The Electoral Matters Committee (EMC) of the Victorian Parliament has released its final report on Upper House electoral reform.
The EMC inquiry sought to explore possible reforms of the voting system and composition of the Legislative Council.
Among its recommendations, the Committee proposes ending Group Voting Tickets to improve transparency and better reflect voter intent.
On the question of the composition of the Upper House, the report recognises that designing the future structure of the Legislative Council is not the work of a Parliamentary Committee alone. The report recommends establishing a Citizens’ Assembly, expert panel, or constitutional convention to deliberate on the options presented to the Committee. The inquiry determined that a process such as this is necessary to help find cross-community consensus on a final plan, prior to a referendum being held after the November 2026 state election.
newDemocracy Foundation Executive Director Iain Walker commends the EMC for recognising that public deliberation is a pathway to better democratic outcomes.
“By recommending a Citizens’ Assembly, the Committee has recognised that electoral reform has to be designed with the community, not just for it. When everyday people have the time, information and support to deliberate, they consistently deliver fair, practical and trusted solutions. We welcome this report as a major step toward a more representative and transparent parliament for all Victorians.”
Read the EMC’s final report here.
