Commonwealth Parliament of Australia

Commonwealth Parliament of Australia
Name	Commonwealth Parliament of Australia
Legislature	Parliament
Meeting place	Parliament House, Canberra
Established	1901
House type	Bicameral
Houses	House of Representatives; Senate
Leader1	Governor-General of Australia
Leader1 type	Representative
Members	227 (151 House, 76 Senate)
Political groups	Liberal Party; Australian Labor Party; National Party; Australian Greens; Pauline Hanson’s One Nation; Liberal Democrats; United Australia Party; Katter’s Australian Party; Independents

Commonwealth Parliament of Australia The Commonwealth Parliament of Australia is the federal legislature created at Federation in 1901 to exercise legislative authority for the Commonwealth of Australia. It meets at Parliament House, Canberra and comprises two chambers modelled on the Westminster system: the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Parliament operates under the Constitution of Australia and interacts with the Governor-General of Australia as the Crown’s representative.

History

Federation debates in the 1890s culminated in referendums and the passage of the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900 by the United Kingdom Parliament, leading to the inauguration of the Parliament in 1901 with the first sitting in Melbourne before relocation to Canberra in 1927. Key constitutional moments include the 1975 constitutional crisis, the role of Sir John Kerr as Governor‑General, and subsequent reforms prompted by controversies such as the entitlements scandals. Legislative milestones passed by the Parliament include the Immigration Restriction Act 1901, landmark judgments in the High Court of Australia like R v Brislan, and wartime measures linked to the Australian Imperial Force and decisions during the World War II era.

Structure and Composition

The bicameral design mirrors House of Commons and House of Lords precedents, with the House representing electoral divisions such as Division of Melbourne and Division of Wentworth, and the Senate representing states including New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, and Tasmania plus territories like the Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory. Party representation features major parties like the Liberal Party of Australia, the Australian Labor Party, and the National Party of Australia, alongside minor and crossbench parties such as the Australian Greens, Pauline Hanson's One Nation, United Australia Party, Liberal Democrats, and Katter's Australian Party. The chamber officers include the Speaker and the President, with procedural support from the Clerks of the House and the Clerk of the Senate.

Powers and Functions

Under the Constitution of Australia, the Parliament has powers enumerated in sections such as s51 covering trade and commerce and defence matters often referenced alongside the Australian Defence Force and the Treasury. Financial authority is constrained by conventions from the House with the Commonwealth Grants Commission and revenue instruments including the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 and subsequent tax legislation. Parliamentary oversight functions encompass legislative scrutiny via committees like the Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security and the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services, and accountability to institutions such as the Australian National Audit Office and the High Court of Australia for judicial review.

Legislative Process

Bills originate in either chamber—often supply and appropriation bills in the House—and proceed through readings, committee referral, and report stages drawing on precedents from the British Parliament and practices resembling those in the Canadian House of Commons. Contentious legislation has invoked double dissolution mechanisms under section 57 of the Constitution of Australia and joint sittings exemplified by the 1974 Australian double dissolution election aftermath. Legislative scrutiny engages standing committees such as the Senate Standing Committees and select inquiries similar to investigations by the Royal Commission model; legislation can be vetoed or amended by the Governor-General of Australia via reservation or withholding of assent on rare constitutional grounds.

Relationship with the States and Territories

Federal-state relations are shaped by the division of powers in the Constitution of Australia and landmark disputes adjudicated by the High Court of Australia in matters like the Engineers' Case (1920), which shifted federal-state balances. The Parliament interacts with state parliaments such as the Parliament of New South Wales, the Parliament of Victoria, and the Parliament of Queensland on funding via bodies including the Council of Australian Governments and the Commonwealth Grants Commission. Territories including the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly and the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly have self-government statutes enacted by federal statute, subject to legislative power retained by the Commonwealth Parliament and judicial interpretation by the High Court of Australia.

Members and Leadership

Members include Prime Minister of Australias drawn from the House such as Edmund Barton, Robert Menzies, Gough Whitlam, Malcolm Fraser, John Howard, Julia Gillard, Tony Abbott, Scott Morrison, and Anthony Albanese, and prominent senators like Patti Starr and Joh Bjelke-Petersen-era figures who influenced federal politics. Leadership roles include the Leader of the Opposition, party whips, and ministry positions such as the Treasurer of Australia, Attorney-General of Australia, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and portfolios shaped by cabinet members like Paul Keating and Bob Hawke. Parliamentary careers often intersect with institutions like the Australian Electoral Commission and events such as federal elections including the 2019 Australian federal election and the 2022 Australian federal election.

Parliamentary Procedures and Traditions

Procedures derive from Westminster system conventions with rituals in Parliament House, Canberra such as question time featuring figures like Malcolm Turnbull and practices including the carriage of the Mace (parliamentary) and opening ceremonies involving the Governor-General of Australia. Committees, pairings, and standing orders mirror those in the House of Commons and the Senate with debate conventions referencing oratory traditions associated with politicians such as Henry Parkes and Billy Hughes. Traditions also include ceremonial state openings comparable to those in the Parliament of the United Kingdom and disciplinary mechanisms like suspension and privilege inquiries akin to historic episodes such as the Watson government controversies.

Category:Parliaments