Australian House of Representatives

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House of Representatives
House of Representatives
logo Boardroom of the House of Representatives
logo Boardroom of the House of Representatives
Basic data
Seat: Parliament House ,
Canberra
Legislative period : 3 years
MPs: 151
Current legislative period
Last choice: May 18, 2019
Chair: Speaker
Tony Smith ( Liberal )
Composition of the Australian House of Representatives
Distribution of seats: Civic Coalition Government (77)
  • Liberal 61
  • Liberal 44
  • LNP 17
  • NPA 16
  • NPA 10
  • LNP 6
    • Opposition (68)
  • Laboratory 68
    • Cross Banker (6)
  • Greens 1
  • CHAP 1
  • CA 1
  • Independent 3
    		•
    Website
    House of Representatives

    The Australian House of Representatives is the lower house of the Australian Parliament in the bicameral system of Australia . The sessions will take place at Parliament House in Canberra .

    The House of Representatives has 151 members. Voting is based on the instant runoff voting system. Each legislative period ends after three years at the latest. The House of Representatives must be re-elected no later than 68 days later. New elections are usually held before this deadline.

    elections

    The last election took place on May 18, 2019.

    Speaker

    At the beginning of each legislative period, the MPs elect the Speaker of the House of Representatives who will take the chair. He chairs the plenary sessions and represents the House of Representatives in government affairs. It is possible for the MPs to vote him out again. Tony Smith has held this office since August 10, 2015.

    Traditionally, the ruling party provides the speaker. If there is a change of government after a parliamentary election, the new majority also elects a new speaker.

    The comparatively rough manners in the parliamentary sessions often do not make it easy for the speaker to ensure that the sessions run properly, especially during Question Time. According to the standing orders, he has the opportunity to exclude interfering MPs from the meeting for one hour (standing order 94a). In the event of serious disruptions, he can issue a strict complaint (to name a member). It is then possible to immediately submit a motion from Parliament to exclude the MP concerned for 24 hours (Standing Order 94b).

    Relationship between Senate and House of Representatives

    According to the Australian Constitution , the weight of both chambers is about the same, especially since the consent of both is required to pass a law. Although the leader of the strongest parliamentary group or coalition of the House of Representatives is usually appointed prime minister, both members of the lower house and senators are usually represented in the government. Laws that affect public finances can only be passed on the initiative of the House of Representatives and only changed there. This means that only the party or coalition of parties that has a majority in the lower house can rule.

    In times when the government does not have a majority in the Senate , which is a common occurrence and is currently the case, votes are more important in practice.

    The role of the opposition

    In the House of Representatives, the opposition's participation is limited to presenting arguments against the government's policies and to directing questions to the government during the specially designated Question Time .

    In addition, the opposition can file a censure motion against the government. It can force such an urgency debate on government policy. In the roll-call vote (division) immediately following the debate, the censure motion is almost always rejected. If he got a majority, this would in fact be tantamount to a vote of no confidence in the government. In practice, censure motions usually occur more than once a year.

    Allocation of seats since 1946

    Seats in the House of Representatives
    choice laboratory Liberals Nationals Other total
    1946 43 15th 11 5 74
    1949 47 55 19th .. 121
    1951 52 52 17th .. 121
    1954 57 47 17th .. 121
    1955 47 57 18th .. 122
    1958 45 58 19th .. 122
    1961 60 45 17th .. 122
    1963 50 52 20th .. 122
    1966 41 61 21st .. 124
    1969 59 46 20th .. 125
    1972 67 38 20th .. 125
    1974 66 40 21st .. 127
    1975 36 68 23 .. 127
    1977 38 67 19th .. 124
    1980 51 54 20th .. 125
    1983 75 33 17th .. 125
    1984 82 45 21st .. 148
    1987 86 43 19th .. 148
    1990 78 55 14th 1 148
    1993 80 49 16 2 147
    1996 49 75 19th 5 148
    1998 67 64 16 1 148
    2001 65 69 13 3 150
    2004 60 75 12 3 150
    2007 83 55 10 2 150
    2010 72 61 11 6th 150
    2013 55 75 15th 5 150
    2016 69 60 16 5 150
    2019 68 61 16 6th 151

    See also: List of Members of the Australian House of Representatives (2013-2016)

    Web links