Parliament NOW - Parliamentary Education Office

PARLIAMENT NOW
OVERVIEW OF THE
45TH PARLIAMENT
PARLIAMENTand GOVERNMENT
226
federal representatives
150
members in
the House of
Representatives
15 million+
Australians vote for federal representatives
76
senators in
the Senate
42
executive
government
50%+
support needed
to form government
in the House of
Representatives
Today’s Parliament is the 45th elected since federation in 1901. It was officially opened
on 30 August 2016 following the double dissolution election held on 2 July 2016.
The Parliament is made up of 226 parliamentarians
– 150 members in the House of Representatives and
76 senators in the Senate.
The government is formed by the party or coalition
of parties with the support of the majority (more than
half) of the 150 members elected to the House of
Representatives. The Coalition (Liberal Party of Australia
and The Nationals joined together) formed government
after winning the majority of seats in the House.
For Parliament LATEST NEWS and HOT TOPICS
please visit the PEO website:
www.peo.gov.au/learning/parliament-now.html
According to section 28 of the Australian Constitution,
elections for the House of Representatives must be held
at least every three years. Half-Senate elections are
usually held at the same time as House of Representatives
elections. An election for the House of Representatives
and a half-Senate election must be held by mid 2019.
HOT
TOPIC
PARLIAMENT NOW – produced by the Parliamentary Education Office | 11 October 2016 | www.peo.gov.au
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PARLIAMENT NOW
SENATE
COMPOSITION
PRESIDENT
ADVISORS
ADVISORS
CLERK
DEPUTY CLERK
USHER OF THE
BLACK ROD
LEADER OF THE
OPPOSITION
IN THE SENATE
LEADER OF THE
GOVERNMENT
IN THE SENATE
SHADOW MINISTERS
MINISTERS
HANSARD
GOVERNMENT
OPPOSITION
Liberal Party of Australia,
The Nationals and the
Country Liberal Party
Australian Labor Party
26 senators
30 senators
MINOR PARTIES
Australian Greens
Pauline Hanson’s One Nation
Nick Xenophon Team
Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party
Family First
Jacqui Lambie Network
Liberal Democratic Party
9 senators
4 senators
3 senators
1 senator
1 senator
1 senator
1 senator
PARLIAMENT NOW – produced by the Parliamentary Education Office | 11 October 2016 | www.peo.gov.au
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PARLIAMENT NOW
HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES
COMPOSITION
SPEAKER
ADVISORS
ADVISORS
CLERK
DEPUTY CLERK
LEADER OF THE
OPPOSITION
PRIME MINISTER
SHADOW MINISTERS
MINISTERS
GOVERNMENT
Liberal Party of Australia,
The Nationals and the
Country Liberal Party
HANSARD
OPPOSITION
Australian Labor Party
69 members
76 members
MINOR PARTIES
Australian Greens
1 member
Katter’s Australian Party
1 member
Nick Xenophon Team
1 member
SERJEANT-AT-ARMS
INDEPENDENTS
2 members
PARLIAMENT NOW – produced by the Parliamentary Education Office | 11 October 2016 | www.peo.gov.au
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PARLIAMENT NOW
WHO’S WHO IN THE 45TH PARLIAMENT
AUSTRALIA’S HEAD OF STATE
Her Majesty Queen
Elizabeth II is Australia’s
head of state. On the
advice of the Australian
Prime Minister, the Queen
appoints the GovernorGeneral to act on her behalf.
His Excellency General
the Hon Sir Peter
Cosgrove AK MC (Retd)
was sworn in as Australia’s
26th Governor-General
on 28 March 2014. The
Governor-General acts as
the Queen’s representative.
The Speaker of the House
of Representatives is the
Hon Tony Smith MP.
The President of the
Senate is Senator the
Hon Stephen Parry
CHAMBER LEADERSHIP
GOVERNMENT AND OPPOSITION LEADERSHIP – HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
The Prime Minister of
Australia is the Hon
Malcolm Turnbull MP.
Mr Turnbull is also the
Leader of the Liberal Party
of Australia.
The Deputy Prime Minister
is the Hon Barnaby Joyce
MP. Mr Joyce is also the
Leader of The Nationals.
The Deputy Leader of
the Opposition is the Hon
Tanya Plibersek MP.
The Leader of the
Opposition is the Hon Bill
Shorten MP. Mr Shorten
is also the Leader of the
Australian Labor Party (ALP).
The Leader of the
House is the Hon
Christopher Pyne MP.
The Manager of
Opposition Business
in the House is the
Hon Tony Burke MP.
PARLIAMENT NOW – produced by the Parliamentary Education Office | 11 October 2016 | www.peo.gov.au
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PARLIAMENT NOW
GOVERNMENT AND OPPOSITION LEADERSHIP – SENATE
The Leader of the
Opposition in the
Senate is Senator the
Hon Penny Wong.
The Leader of the
Government in the Senate
is Senator the
Hon George Brandis.
The Leader of The
Nationals in the Senate
is Senator the Hon
Nigel Scullion.
The Manager of
Government Business in
the Senate is Senator the
Hon Mitch Fifield.
The Manager of
Opposition Business in
the Senate is Senator
Katy Gallagher.
LEADERSHIP – OTHER PARTIES
The Deputy Leader of the
Liberal Party of Australia
is the Hon Julie Bishop MP.
The Leader of the
Australian Greens is
Senator Richard Di Natatle.
The Deputy Leader of
The Nationals is Senator
the Hon Fiona Nash.
PARLIAMENT NOW – produced by the Parliamentary Education Office | 11 October 2016 | www.peo.gov.au
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PARLIAMENT NOW
PARLIAMENTARY OFFICERS
Parliamentary officers are employees of parliamentary departments
that advise and support the Senate and House of Representatives.
The Clerk of the House
of Representatives is
Mr David Elder.
The Serjeant-at-Arms is
Ms Bronwyn Notzon.
The Clerk of the Senate is
Dr Rosemary Laing.
The Usher of the Black
Rod is Ms Rachael Callinan.
Find out more details about who’s who in Parliament:
www.aph.gov.au/senators_and_members
PARLIAMENT NOW – produced by the Parliamentary Education Office | 11 October 2016 | www.peo.gov.au
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PARLIAMENT NOW
WHAT’S ON
THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON MALCOLM TURNBULL MP
AUSPIC
2016 PARLIAMENTARY CALENDAR
BROADCASTS
The Senate and the House of Representatives are
broadcast live over the Internet when Parliament is
sitting. To watch a live video of Parliament see the Live
broadcasting schedule
www.aph.gov.au/live
BILLS
A bill is a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing
one. To find out what bills the Parliament is working on
right now go to Parliament of Australia Bills and Legislation
www.aph.gov.au/bills
QUESTION TIME
Question Time is at 2.00pm every day when Parliament
is sitting and lasts for about an hour. During Question
Time in both the House of Representatives and the Senate,
members of Parliament can ask questions to ministers
about their actions and decisions. Watch a recent video of
Question Time in the House of Representatives
www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/House_of_
Representatives/About_the_House_News and Question
Time in the Senate www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/
Senate/Whats_On/Senate_question_time
JANUARY
S M T W T F S
31
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
FEBRUARY
S M T
1 2
7 8 9
14 15 16
21 22 23
28 29
MARCH
S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 31
APRIL
S M
MAY
S M
1 2
8 9
15 16
22 23
29 30
JUNE
S M
JULY
S M
T W T F S
3 4 5 6 7
10 11 12 13 14
17 18 19 20 21
24 25 26 27 28
31
T
5 6 7
12 13 14
19 20 21
26 27 28
W T F S
1 2 3 4
8 9 10 11
15 16 17 18
22 23 24 25
29 30 31
SEPTEMBER
S M T W
4 5 6 7
11 12 13 14
18 19 20 21
25 26 27 28
T
F
S
1 2 3
8 9 10
15 16 17
22 23 24
29 30
NOVEMBER
S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30
W T F S
3 4 5 6
10 11 12 13
17 18 19 20
24 25 26 27
T
W
T
F
S
1
2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
T
5 6 7
12 13 14
19 20 21
26 27 28
W T F S
1 2 3 4
8 9 10 11
15 16 17 18
22 23 24 25
29 30
AUGUST
S M T
1 2
7 8 9
14 15 16
21 22 23
28 29 30
W T F S
3 4 5 6
10 11 12 13
17 18 19 20
24 25 26 27
31
OCTOBER
S M T
30
2
9
16
23
W
T
F
S
31
1
3 4 5 6 7 8
10 11 12 13 14 15
17 18 19 20 21 22
24 25 26 27 28 29
DECEMBER
S M T W
4 5 6 7
11 12 13 14
18 19 20 21
25 26 27 28
T F S
1 2 3
8 9 10
15 16 17
22 23 24
29 30 31
Public holidays
Senate Estimates
Representatives
Budget
Both houses
PARLIAMENT NOW – produced by the Parliamentary Education Office | 11 October 2016 | www.peo.gov.au
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PARLIAMENT NOW
AUSPIC
AUSTRALIA DAY LIVE CONCERT AT PARLIAMENT HOUSE
COMMITTEES
THE BUDGET
EVENTS
The Parliament establishes
committees to examine
bills or investigate issues
in detail. Members of
the public can make
submissions to committees
to express their views and
opinions. To find out more
about current committee
inquiries go to Parliament
of Australia Committees
www.aph.gov.au/
Parliamentary_Business/
Committees
The Treasurer presents
the annual Budget every
May. It outlines the
government’s plan for
collecting and spending
money. Get informed
about this year’s Australian
Government Budget
www.budget.gov.au
Parliament House is a busy
and vibrant place, hosting
a variety of visitors and
events every year. Go to
This Week in Parliament
to find out more
www.aph.gov.au/news_
and_events
Senate estimates hearings
are held three times a year.
It is a chance for the
Parliament to scrutinise
how the government has
spent the Budget and to
question government
ministers and senior public
servants. Read more about
Senate estimates
www.aph.gov.au/
Parliamentary_Business/
Senate_Estimates
The Council of Australian
Governments (COAG) is
made up of the Prime
Minister, state Premiers,
territory Chief Ministers
and the President of
the Australian Local
Government Association.
Visit COAG for more
information
SENATE ESTIMATES
www.coag.gov.au
PARLIAMENT NOW – produced by the Parliamentary Education Office | 11 October 2016 | www.peo.gov.au
AUSPIC
ESTIMATES
COUNCIL OF
AUSTRALIAN
GOVERNMENTS
Parliament House hosts
events including the annual
Australia Day Live concert,
at which the Prime Minister
announces the Australians
of the Year. For more details
go to Australia Day
www.australiaday.gov.au
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PARLIAMENT NOW
GET INVOLVED
Laws made by the federal Parliament affect your life. Decisions made by
the government can be influenced by debate in the Parliament. Have your
say in the process through:
COMMITTEES
PETITIONS
You can help a committee
to investigate a bill or issue
by writing a submission or
attending a public hearing.
Find out more about how to
contribute at:
www.aph.gov.au/
Parliamentary_
Business/Committees/
Getting_Involved_
in_Parliamentary_
Committees
A petition is a document
presented to Parliament by
a group of people asking the
Parliament to take action
on a particular issue. By
starting or signing a petition,
you can influence decisions
made by Parliament. Find
out more about submitting
a petition to Parliament at:
CONTACTING YOUR
MEMBER OR SENATOR
House:
www.aph.gov.au/
Parliamentary_Business/
Petitions/House_of_
Representatives_Petitions
Write or contact your
member or a senator from
your state/territory or local
electorate. Find them at:
www.aph.gov.au/
Senators_and_Members
Senate:
www.aph.gov.au/
Parliamentary_Business/
Petitions/Senate_Petitions
Many parliamentarians
also use social networking
like Twitter and Facebook
to stay in contact with
the public.
Australian citizens aged 18
years or over are required
to vote at federal elections.
When you vote, you are
expressing your views by
choosing which people
you want to represent
you in Parliament. For
more information about
voting go the Australian
Electoral Commission
www.aec.gov.au
VOTING
PARLIAMENT NOW – produced by the Parliamentary Education Office | 11 October 2016 | www.peo.gov.au
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PARLIAMENT NOW
FIND OUT MORE
PEO LINKS
OTHER LINKS
Quick Answers
What’s new in the Parliament
A quick reference guide to the Parliament.
www.peo.gov.au/quick-answers
www.aph.gov.au/news_and_events
Senators and members
Fact Sheets
A comprehensive set of fact sheets on the federal Parliament.
www.peo.gov.au/learning/fact-sheets
Closer Look
www.aph.gov.au/senators_and_members
Australian Electoral Commission
Elections—frequently asked questions
www.aec.gov.au/faqs/elections.htm
A detailed exploration of Australia’s system of governance.
www.peo.gov.au/learning/closer-look
Videos
Watch an online video series about how Parliament works.
www.peo.gov.au/multimedia/videos
Your Questions on Notice
Got a question about the Australian Parliament?
The Parliamentary Education Office has the answers!
questions.peo.gov.au
PARLIAMENT NOW – produced by the Parliamentary Education Office | 11 October 2016 | www.peo.gov.au
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