the move to five electorates would not cost taxpayers more as redistributions already take place between each territory election.
He said the commission's computer system and election night technology would be modified to facilitate the changes well ahead of voting.
''One of the other features of the change to the number of members is the administrative funding payment made to political parties, per MLA,'' Mr Green said.
''It started out in 2012 at $20,000 per MLA, indexed to CPI. To date, they haven't changed that aspect of the Electoral Act and it is tied to the number of members each party has elected.
''That's an additional eight MLAs [multiplied by] $20,000, plus CPI, so that will also be an additional cost that will have to be bourne.''
The already growing price tag might get even larger still in years to come. The expert reference group recommended the Legislative Assembly expand further to include 35 members and nine ministers once the territory population passes 410,000 people in 2020 or 428,000 in 2024.
