Trust through realism
What your senator can — and cannot — do.
A senator legislates, appropriates, scrutinises, advocates, convenes and reports back. Promising executive action that belongs to other institutions is how public trust is lost.
Institutional literacy
What your senator can— and cannot — do.
FCT FIRST is written to be delivered through the instruments a senator actually holds. Everything on this website names the instrument, and names the institution that must act alongside it.
Can
- LEGISLATION
Legislate
Sponsor and support laws, including constitutional alterations.
- APPROPRIATION
Appropriate
Fight for priorities during the federal budget process.
- OVERSIGHT
Oversee
Question agencies and scrutinise implementation.
- ADVOCACY
Advocate
Use the Senate platform to advance FCT interests.
- CONVENING
Convene
Bring institutions and communities together around solutions.
- CONSTITUENCY FACILITATION
Report back
Casework, surgeries and telling residents what was promised, what happened and what remains outstanding.
Cannot
- Command or deploy the police or any security agency
- Operate the rail system or run transport services
- Manage hospitals or primary healthcare centres
- Execute water projects or run the utilities
- Administer the area councils or direct the FCT Administration
- Award or supervise construction contracts
A senator is not the FCT Minister, an area council chairman, the FCDA, a road contractor or a service-delivery agency.
Representation that delivers
How a commitmentis meant to travel.
- 01
Promise
A manifesto commitment, published with its source wording.
- 02
Senate action
The instrument used — legislation, appropriation, oversight, advocacy, convening or facilitation.
- 03
Evidence
The document, committee record, budget line or institutional response.
- 04
Public report
A plain-language update residents can read, question and measure.