He was an
independent member of the
Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly for
Canberra from 1975 to 1979, and then elected from the same electorate for the renamed House of Assembly from 1979 to 1982. He served as the first President of the Assembly from 1975 to 1979. Previously he had served on the predecessor body the
Australian Capital Territory Advisory Council from 1955 to 1974, acting as president from 1964. Pead helped establish the
Yarralumla Progress Association in the early 1950s, which led to his involvement in the
Australian Capital Territory Progress and Welfare Council, and was elected as a Progress candidate from 1955 until it dissolved in the mid 1960s. From 1967 onwards he was an Independent candidate. ==Federal politics==