The Australian Parliament Explained: Senate, House of Reps and How Laws Are Made

The Australian Parliament is the supreme law-making body of the federal government, consisting of two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives. To pass a law, a bill must be approved by both chambers and signed by the Governor-General — a process designed to ensure careful scrutiny of legislation. This structure is directly tested in the Australian Citizenship Test.

Understanding how Parliament works is one of the most important topics in Our Common Bond. Questions about the Senate, the House of Representatives, the role of the Prime Minister, and the lawmaking process appear regularly in the Australian Citizenship Test.

The Two Chambers of Parliament

Australia uses a bicameral (two-chamber) parliament, modelled on the Westminster system used in the United Kingdom but with elements borrowed from the United States system. The two chambers serve different purposes and have different compositions.

The House of Representatives

The House of Representatives is the lower house of Parliament and the primary chamber for introducing legislation. Key facts to know:

• 151 members (Members of Parliament, or MPs)
• Members are elected based on population — more populous states have more representatives
• Members serve 3-year terms
• The leader of the party (or coalition) that commands a majority in the House becomes Prime Minister
• Most bills are introduced in the House of Representatives
• The House is known as the "people's house" because it directly represents the population

The Senate

The Senate is the upper house of Parliament, often called the "States' House" because it represents the states and territories equally (in the case of states). Key facts:

• 76 senators total
• Each of the 6 states elects 12 senators, regardless of population
• Each territory (ACT and NT) elects 2 senators
• Senators serve 6-year terms (territory senators serve 3 years)
• The Senate acts as a "house of review" — it scrutinises bills passed by the House
• The Senate can reject or amend legislation, providing a check on the lower house

How a Bill Becomes Law

According to the Department of Home Affairs, the process for making a federal law in Australia involves five key stages:

1. Introduction — A bill is introduced in either the House of Representatives or the Senate
2. Debate and amendments — Members or senators debate and propose changes to the bill
3. Vote in the originating chamber — The bill is voted on; if it passes, it moves to the other chamber
4. Review and vote in the second chamber — The other chamber debates, may amend, and votes on the bill
5. Royal Assent — The Governor-General signs the bill into law on behalf of the King

If both chambers cannot agree on the final wording of a bill, a joint sitting of both chambers may be held — a rare but constitutional mechanism. In Australian history, this has only occurred once, in 1974 under Prime Minister Gough Whitlam.

The Role of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

The Prime Minister is the head of the federal government and leads the Cabinet — the senior group of ministers responsible for running government departments. Key facts:

• The Prime Minister is not directly elected by voters — they are the leader of the party or coalition that holds the majority in the House of Representatives
• The Prime Minister and Cabinet are responsible for proposing legislation and setting government policy
• Cabinet ministers are appointed by the Prime Minister
• The Prime Minister can be removed by a vote of no confidence in the House, or through an internal party leadership challenge

The Leader of the Opposition leads the largest party not in government. The opposition's role is to scrutinise and challenge the government's policies and legislation, which strengthens Australia's democratic system.

Parliament House and Where It Sits

The Australian Parliament House is located in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory (ACT). The current Parliament House opened on 9 May 1988, replacing the Old Parliament House (now the Museum of Australian Democracy), which had been used since 1927.

Canberra was purpose-built as the federal capital as a compromise between the rival cities of Sydney and Melbourne. The Australian Capital Territory was established in 1911 specifically to house the national government.

The Three Branches of Government

Australia's federal government is divided into three branches, each with a separate role to ensure no single body holds too much power:

This separation of powers is a fundamental principle of Australian democracy and is directly referenced in Our Common Bond. The citizenship test will test your understanding of why this separation exists: to prevent the abuse of power and protect the rights of all Australians.

Federal vs State Powers

Not all laws are made by the federal Parliament. Australia has three levels of government — federal, state/territory, and local — and each has different responsibilities. The federal Parliament has exclusive power over matters such as:

• Defence and national security
• Immigration and citizenship
• Customs and trade
• Currency and banking
• Telecommunications

State governments handle areas like hospitals and health services, schools, roads, and police. Local governments manage community services, local roads, and planning. For a full breakdown, see our Study Guide on the three levels of government.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many members does the House of Representatives have?

The House of Representatives has 151 members, elected from 151 electoral divisions (electorates) based on population. Each electorate elects one representative. This number can change after each redistribution, but 151 is the current number tested in the Australian Citizenship Test.

How many senators does Australia have?

Australia has 76 senators in total: 12 from each of the 6 states (72) plus 2 each from the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory (4). State senators serve 6-year terms; territory senators serve 3 years.

Who is the head of the Australian government?

This depends on how you define "head." The King of Australia (currently King Charles III) is the constitutional head of state, represented in Australia by the Governor-General. The Prime Minister is the head of government — the person who actually runs the country day-to-day. Both are tested in the Australian Citizenship Test.

Where does Parliament meet?

The Australian Parliament meets at Parliament House in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. The current building opened on 9 May 1988. Before that, Parliament met at the Old Parliament House from 1927 to 1988.

Can the Senate reject a bill?

Yes. The Senate can reject, amend, or delay any bill (except money bills in limited circumstances). This is why the Senate is called the "house of review" — its role is to scrutinise legislation. If both chambers cannot agree, a rare double-dissolution election or joint sitting may resolve the deadlock. For more on the lawmaking process, visit our Study Guide or practise with free test questions.