‘We’re going to need a bigger house’

The numbers of MPs in the House of Representatives could skyrocket and a nexus connecting the size of the lower chamber and the size of the Senate could be broken under a radical election proposal.

Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: AAP

The numbers of MPs in the House of Representatives could skyrocket and a constitutional nexus connecting the size of the lower chamber and the size of the Senate could be broken under a radical election proposal put forward by government MPs.

Under the constitution, the House is only allowed to be twice the size of the Senate – a quirk some MPs feel constricts their ability to cater for Australia’s growing population while creating smaller electorates which give people greater access to their elected members.

The Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters’ report into the 2019 election recommends a parliamentary inquiry be held into how the House can increase in size and a constitutional referendum to ensure the Senate does not grow with it. A 1967 referendum seeking to break the nexus between the House and the Senate failed – 59.75 per cent no to 40.25 per cent yes – over concerns about creating more politicians.

Labor’s dissenting report on the JSCEM review did not rule out support for another push to break the nexus.

“Labor believes that significant democratic reform is required,” the ALP report states.

“The issues of increasing the size of the parliament and the nexus between the two Houses should be canvassed in a separate, dedicated inquiry prior to being put to the Australian people.”