Whether you’re a Canberran or from out of town, everyone is welcome to visit the ACT Legislative Assembly!

Where is the Assembly?

The Assembly is located at 196 London Circuit, Canberra, ACT.

The public entrance to the Assembly is accessible from Civic Square, on the eastern side next to the Canberra Theatre Centre.

How do I get there?

By public transport

The Assembly is a 6-minute walk from the Alinga Street light rail station and Civic interchange. There are also three bus-stops outside the Assembly building (stops 3003, 3004, and 3356) serviced by Transport Canberra routes R2 – R7, R10, 54 – 59, 180 – 182, and Qcity Transit routes 830, 840X, 842 and 844X.

School or charter busses are able to set down visitors in the designated stop on Civic Square, but availability of these spaces cannot be guaranteed.

By car

Paid short-stay public parking is available in the southeast Constitution Avenue carpark (access off Constitution Avenue) and the London Circuit carpark beside the CMAG building (access off London Circuit).

Accessible carparking is available in both carparks.

What can I expect when I arrive?

All visitors to the Assembly are required to undergo security screening. This will include scanning any bags or items you may bring and passing through a metal detector. This is done by our attendants’ team and helps maintain a safe and protected environment.

Accessibility

We're committed to making sure the Legislative Assembly and our democracy in the ACT is accessible and inclusive. For information about what to expect and how we can assist you when visiting the Assembly, please see our Accessibility and Inclusion Statement.

Visitors won't be admitted who  have any cold or flu-like symptoms or have tested positive for Covid-19. If you feel unwell, please stay at home.


If you require assistance with the screening process, just let one of our friendly attendants know. You can also contact us to discuss any concerns you may have on (02) 6205 0439.

Items considered threatening or security risks will be confiscated and held by the attendants for the duration of your visit. The Australian Federal Police will be called should any prohibited items or weapons be bought onto the premises.

What’s happens next?

What happens next depends on what you’re visiting for:

You need an appointment to visit a member of the Legislative Assembly. Contact your local members' to organise a meeting.

Security staff will contact the member’s office when you arrive for your appointment. You will need to obtain a visitor pass from the security desk at the when you arrive. Visitor passes must be displayed at all times and you must be accompanied by a staff member in all secure parts of the building.

Anyone is welcome to watch a sitting of the Assembly from the public gallery. It is important to check when the next sitting day before traveling to the Assembly to watch the chamber in session, as the Assembly sits irregularly. When is the next sitting day?

Sitting days run from 10am until midday, and from 2pm until 6.30pm (end times may vary). Question time starts at 2pm. You can see the day's agenda in the Daily Program, published the morning of each sitting.

Alcohol-based hand sanitiser is available in the foyer and in the public gallery walkway.

Seating in the public gallery is split into two sections. You can sit anywhere behind the first row, which is reserved for members' and ministers' advisers. While in the public gallery, we also ask you follow these rules:

  • Please dress appropriately, including wearing shoes and removing non-religious head-wear.
  • No food or drink can be brought into the chamber.
  • Mobile phones must be switched to silent
  • No photography or video recording is allowed.

If you're unwell or can't make it to the Assembly to watch from the gallery, you can watch online (either live or on demand) through our broadcast website.

Anyone is welcome to attend public hearings held by Assembly committees.

Most hearings are held in in the Assembly building, though some may occur elsewhere in the ACT. Check where a hearing is being held on the schedule.

If you you are speaking at a committee hearing, the secretary is your main contact on what to do. When you arrive, you can sit either in the committee room's public gallery or the waiting area next to the room if the door is closed.

If you have any special requirements, please let the secretary know before the hearing.

We do a range of things to help keep everyone attending committee hearings healthy and safe:

  • The rooms are cleaned and disinfected following Safe Work Australia and public health guidance
  • The desks are cleaned and disinfected between presenters during hearings
  • Alcohol-based hand sanitiser is available at the building entry and in meeting rooms
  • The buildings fresh air intake is at an increased 50%
  • Posters encouraging good hygiene practices are in all bathrooms
  • Committee chairs regularly remind people attending hearings of good hand and respiratory hygiene

If you're unwell or can't make it to the Assembly to watch from the gallery, you can watch online (either live or on demand) through our broadcast website.

The Assembly's education programs aim to strengthening civic literacy and promoting positive democratic experiences for all Canberrans. See the full range of programs.

Most education programs take place in the Reception Room in the Assembly building. This is to your right immediately after clearing security.

At education programs and events, you will be given a Assembly badge to wear. Badges must be worn at all times while in the Assembly building and should be returned before departing from the program. For school visits, students will not be given badges but will be escorted around the building by education officers.

Tours are held weekly on Thursdays at 1pm. Anyone is welcome to join one of our free public tours of the Assembly building.

The tour takes you behind the scenes, offering an insight into the running of Australia's youngest parliament. Highlights include visiting the committee rooms, seeing items of the Assembly art collection, and experiencing the gravitas of the debating chamber.

On sitting Thursdays, tours will conclude in the chamber at 1.55pm with the option of continuing on to watch question time. When is the next sitting Thursday?

Bookings for individuals or small groups are not required. If you have a medium to large group, we may be able to run a dedicated tour. Contact us at LAeducation@parliament.act.gov.au

Visit safety information

Venue and safety information is available to download. This offers a comprehensive overview of the Assembly as a venue and site safety for visiting groups. It also includes a model risk assessment for school excursions.

Helpful links