The branch is the current ruling party in the ACT and is led by Andrew Barr, who has concurrently served as chief minister since 2014.

Originally a part of the New South Wales Labor Party, the ALP National Conference established an autonomous ACT Branch in 1973.

The current ACT Labor Platform notes that the objective of the party is social justice and the pursuit of a fair, just and equitable society.

During this time the Australian National University was a major source of members of the party and various academics were active participants in its affairs.

In 1974 Susan Ryan was preselected for the Senate and the Branch has a history of electing women as its candidates and party officials.

Joan Taggart from the ACT Branch was elected junior vice-president of the ALP in 1979,[3] thereby becoming the first woman to hold a national office bearer post in the Labor Party.

A fully autonomous Legislative Assembly was finally established in 1989 and Labor captured 5 of the 17 positions.

Labor re-took power in June 1991 after a successful no-confidence motion was moved against the Liberal-Residents Rally Alliance Government.

ACT Elections were held in February 1992 and Labor was returned to power with the number of MLAs increased from five to eight, only one short of majority Government.

Labor's election win in 2004 was particularly significant as it was the first and, so far, only time a single party has won a majority in the ACT's Legislative Assembly.