Australian Senate facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Senate |
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| 47th Parliament of Australia | |
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| Type | |
| Type | |
| Leadership | |
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Sue Lines, Labor
Since 26 July 2022 |
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Leader of the Government
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Manager of Government Business
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Leader of the Opposition
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Simon Birmingham, Liberal
Since 5 June 2022 |
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Manager of Opposition Business
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| Structure | |
| Seats | 76 |
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Political groups
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Effective 1 July 2022 Government (26) |
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Length of term
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6 years (state senators) 3 years (territory senators) |
| Elections | |
| Single transferable vote | |
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Last election
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21 May 2022 (Half Senate election) |
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Next election
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2024 or 2025 |
| Meeting place | |
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| Senate Chamber Parliament House Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia |
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The Senate is an important part of the Parliament of Australia. It is the "upper house" of the Australian Parliament. The "lower house" is called the House of Representatives. Together, they make up Australia's law-making body.
The Senate has 76 members, called senators. Each of Australia's six states elects 12 senators. The two self-governing territories (the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory) each elect 2 senators. This means that smaller states have the same number of senators as larger states.
Senators are chosen by voters using a special system called single transferable vote. This system helps make sure that many different political parties and independent candidates can be represented.
The Senate has almost the same power as the House of Representatives. However, it cannot start or change bills about money, like taxes or government spending. It can only approve, reject, or delay them. This makes the Australian Senate quite powerful compared to similar upper houses in other countries.
Since 1948, the Senate has used a voting system that allows many different parties to be elected. Because of this, no single party usually has a majority of senators. This means that the government often needs to work with other parties or independent senators to pass new laws.
Contents
What is the Senate and Why Was It Created?
The Constitution of Australia set up the Senate when Australia became a nation (federated). Unlike some other countries, Australia's Senate plays a very active role in making laws. It's not just a place to review what the lower house does.
The Australian Senate was partly inspired by the United States Senate. This is why each state gets an equal number of senators, no matter how many people live there. This was done to give smaller states a real say in the Parliament. It also keeps the traditional job of an upper house, which is to review laws. This mix of ideas from the British and US systems is sometimes called the "Washminster system."
While the Prime Minister and Treasurer usually come from the House of Representatives, other government ministers can be from either house. Both houses have almost equal power when it comes to making laws. The Senate cannot introduce or change bills that spend public money or create taxes. Only the House of Representatives can do this. However, the Senate can still approve, reject, or delay these bills. This power was important during the 1975 Australian constitutional crisis, when the Senate delayed money bills. This equal power between the Senate and House of Representatives was designed to stop the states with more people from having all the control over law-making.
Most new laws in Australia are started by the government in the House of Representatives. Then, they go to the Senate. The Senate can suggest changes, pass the bill, or reject it. Most of the time, senators vote along their party lines. But sometimes, they have a "conscience vote" where they can vote how they personally believe.
The Senate also has many committees. These committees look into different topics and issues. They don't make laws directly, but they help bring different ideas and opinions to the government and the public.
How Senators Are Elected
The way senators are elected has changed over time. In 1948, Australia started using a system called single transferable vote with proportional representation. This system helps make sure that smaller parties and independent candidates have a better chance of winning seats. It also means that the Senate often has a wider range of political views than the House of Representatives.
In 1984, "group ticket voting" was introduced. This allowed voters to choose a party "Above the Line" on the ballot paper. The party would then decide how their vote's preferences were distributed. This made voting easier and helped small parties.
However, in 2016, group tickets were removed. Now, voters can choose to number parties "Above the Line" (at least six preferences) or individual candidates "Below the Line" (at least twelve preferences). This system is called optional preferential voting. It means voters don't have to number every single box. This change made it harder for very small parties to get elected through preference deals.
The Ballot Paper
The ballot paper for the Australian Senate looks like this example from the 2016 election in Victoria:
To vote correctly, you need to:
- Vote for at least six parties "Above the Line" by numbering them 1 to 6 or more.
- OR vote for at least twelve candidates "Below the Line" by numbering them 1 to 12 or more.
A "quota" is the number of votes a candidate needs to be elected. Since each state elects six senators at a "half-Senate election," the quota is about 14.3% of the votes. If a candidate gets more votes than the quota, their extra votes can be passed on to other candidates based on your preferences.
Number of Senators and Their Terms
The number of senators has grown over the years.
- When Australia first became a nation, there were 36 senators (6 from each state).
- In 1948, this increased to 60 senators (10 from each state).
- In 1975, the Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory each got to elect two senators, bringing the total to 64.
- The latest increase was in 1984, when each state started electing 12 senators, making a total of 76 senators.
Senators from the states usually serve fixed six-year terms. Their terms start on July 1 and end on June 30. Senators from the territories serve terms that end when there's a new election for the House of Representatives.
Most federal elections are "half-Senate elections." This means that about half of the state senators (36 out of 72) and all four territory senators are up for election. Sometimes, the entire Senate and House of Representatives are dissolved and all 76 senators face re-election. This is called a "double dissolution."
States and Equal Representation
Each state elects the same number of senators (12), no matter how many people live there. This means that a small state like Tasmania (with about 500,000 people) elects the same number of senators as a large state like New South Wales (with over 8 million people).
This system ensures that all states have an equal voice in the Senate. It also helps the Senate have a wider range of political views than the House of Representatives. This is why the Senate is often called a "house of review." It checks the laws passed by the House of Representatives.
A political party does not need to have a majority in the Senate to form the government. They only need a majority in the House of Representatives. However, the Senate can block "supply" (money bills). If the Senate blocks supply, the government might not be able to spend money, which can cause big problems. This power was a key part of the 1975 Australian constitutional crisis. Even if the Senate doesn't block supply, it can still use its power to make it harder for the government to pass its laws.
Political Parties in the Senate
Most senators are elected as members of political parties. Here are some of the parties that currently have senators:
- The Coalition (which includes the Liberal Party of Australia, National Party of Australia, Liberal National Party of Queensland, and Country Liberal Party)
- Australian Labor Party
- Australian Greens
- Pauline Hanson's One Nation
- United Australia Party
- Jacqui Lambie Network
It's harder for independent candidates (who don't belong to a party) to get elected to the Senate. However, some have been successful, especially in smaller states or territories. Sometimes, a senator who was elected with a party might later become an independent.
The Australian Senate's strong role has inspired some politicians in other countries, like Canada and the United Kingdom, to consider similar changes for their own upper houses.
How the Senate Works
The Australian Senate usually meets for about 50 to 60 days each year. These days are often grouped into "sitting fortnights," which means two weeks where they meet for four days each week.
The Senate's year is divided into three main periods:
- The autumn sittings (February to April).
- The winter sittings (May to July), which start when the government presents its budget.
- The spring sittings (August to December), which usually have the most sitting days.
The Senate has a regular schedule that helps it manage its work each week.
Images for kids
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A Senate committee room in Parliament House, Canberra
See also
In Spanish: Senado de Australia para niños
- 2019 Australian federal election
- Canberra Press Gallery
- Clerk of the Australian Senate
- Double dissolution
- Father of the Australian Senate
- List of Australian Senate appointments
- Members of the Australian Parliament who have served for at least 30 years
- Members of the Australian Senate, 2022–2025
- Women in the Australian Senate
