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| Australian Commonwealth Parliament | |
|---|---|
| Name | Parliament of Australia |
| Native name | Commonwealth Parliament |
| Legislature | Constitutional framers |
| Founded | 1901 |
| Preceded by | Colonial legislatures |
| House type | Bicameral |
| Leaders | Prime Minister of Australia, Governor‑General of Australia, President of the Senate (Australia), Speaker of the House of Representatives (Australia) |
| Seats | Parliament House |
| Voting system | instant-runoff, Single transferable vote, proportional representation |
| Last election | 2022 federal election |
| Next election | 2025 |
Australian Commonwealth Parliament
The Australian Commonwealth Parliament is the federal legislature created by the Constitution of Australia in 1901. Modeled in part on the Westminster system and the United States Congress, it meets at Parliament House and consists of representatives elected under rules established by the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 and interpreted through decisions of the High Court of Australia. Major actors in its operation include the Prime Minister of Australia, the Leader of the Opposition, the Governor‑General of Australia, and party organizations such as the Liberal Party of Australia, the Australian Labor Party, and the National Party of Australia.
Federation emerged from colonial conventions such as the Federal Council of Australasia and intercolonial conferences culminating in the 1890s constitutional conventions and the 1898–99 referendums. The draft constitution was shaped by figures including Edmund Barton, Alfred Deakin, and Andrew Inglis Clark, and was enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900 passed by the UK Parliament and proclaimed in 1901. Early parliamentary life featured contests involving the Protectionist Party, the Free Trade Party, and the early Labor movement; later developments included the formation of the modern Liberal Party of Australia in 1945 and parliamentary realignments during and after the World War I and World War II eras. Constitutional crises and constitutional interpretation by the High Court of Australia—such as decisions in the Engineers' Case—have repeatedly defined the Parliament's role relative to the Commonwealth and the States.
The Parliament is bicameral, comprising the Senate and the House of Representatives, with the Governor‑General of Australia as the Crown's representative. The Senate's composition reflects states represented equally as originally envisaged by the Constitution of Australia and modified by legislation and practice, with members elected via Single transferable vote and proportional representation. The House uses instant-runoff voting in single-member divisions, reflecting influences from electoral reformers and practitioners like C.E. J. Smith and reforms in the early 20th century. Party room organs such as the Australian Labor Party's caucus and the Liberal Party of Australia's federal council coordinate legislative strategy, while crossbenchers and minor parties including the Australian Greens and independents influence balance of power outcomes.
Bills may originate in either chamber except for money bills, which must begin in the House of Representatives under the Constitution of Australia. Legislation proceeds through stages: first reading, second reading debate, committee consideration, and third reading, with amendments considered in both chambers; unresolved disputes can trigger a joint sitting under Section 57 after double dissolution provisions. The Governor‑General of Australia grants royal assent, a power derived from the Constitution of Australia and constitutional conventions traced to the Westminster system. Significant statutes such as the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, the Migration Act, and the Native Title Act 1993 illustrate the Parliament’s legislative footprint, while High Court rulings in matters like R v. Brislan and Wik have constrained and clarified legislative competence.
The executive government is drawn from Parliament under the doctrine of responsible government adapted from the British model. The Prime Minister of Australia and Ministers of the Crown are typically members of the House or Senate and must maintain confidence of the House of Representatives, as demonstrated in crises involving figures such as Gough Whitlam and the 1975 constitutional crisis. The Governor‑General of Australia exercises reserve powers in exceptional circumstances, while cabinet collective responsibility and party discipline are enforced through mechanisms including party room ballots and caucus decisions seen in events affecting leaders like Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd.
Parliamentary powers derive from the Constitution of Australia and are bounded by federalism and judicial review by the High Court of Australia. Sections such as the Section 51 enumeration of powers, financial provisions under Section 96, and the Section 44 disqualifications illustrate constitutional limits and contingencies. Interactions with state parliaments—e.g., the Parliament of New South Wales, the Parliament of Victoria—and national institutions like the Reserve Bank of Australia and the Australian Public Service reflect the Parliament’s role in national governance, while referendums under Section 128 alter its constitutional remit.
Parliamentary oversight is exercised through standing and select committees such as the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, the Senate Estimates, and the House of Representatives Standing Committees. Committees summon witnesses from institutions like the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, the Australian Federal Police, and universities such as the University of Sydney for inquiries, producing reports that influence executive policy. Administrative functions are supported by the Parliamentary Library, the Clerk of the Australian Senate, the Clerk of the House, and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Electoral arrangements combine single-member divisions for the House and multi-member state-based representation for the Senate using systems designed to balance major party dominance and proportionality. Redistributive processes are administered by the Australian Electoral Commission under the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, with mechanisms such as compulsory voting, enrollment rules, and malapportionment debates involving jurisdictions like Queensland and Western Australia. Representation issues intersect with indigenous politics and laws involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, treaty discussions involving bodies such as the Uluru Statement, and reforms debated in forums with participation from entities like the Australian Law Reform Commission and the referendum process.
Category:Parliaments