Andrew Barr and Shane Rattenbury have pledged to work co-operatively on a shared agenda until the 2016 ACT election, as the pair said significant progress had been achieved on the Labor-Greens parliamentary agreement.
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Enhancements to the ACT freedom of information legislation and a new car share scheme are among the remaining items on the agreement, signed in the wake of the 2012 election with former chief minister Katy Gallagher.
The remaining goals will be achieved in the final year of the Assembly term, including through announcements as part of next year's budget. Mr Rattenbury said the freedom of information legislation, based on Queensland's laws, would be tabled next month.
As Territory and Municipal Services Minister, Mr Rattenbury would remain in cabinet until the end of the term, both men agreed.
"There will be nothing like what happened in Tasmania, or federally," Mr Barr said. "We are able to maturely work through a parliamentary agreement for four years, put our respective platforms to the people in an election next year.
"It won't be a great surprise to people that there will be areas we have in common and some points of difference. The people will decide and we will have a discussion afterwards, depending on the nature of the make-up of the Assembly.'
Mr Barr said Opposition Leader Jeremy Hanson offered only "opposition for opposition's sake" on this week's passage of the budget.
In a continuation of heightened attacks, he said the defeated Liberal-National Party government in Queensland and the Abbott federal government offered Canberrans a taste of life under a Jeremy Hanson-led government.
ACT Labor secretary Matt Bryne paid tribute to retiring Deputy Chief Minister Simon Corbell who will leave the Assembly at the election. Mr Bryne was confident Labor would field quality candidates as a result of preselection processes already underway.
"He has been a great progressive legislator for Canberra. He has set the standard for legislative achievement in Australian progressive governments," Mr Bryne said.
"Look at his career: steering through Australia's first human rights act in 2004, successive attempts at bringing on marriage equality, standing up for territory rights and self-government. His vision for Canberra has always been optimistic ... and he has led the nation on climate change, environment and renewables."
Elections ACT has released the latest candidate information guide for the election, outlining required steps for candidates in the new five electorates, each set to elect five members. Candidates must be Australian citizens, over the age of 18, on the territory electoral roll and never convicted of treason.
Nominations for the election open on September 9, 2016, and close at noon on September 21.
The rolls for the election will close at 8pm on September 16, 2016. Electronic voting will again be used and six pre-poll voting places will operate at Belconnen, Civic, Gungahlin, Tuggeranong, Woden and the city's inner north.
A person is not eligible to be an Assembly member if they hold outside office or appointment under a Commonwealth, state or territory law or work for a government or its authorities. Other restrictions ban anyone "under a sentence of imprisonment for one year or longer for a conviction of an indictable offence" or anyone who has been convicted of crimes including bribery, violence, intimidation under the Electoral Act.
Anyone who holds public office or employment is eligible to be nominated but is not eligible to be a member.
"Therefore, a candidate who holds public office or employment should resign from that office or employment before the official declaration of the election result after polling day if, following the counting of votes, that candidate is to be declared elected," the guide said.
