Politics of Australia
Political structure of Australia | |
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16 principal departments within 14 ministerial portfolios | |
Judicial branch | |
Name | Judicature of the Commonwealth |
Courts | Courts of Australia |
High Court | |
Chief judge | Stephen Gageler, Chief Justice |
Seat | High Court building |
This article is part of a series on the |
Politics of Australia |
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Constitution |
Australia portal |
The politics of Australia operates under the written
The country has maintained a stable
Like other
The federal Parliament (as defined in
Separation of powers is the principle the power of state should be shared between multiple bodies, in order to avoid the concentration of power in one entity.[7] The legislature proposes and debates laws that the executive then administers, and the judicial arbitrates cases arising from the administration of laws and common law. However, in accordance with Westminster system, there is no strict separation between the executive and legislative branches, with ministers required to also be members of the legislature.[8][9] Only the High Court can deem if a law is constitutional or not.[7]
The Australian system of government combines elements derived from the political systems of the
Federal nature
Australia is a federation, with different powers and responsibilities for the three levels of government: the federal government, the states and territories and local government.
The federal nature and the structure of the
The federal government may only legislate on certain matters, with any remaining areas falling within the responsibility of the states. For example, the federal government has the responsibility for defence, inter-state trade and bankruptcy while the states have responsibility for healthcare and education.[18] Additionally,the states can agree to refer any of their powers to the Commonwealth government via legislation, as has been done to allow the Commonwealth to regulate corporations.[19] The federal government can also significantly influence state legislation by making tied grants (money which comes with certain conditions). This is a significant power due to high levels of vertical fiscal imbalance arising because of the limited revenue raising capabilities of the states.[20]
In addition, Australia has several territories, two of which are self-governing: the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory. As these territories' legislatures exercise powers devolved to them by the Commonwealth, the Parliament of Australia has the authority to override their legislation and to alter their powers. Australian citizens in these territories are represented by members of both houses of the Parliament of Australia, albeit with less representation in the Senate. Norfolk Island was self-governing from 1979 until 2015, although it was never represented as such in the Parliament of Australia.[18] The other inhabited territories: Jervis Bay, Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, have never been self-governing.[21][22][23]
The third level of governance is local government, in the form of shires, towns or cities. The councils of these areas are composed of elected representatives (known as either councillor or alderman, depending on the state). Their powers are devolved to them by the state or territory in which they are located.[18]
Constitution
The Australian Constitution sets down the powers and responsibilities of many of the institutions of the Australian Commonwealth. However, the prime minister, the cabinet and the other principles of responsible government are not explicitly mentioned in the document, along with most of the realities of exercise of executive power. This reflected the British influence on the document with
The Parliament of Australia can propose changes to the Constitution. To become effective, the proposals must be put to a referendum of all Australians of voting age and must receive a double majority: a majority of all votes, and a majority of votes in a majority of states.[24]
Section 1 of the
The Crown
Since at least the
Under the conventions of the
Australia has periodically experienced movements seeking to end the monarchy. In a
The Parliament
In the House of Representatives, 151 members are elected using full preferential voting in single member electorates (also known as seats). Elections are held once at least every three years, however the prime minister (historically the Cabinet) may request the governor-general call a new election at any time (however, they retain the discretion to refuse if inadequate reasons for the election are given).[14][46] However, as Senate elections must occur only during certain periods and as it generally politically advantageous (while not legally required) to hold House elections at the same time,[47] elections are generally restricted to a ten month window between August and May every three years, with the last split election in 1970 and 1972.[48] Unlike in the Senate, in which each state is represented equally, each state has a number of seats roughly proportional to its population; as such the house is also known as the people's house.[49] The prime minister is selected from the House, needing the support of the majority of members in order to be invited to form a government.[50]
Each chamber of Parliament has equal powers, with the exception that the Senate may not introduce "money bills" (new taxes or laws authorising expenditure).[51] However, the Senate can still block supply (the annual bill authorising government expenditure), but this has only happened once, during the 1975 Australian constitutional crisis.[52][53]
Parliamentarians belong to either the government, the opposition or sit on the cross-bench (which includes independents and members of minor parties). The opposition consists of members of the second largest party or coalition in the House of Representatives. The Leader of the Opposition heads shadow cabinet, composed of shadow ministers who mirror, scrutinise and oppose government ministers and act as the government in waiting. Although the government, by virtue of commanding a majority of members in the lower house of the Parliament, can usually pass its legislation and control the workings of the House, the opposition can considerably delay the passage of legislation and obstruct government business if it chooses.
The Executive Government
The executive's primary role is to implement the laws passed by the Parliament. Unlike the other two branches of government however, membership of the executive is not clearly defined. One definition describes the executive as a pyramid, consisting of three layers. At the top stands The King, as the symbolic apex and formal repository of executive power. Below him lies a second layer made up of the prime-minister, cabinet and other ministers who in practice lead the executive. Finally, the bottom layer includes public servants, police, government departments and independent statutory bodies who directly implement policy and laws.[56][57]
Executive power is also difficult to clearly define. In the British context, it was defined by John Locke as all government power not legislative or judicial in nature.[58] The key distinction is that while legislative power involves setting down rules of general application, executive power involves applying those rules to specific situations. In practice however, this definition is difficult to apply as many actions by executive agencies are wide ranging, binding and conducted independently of Parliament. Ultimately whether a power is executive or legislative is determined on a case by case basis, and involves the weighing up of various factors, rather than the application of a strict test.[59]
As most executive power is granted by statute, the executive power of the federal government is similarly limit to those areas in which the commonwealth is granted the power to legislate under the Constitution. They also retain certain powers traditionally part of the royal prerogative, such as the power to declare war and enter into treaties. Finally, there exists certain "nationhood powers", said to be inferred by implication from
Executive council
The Federal Executive Council is a formal body which exists and meets to give legal effect to decisions made by the Cabinet, and to carry out various other functions. All ministers are members of the council and are entitled to be styled The Honourable for life. The governor-general usually presides at council meetings, but in his or her absence another minister nominated as the Vice-President of the Executive Council presides at the meeting of the council.[64] Since 1 June 2022, the vice-president of the Federal Executive Council has been Senator Katy Gallagher.[65]
Cabinet
The Cabinet of Australia is the council of senior ministers, responsible to the Parliament. The ministers are appointed by the governor-general, on the advice of the prime minister, who serve at the former's pleasure.[66] Cabinet meetings are strictly private and occur once a week where vital issues are discussed and policy formulated. Outside the cabinet there is an outer ministry and also a number of junior ministers, called Parliamentary Secretaries, responsible for a specific policy area and reporting directly to a senior Cabinet minister.[67]
The Constitution of Australia does not recognise the Cabinet as a legal entity; it exists solely by convention. Its decisions do not in and of themselves have legal force. However, it serves as the practical expression of the Federal Executive Council, which is Australia's highest formal executive governmental body. In practice, the Federal Executive Council meets solely to endorse and give legal force to decisions already made by the Cabinet.[68] All members of the Cabinet are members of the Executive Council. While the governor-general is nominal presiding officer, they almost never attends Executive Council meetings. A senior member of the Cabinet holds the office of vice-president of the Executive Council and acts as presiding officer of the Executive Council in the absence of the governor-general.[69]
Until 1956 all members of the ministry were members of the Cabinet. The growth of the ministry in the 1940s and 1950s made this increasingly impractical, and in 1956
When the non-Labor parties are in power, the prime minister makes all Cabinet and ministerial appointments at their own discretion, although in practice they consult with senior colleagues in making appointments. When the
When
The cabinet meets not only in Canberra but also in state capitals, most frequently Sydney and Melbourne. Kevin Rudd was in favour of the Cabinet meeting in other places, such as major regional cities.[72] There are Commonwealth Parliament Offices in each state capital, with those in Sydney located in 1 Bligh Street.[73]
The Judicature
As a federation, in Australia judicial power is exercised by both federal and state courts. However, unlike the
Federal judicial power is vested in the High Court of Australia and such other federal courts created by the Parliament, including the Federal Court of Australia, the Family Court of Australia, and the Federal Circuit Court of Australia. Additionally, the Parliament has the power to enact laws which vest federal authority in state courts.[77] Since the Constitution requires a separation of powers at the federal level, only courts may exercise federal judicial power; and conversely, non-judicial functions cannot be vested in courts.[78]
State judicial power is exercised by each state's supreme court, and such other courts and tribunals created by the state parliaments.
The
The state supreme courts are also considered to be superior courts, those with unlimited jurisdiction to hear disputes and which are the pinnacle of the court hierarchy within their jurisdictions. They were created by means of the constitutions of their respective states or the self government Acts for the ACT and the Northern Territory. Appeals may be made from state supreme courts to the High Court of Australia.
Inferior courts are secondary to superior courts. Their existence stems from legislation and they only have the power to decide on matters which Parliament has granted them. Decisions in inferior courts can be appealed to the superior court in that area, and then to the High Court of Australia.
Until the passage of the Australia Act 1986, and associated legislation in the Parliament of the United Kingdom, some Australian cases could be referred to the British Judicial Committee of the Privy Council for final appeal. With this act, Australian law was made unequivocally sovereign, and the High Court of Australia was confirmed as the highest court of appeal. The theoretical possibility of the British Parliament enacting laws to override the Australian Constitution was also removed.[79]
Elections
At a national level, elections are held at least once every three years.
House of Representatives elections are contested by all seats. Representatives are elected using the Australian
Because the Senate's system of single transferable voting requires a lower quota than the House in order to obtain a seat, minor parties have often focused their election efforts on the upper house. This is true also at state level (only the two territories and Queensland are
State and local government
Australia's six states and the two largest territories are structured within a political framework similar to that of the Commonwealth. Each state has its own bicameral parliament, with the exception of Queensland and the two territories, whose parliaments are unicameral. Each state has a governor, who undertakes a role equivalent to that of the governor-general at the federal level, and a premier, who is the head of government and is equivalent to the prime minister. Each state also has its own supreme court, from which appeals can be made to the High Court of Australia.
State and territory elections occur every four years using fixed terms (except for Tasmania, where the premier decides the date of the election).[80]
Queensland is regarded as comparatively conservative.[81][82][83][84][85] Victoria, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory are regarded as comparatively left of centre.[85][86][87][88] New South Wales, the largest state by population, as well as South Australia have often been regarded as politically moderate bellwether states.[88][85] Western Australia, by contrast, tends to be more politically volatile; regarded as the most conservative state during the 2000–10s,[89] it has lately swung to rank amongst the most left-leaning states in the country. It is also known for historical secessionist sentiments.[90][91]
Local government in Australia is the lowest tier of government. Local governments are subject to the relevant states and territories. There is only one level of local government in Australia; with none of the distinctive local government types seen in other anglophone nations. Most local governments within the states have equivalent powers to each other; styles such as shire or city have only historical meaning.
Ideology in Australian politics
The Australian party system has been described by political scientists as more ideologically driven than other similar anglophone countries such as the United States and Canada.[92] In early Australian political history, class interests played a significant role in the division between the then-democratic socialist Australian Labor Party and a series of anti-Labor parties drawing on the liberal and conservative traditions (the predecessors of the modern Coalition of the Liberals and Nationals).[93][94]
In contemporary Australian political culture, the Coalition (Liberal and National parties) is considered centre-right and the Australian Labor Party is considered centre-left.[95] Australian conservatism is largely represented by the Coalition, along with Australian liberalism. The Labor Party categorises itself as social democratic,[96] although it has pursued a liberal economic and social policy since the prime ministership of Bob Hawke.[97][98]
Parliamentary Labor Party members such as Andrew Leigh have argued that the ALP should be reclassified as social liberal.[99][100] The Labor Party still maintains its historical socialist objective in its constitution; however, it is seen by some as an ideological anachronism within the party.[101][102]
In recent decades there has been a marked shift amongst the Australian electorate in providing their first preference votes to candidates not belonging to either of the two major parties. At the 2022 federal election 31% gave their preference to a non-major party candidate.[103]
Political parties
Organised, national political parties have dominated Australia's political landscape since federation. The late 19th century saw the rise of the Australian Labor Party, which represented organised workers. Opposing interests coalesced into two main parties: a centre-right party with a base in business and the middle classes that has been predominantly conservative and moderate, now the Liberal Party of Australia; and a rural or agrarian conservative party, now the National Party of Australia. While there are a small number of other political parties that have achieved parliamentary representation, these main three dominate organised politics everywhere in Australia and only on rare occasions have any other parties or independent members of parliament played any role at all in the formation or maintenance of governments.
Australian politics operates as a two-party system, as a result of the permanent coalition between the Liberal Party and National Party. Internal party discipline has historically been tight, unlike the situation in other countries such as the United States. Australia's political system has not always been a two-party system (e.g. 1901 to 1910) but nor has it always been as internally stable as in recent decades.[when?]
The Australian Labor Party (ALP) is a social democratic party. It is a left leaning party with tendency towards social welfare and government assistance programs. It was founded by the Australian labour movement and broadly represents the urban working and middle classes.
The Liberal Party of Australia is a party of the centre-right which broadly represents businesses, the middle classes and many rural people. Its permanent coalition partner at national level is the National Party of Australia, formerly known as the Country Party, a conservative party which represents rural interests. These two parties are collectively known as the Coalition. In only Queensland, the two parties have officially merged to form the Liberal National Party, and in the Northern Territory, the National Party is known as the Country Liberal Party.
Minor parties in Australian politics include a
A collection of climate conscious, socially progressive and
Timeline
Since federation, there have been
Prime ministers' parties by time in office
- Liberal Party of Australia – 18513 days
- Australian Labor Party – 14322 days as of 23 April 2024
- Nationalist Party– 5142 days (Party Deregistered)
- United Australia Party – 3505 days (Party Deregistered)
- Protectionist Party – 2442 days (Party Deregistered)
- Commonwealth Liberal Party– 783 days (Party Deregistered)
- Free Trade Party – 322 days (Party Deregistered)
- Country Party – 84 days (Party Renamed)
House of Representatives primary, two-party and seat results
A
Election Year |
Labour | Free Trade | Protectionist | Independent | Other parties |
Total seats | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st | 1901 | 14 | 28 | 31 | 2 | 75 | ||||
Election Year |
Labour | Free Trade | Protectionist | Independent | Other parties |
Total seats | ||||
2nd | 1903 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 1 | Revenue Tariff | 75 | |||
Election Year |
Labour | Anti-Socialist | Protectionist | Independent | Other parties |
Total seats | ||||
3rd | 1906 | 26 | 26 | 21 | 1 | 1 | Western Australian | 75 |
Primary vote | 2PP vote | Seats | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ALP | L+NP | Oth. | ALP | L+NP | ALP | L+NP | Oth. | Total | |
13 April 1910 election | 50.0% | 45.1% | 4.9% | – | – | 42 | 31 | 2 | 75 |
31 May 1913 election | 48.5% | 48.9% | 2.6% | – | – | 37 | 38 | 0 | 75 |
5 September 1914 election | 50.9% | 47.2% | 1.9% | – | – | 42 | 32 | 1 | 75 |
5 May 1917 election | 43.9% | 54.2% | 1.9% | – | – | 22 | 53 | 0 | 75 |
13 December 1919 election | 42.5% | 54.3% | 3.2% | 45.9% | 54.1% | 25 | 38 | 2 | 75 |
16 December 1922 election | 42.3% | 47.8% | 9.9% | 48.8% | 51.2% | 29 | 40 | 6 | 75 |
14 November 1925 election | 45.0% | 53.2% | 1.8% | 46.2% | 53.8% | 23 | 50 | 2 | 75 |
17 November 1928 election | 44.6% | 49.6% | 5.8% | 48.4% | 51.6% | 31 | 42 | 2 | 75 |
12 October 1929 election | 48.8% | 44.2% | 7.0% | 56.7% | 43.3% | 46 | 24 | 5 | 75 |
19 December 1931 election | 27.1% | 48.4% | 24.5% | 41.5% | 58.5% | 14 | 50 | 11 | 75 |
15 September 1934 election | 26.8% | 45.6% | 27.6% | 46.5% | 53.5% | 18 | 42 | 14 | 74 |
23 October 1937 election | 43.2% | 49.3% | 7.5% | 49.4% | 50.6% | 29 | 43 | 2 | 74 |
21 September 1940 election | 40.2% | 43.9% | 15.9% | 50.3% | 49.7% | 32 | 36 | 6 | 74 |
21 August 1943 election | 49.9% | 23.0% | 27.1% | 58.2% | 41.8% | 49 | 19 | 6 | 74 |
28 September 1946 election | 49.7% | 39.3% | 11.0% | 54.1% | 45.9% | 43 | 26 | 5 | 74 |
10 December 1949 election | 46.0% | 50.3% | 3.7% | 49.0% | 51.0% | 47 | 74 | 0 | 121 |
28 April 1951 election | 47.6% | 50.3% | 2.1% | 49.3% | 50.7% | 52 | 69 | 0 | 121 |
29 May 1954 election | 50.0% | 46.8% | 3.2% | 50.7% | 49.3% | 57 | 64 | 0 | 121 |
10 December 1955 election | 44.6% | 47.6% | 7.8% | 45.8% | 54.2% | 47 | 75 | 0 | 122 |
22 November 1958 election | 42.8% | 46.6% | 10.6% | 45.9% | 54.1% | 45 | 77 | 0 | 122 |
9 December 1961 election | 47.9% | 42.1% | 10.0% | 50.5% | 49.5% | 60 | 62 | 0 | 122 |
30 November 1963 election | 45.5% | 46.0% | 8.5% | 47.4% | 52.6% | 50 | 72 | 0 | 122 |
26 November 1966 election | 40.0% | 50.0% | 10.0% | 43.1% | 56.9% | 41 | 82 | 1 | 124 |
25 October 1969 election | 47.0% | 43.3% | 9.7% | 50.2% | 49.8% | 59 | 66 | 0 | 125 |
2 December 1972 election | 49.6% | 41.5% | 8.9% | 52.7% | 47.3% | 67 | 58 | 0 | 125 |
18 May 1974 election | 49.3% | 44.9% | 5.8% | 51.7% | 48.3% | 66 | 61 | 0 | 127 |
13 December 1975 election | 42.8% | 53.1% | 4.1% | 44.3% | 55.7% | 36 | 91 | 0 | 127 |
10 December 1977 election | 39.7% | 48.1% | 12.2% | 45.4% | 54.6% | 38 | 86 | 0 | 124 |
18 October 1980 election | 45.2% | 46.3% | 8.5% | 49.6% | 50.4% | 51 | 74 | 0 | 125 |
5 March 1983 election | 49.5% | 43.6% | 6.9% | 53.2% | 46.8% | 75 | 50 | 0 | 125 |
1 December 1984 election | 47.6% | 45.0% | 7.4% | 51.8% | 48.2% | 82 | 66 | 0 | 148 |
11 July 1987 election | 45.8% | 46.1% | 8.1% | 50.8% | 49.2% | 86 | 62 | 0 | 148 |
24 March 1990 election | 39.4% | 43.5% | 17.1% | 49.9% | 50.1% | 78 | 69 | 1 | 148 |
13 March 1993 election | 44.9% | 44.3% | 10.7% | 51.4% | 48.6% | 80 | 65 | 2 | 147 |
2 March 1996 election | 38.7% | 47.3% | 14.0% | 46.4% | 53.6% | 49 | 94 | 5 | 148 |
3 October 1998 election | 40.1% | 39.5% | 20.4% | 51.0% | 49.0% | 67 | 80 | 1 | 148 |
10 November 2001 election | 37.8% | 43.0% | 19.2% | 49.0% | 51.0% | 65 | 82 | 3 | 150 |
9 October 2004 election | 37.6% | 46.7% | 15.7% | 47.3% | 52.7% | 60 | 87 | 3 | 150 |
24 November 2007 election | 43.4% | 42.1% | 14.5% | 52.7% | 47.3% | 83 | 65 | 2 | 150 |
21 August 2010 election | 38.0% | 43.3% | 18.7% | 50.1% | 49.9% | 72 | 72 | 6 | 150 |
7 September 2013 election | 33.4% | 45.6% | 21.0% | 46.5% | 53.5% | 55 | 90 | 5 | 150 |
2 July 2016 election | 34.7% | 42.0% | 23.3% | 49.6% | 50.4% | 69 | 76 | 5 | 150 |
18 May 2019 election | 33.3% | 41.4% | 25.2% | 48.5% | 51.5% | 68 | 77 | 6 | 151 |
21 May 2022 election | 32.8% | 36.1% | 32.2% | 52.1% | 47.9% | 77 | 58 | 16 | 151 |
Historical party composition of the Senate
The Senate has included representatives from a range of political parties, including several parties that have seldom or never had representation in the House of Representatives, but which have consistently secured a small but significant level of electoral support, as the table shows.
Results represent the composition of the Senate after the elections. The full Senate has been contested on eight occasions; the inaugural election and seven double dissolutions. These are underlined and highlighted in puce.[106]
Election Year |
Labor | Liberal[b] | National[c] | Democratic Labor |
Democrats | Greens | CLP | Independent | Other parties |
Total seats |
Electoral system | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st | 1901 | 8 | 11[d] | 17 | 36 | Plurality-at-large voting
| |||||||||
2nd | 1903 | 8 | 12[d] | 14 | 1 | 1 | Revenue Tariff | 36 | Plurality-at-large voting | ||||||
3rd | 1906 | 15 | 6[d] | 13 | 2 | 36 | Plurality-at-large voting | ||||||||
4th | 1910 | 22 | 14 | 36 | Plurality-at-large voting | ||||||||||
5th | 1913 | 29 | 7 | 36 | Plurality-at-large voting | ||||||||||
6th | 1914 | 31 | 5 | 36 | Plurality-at-large voting | ||||||||||
7th | 1917 | 12 | 24 | 36 | Plurality-at-large voting | ||||||||||
8th | 1919 | 1 | 35 | 36 | Preferential block voting | ||||||||||
9th | 1922 | 12 | 24 | 36 | Preferential block voting | ||||||||||
10th | 1925 | 8 | 25 | 3 | 36 | Preferential block voting | |||||||||
11th | 1928 | 7 | 24 | 5 | 36 | Preferential block voting | |||||||||
12th | 1931 | 10 | 21 | 5 | 36 | Preferential block voting | |||||||||
13th | 1934 | 3 | 26 | 7 | 36 | Preferential block voting | |||||||||
14th | 1937 | 16 | 16 | 4 | 36 | Preferential block voting | |||||||||
15th | 1940 | 17 | 15 | 4 | 36 | Preferential block voting | |||||||||
16th | 1943 | 22 | 12 | 2 | 36 | Preferential block voting | |||||||||
17th | 1946 | 33 | 2 | 1 | 36 | Preferential block voting | |||||||||
18th | 1949 | 34 | 21 | 5 | 60 | Single transferable vote (Full preferential voting) | |||||||||
19th | 1951 | 28 | 26 | 6 | 60 | Single transferable vote | |||||||||
20th | 1953 | 29 | 26 | 5 | 60 | Single transferable vote | |||||||||
21st | 1955 | 28 | 24 | 6 | 2 | 60 | Single transferable vote | ||||||||
22nd | 1958 | 26 | 25 | 7 | 2 | 60 | Single transferable vote | ||||||||
23rd | 1961 | 28 | 24 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 60 | Single transferable vote | |||||||
24th | 1964 | 27 | 23 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 60 | Single transferable vote | |||||||
25th | 1967 | 27 | 21 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 60 | Single transferable vote | |||||||
26th | 1970 | 26 | 21 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 60 | Single transferable vote | |||||||
27th | 1974 | 29 | 23 | 6 | 1 | 1 | Liberal Movement | 60 | Single transferable vote | ||||||
28th | 1975 | 27 | 26 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Liberal Movement | 64 | Single transferable vote | |||||
29th | 1977 | 27 | 27 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 64 | Single transferable vote | ||||||
30th | 1980 | 27 | 28 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 64 | Single transferable vote | ||||||
31st | 1983 | 30 | 23 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 64 | Single transferable vote | ||||||
32nd | 1984 | 34 | 27 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Nuclear Disarmament | 76 | Single transferable vote ( Group voting ticket )
| ||||
33rd | 1987 | 32 | 26 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 1 | Nuclear Disarmament | 76 | Single transferable vote (Group voting ticket) | ||||
34th | 1990 | 32 | 28 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Greens (WA) | 76 | Single transferable vote (Group voting ticket) | ||||
35th | 1993 | 30 | 29 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | Greens (WA) (2) | 76 | Single transferable vote (Group voting ticket) | ||||
36th | 1996 | 29 | 31 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | Greens (WA), Greens (Tas) | 76 | Single transferable vote (Group voting ticket) | ||||
37th | 1998 | 29 | 31 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | One Nation | 76 | Single transferable vote (Group voting ticket) | |||
38th | 2001 | 28 | 31 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | One Nation | 76 | Single transferable vote (Group voting ticket) | |||
39th | 2004 | 28 | 33 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | Family First | 76 | Single transferable vote (Group voting ticket) | ||||
40th | 2007 | 32 | 32 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Family First | 76 | Single transferable vote (Group voting ticket) | ||||
41st | 2010 | 31 | 28 + (3 LNP) | 2 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 76 | Single transferable vote (Group voting ticket) | |||||
42nd | 2013 | 25 | 23 + (5 LNP) | 3 + (1 LNP) | 1 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 6 | Palmer United (3)
|
76 | Single transferable vote (Group voting ticket) | |||
43rd | 2016 | 26 | 21 + (3 LNP) | 3 + (2 LNP) | 9 | 1 | 11 | Nick Xenophon Team (3), (4)
One Nation |
76 | Single transferable vote (Optional preferential voting) | |||||
44th | 2019 | 26 | 26 + (4 LNP) | 2 + (2 LNP) | 9 | 1 | 5 | Centre Alliance (2), Conservatives, Jacqui Lambie, One Nation (2) |
76 | Single transferable vote (Optional preferential voting) | |||||
45th | 2022 | 26 | 23 + (3 LNP) | 3 + (2 LNP) | 12 | 1 | 1 | 5 | Jacqui Lambie (2), One Nation (2), United Australia |
76 | Single transferable vote (Optional preferential voting) |
See also
- Far-right politics in Australia
- List of sanctions involving Australia
- Politics of New South Wales
- Politics of Victoria
- Politics of Queensland
- Politics of Western Australia
- Political donations in Australia
- Political families of Australia
- Proportional Representation Society of Australia
Notes
- ^ The timing of elections is related to the dissolution or expiry of the House of Representatives, which extends for a maximum period of three years from the date of its first sitting, not the date of the election of its members. The house can be dissolved and a new election called at any time. In 12 out of 41 parliaments since Federation, more than three years have elapsed between elections. There is a complex formula for determining the date of such elections, which must satisfy section 32 of the Constitution of Australia and sections 156–8 of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918. These provisions do not allow an election to be held less than 33 days or more than 68 days after the dissolution of the House of Representatives. See 2010 Australian federal election for an example of how the formula applies in practice.
- Commonwealth Liberal Party for 1910–1914, the Nationalist Party for 1917–1929, and the United Australia Partyfor 1931–1943.
- National Country Partyfor 1975–1980.
- ^ a b c Protectionist Party
References
Specific references
- ^ "Royalty, vice-royalty and nobility". Australian Government Style Guide. 15 August 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
- ^ Hardgrave, Gary (2 March 2015). "Commonwealth Day 2015". Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development, Government of Australia. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
- ^ "Is voting compulsory?". Voting within Australia – Frequently Asked Questions. Australian Electoral Commission. 2015. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
- ^ "Democracy Index 2022: Frontline democracy and the battle for Ukraine" (PDF). Economist Intelligence Unit. 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ "Bicameral representation". Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 17 March 2023. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
- ^ "Members". Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 9 March 2023. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
- ^ a b "Separation of powers: Parliament, Executive and Judiciary". Parliamentary Education Office. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
- ^ Australian Constitution (Cth) s 64
- ISBN 978-1-76002-151-1.
Under the Westminster system of government which Australia has inherited from the United Kingdom ... there is no similar strict separation between legislative and executive power. On the contrary, the executive is integrated into the legislature by the requirement that the ministers responsible for the departments of government must be Members of Parliament accountable to it through such mechanisms as question time.
- ^ "How have the British and US systems of government influenced the Australian government system?". Parliamentary Education Office. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
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General references
- "Parliamentary Education Office". Commonwealth of Australia.
- Elder, D.R.; Fowler, P.E., eds. (2018). House of Representatives Practice (7th ed.). Canberra: Department of the House of Representatives. ISBN 978-1-74366-654-8.
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Further reading
- Chen, Peter (2019). Chen, Peter; Barry, Nicholas; Butcher, John; Clune, David; Cook, Ian; Garnier, Adele; Haigh, Yvonne; Motta, Sara; Taflaga, Marija (eds.). Australian Politics and Policy: Senior Edition. Sydney University Press. S2CID 212972381.
- Robert Corcoran and Jackie Dickenson (2010), A Dictionary of Australian Politics, Allen and Unwin, Crows Nest, NSW
- Department of the Senate, 'Electing Australia's Senators', Senate Briefs No. 1, 2006, retrieved July 2007
- Rodney Smith (2001), Australian Political Culture, Longman, Frenchs Forest NSW