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Australia's federal Parliament has two Houses - the lower house is called the House of Representatives and the upper house is the Senate.
The House of Representatives has a total of 150 Members. Every voter has one MP in the House of Representatives.
The Senate has 76 Members - 12 for each State and 2 for each of the Territories (NT and ACT). Each voter is represented by ALL the Senators in their State or Territory.
Current Composition of the Government
At the 2010 federal election held on 21 August 2010, the Australian Labor Party and the Coalition both gained 72 seats. A party needs 76 seats to govern.
Eventually the Green MP Adam Bandt, the Independent from Tasmania Andrew Wilkie and two of the three rural Independents (Tony Windsor, Rob Oakeshott) decided to support Labor - at least in matters of 'supply' (money) and trivial 'no-confidence' motions.
Bob Katter and WA National Tony Crook supported the Coalition.
This gave Labor 76 seats - so Labor has formed government and Julia Gillard is the Prime Minister.
The AEC announced the election result on 17 September (election results on the Australian Electoral Commission website).
House of Representatives - 150 Members:
Labor (ALP): 72
Coalition: 44 - Liberal Party, 21 - Liberal National Party of Queensland, 7 - The Nationals (inc Tony Crook), 1 - Country Liberals (NT)
Greens: Adam Bandt
Independents: Bob Katter, Tony Windsor, Rob Oakeshott, Andrew Wilkie.
Click here for Party list of MHRs.
Senate - 76 Senators:
The current Senate took effect on 1 July, 2008.
From 1 July 2008: Australian Greens 5; ALP 32; Family First 1; Independent 1;
Liberal Party 32; National Party/CLP 5. [Senators' List]
The new Senate, with Senators elected in August 2010, will take effect in July 2011.
This page gives a link to a summary of Parliament information, the Australian Parliament web site, contact details for the Prime Minister and links to obtain details of Members of the House of Representatives and Senators.
Get the FREE book Electoral Pocket Book and the federal electoral Boundaries Map from the Australian Electoral Commission by phoning 13 2326 and asking for a copy!
The 2009 edition is now available online - click here.
It provides lots of information about Australia's electoral system.
The Federal Parliament
Australian Parliament web site
Summary of key information on the parliament:
From the Parliamentary Library website - click here.
The Prime Minister
The PM's website
Contact the Prime Minister - you can send the PM an email online.
Federal Cabinet
For a list of Cabinet Ministers and portfolios (and other Ministers) click here.
House of Representatives - Members
You need to know which Electorate you are in.
The Australian Electoral Commission has a special webpage called 'Online Enrolment Verification Facility' - just type in your details to find your federal and state electorates and local government information as well.
OR phone 13 23 26 to find out your electorate. (They will also give you MP details.)
Lists of Members - full details
This page contains lists of Members in the House of Representatives - alphabetically, by Party, by State and by Electorate.
Senate - Senators
Senators' details - this page gives details for all Senators.
You can then choose to see an Alphabetical list or a State List or one by Political Party.
Senators by State (12 for each State, 2 for Territories)
(These details can also be found directly from the federal parliament website.)
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