AAP


Prime Minister Julia Gillard is comfortable with the idea of more politicians in Canberra, telling her local government minister that the ACT Legislative Assembly should be able to set its own size.


For years, the ACT's local MPs have debated the need to increase the numbers in the territory's 17-member parliament.


However, the size of the parliament is currently set by commonwealth legislation.


On Thursday, Chief Minister Katy Gallagher said Ms Gillard had written to federal Local Government Minister Simon Crean to say she would support legislation removing the requirement for the commonwealth to set the assembly's size.


"That's a really positive development," Ms Gallagher told reporters in Canberra.


"Once that legislation passes it would be over to the members elected by Canberrans to determine the future shape and size (of the Legislative Assembly)."


She hoped such legislation would be passed before the next federal election, due in the second half of 2013, so a decision on size could be made quickly.


"I think it's probably a matter best dealt with and agreed upon within the first year of a new term because these matters invariably get political if they're left to hang around," she said.


The Northern Territory - with a population of 135,000 less than the ACT - has a 25-member parliament.


Tasmania, which has about 140,000 more residents, has a 25-member lower house and a 15-member upper house in its parliament.