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Double dissolutions

Both Houses of the Australian Parliament have been dissolved simultaneously on the following occasions:

1. On 30.7.1914, by the Rt Hon. Sir Ronald Craufurd Munro-Ferguson, when both Houses of the Fifth Parliament were dissolved prior to the general elections of 5.9.1914.
	PROCLAMATION
Commonwealth of Australia to wit. R.M. Ferguson, Governor-General	By His Excellency the Right Honorable Sir Ronald Craufurd Munro Ferguson, a Member of His Majesty’s Most Honorable Privy Council, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Commonwealth of Australia.
WHEREAS by Section 57 of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia it is provided that if the House of Representatives passes any proposed law, and the Senate rejects or fails to pass it, or passes it with amendments to which the House of Representatives will not agree, and if after an interval of three months the House of Representatives, in the same or the next session, again passes the proposed law with or without any amendments which have been made, suggested, or agreed to by the Senate, and the Senate rejects or fails to pass it, or passes it with amendments to which the House of Representatives will not agree, the Governor-General may dissolve the Senate and the House of Representatives simultaneously:
And whereas on the eighteenth day of November One thousand nine hundred and thirteen the House of Representatives passed a Bill for an Act to prohibit, in relation to Commonwealth employment, preferences and discriminations on account of membership or non-membership of an association, and the Senate on the eleventh day of December One thousand nine hundred and thirteen rejected the said Bill:
And whereas on the twenty-eighth day of May One thousand nine hundred and fourteen the House of Representatives in the next session again passed the said Bill, and the Senate on the twenty-eighth day of May One thousand nine hundred and fourteen rejected the said Bill:
And whereas it is expedient to dissolve the Senate and the House of Representatives simultaneously:
Now therefore I, the Governor-General aforesaid, do by this my Proclamation dissolve the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Given under my Hand and the Seal of the Commonwealth of Australia this thirtieth day of July in the year of our Lord One thousand nine hundred and fourteen, and in the fifth year of His Majesty’s reign.
By His Excellency’s Command,
(L.S.)	JOSEPH COOK.
God save the King!

2. On 19.3.1951, by the Rt Hon. Sir William John McKell, when both Houses of the Nineteenth Parliament were dissolved prior to the general elections of 28.4.1951.
	PROCLAMATION
Commonwealth of Australia to wit. W.J. McKELL Governor-General.	By His Excellency the Governor-General in and over the Commonwealth of Australia.
WHEREAS by section fifty-seven of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia it is provided that if the House of Representatives passes any proposed law, and the Senate rejects or fails to pass it, or passes it with amendments to which the House of Representatives will not agree, and if after an interval of three months the House of Representatives, in the same or the next session, again passes the proposed law with or without any amendments which have been made, suggested, or agreed to by the Senate, and the Senate rejects or fails to pass it or passes it with amendments to which the House of Representatives will not agree, the Governor-General may dissolve the Senate and the House of Representatives simultaneously:
And whereas on the fourth day of May, One thousand nine hundred and fifty, the House of Representatives passed a proposed law, namely, a bill for an Act to repeal the Banking Act 1947-48 and to amend the Commonwealth Bank Act 1945-1948:
And whereas on the twenty-first day of June, One thousand nine hundred and fifty, the Senate passed the proposed law with amendments:
And whereas on the twenty-second day of June, One thousand nine hundred and fifty, the House of Representatives disagreed to the amendments:
And whereas on the eleventh day of October, One thousand nine hundred and fifty, the House of Representatives, in the same session, again passed the proposed law:
And whereas the Senate has failed to pass the proposed law:
Now, therefore, I, the Governor-General aforesaid, do by this my Proclamation dissolve the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Given under my hand and the Seal of the Commonwealth this nineteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord, One thousand nine hundred and fifty-one, and in the fifteenth year of His Majesty’s reign.
(L.S.)	By His Excellency’s Command, ROBERT G. MENZIES. Prime Minister.
God save the King!

3. On 11.4.1974, by the Rt Hon. Sir Paul Meernaa Caedwalla Hasluck, when both Houses of the Twenty-eighth Parliament were dissolved prior to the general elections of 18.5.1974.
PROCLAMATION
Australia PAUL HASLUCK Governor-General	By His Excellency the Governor-General of Australia
WHEREAS by section 57 of the Constitution it is provided that if the House of Representatives passes any proposed law, and the Senate rejects or fails to pass it, or passes it with amendments to which the House of Representatives will not agree, and if after an interval of three months the House of Representatives, in the same or the next session, again passes the proposed law with or without any amendments which have been made, suggested, or agreed to by the Senate and the Senate rejects or fails to pass it, or passes it with amendments to which the House of Representatives will not agree, the Governor-General may dissolve the Senate and the House of Representatives simultaneously:
AND WHEREAS the conditions upon which the Governor-General is empowered by that section of the Constitution to dissolve the Senate and the House of Representatives simultaneously have been fulfilled in respect of the several proposed laws intituled—
Commonwealth Electoral Act (No. 2) 1973 Senate (Representation of Territories) Act 1973 Representation Act 1973 Health Insurance Commission Act 1973 Health Insurance Act 1973 Petroleum and Minerals Authority Act 1973
NOW THEREFORE, I Sir Paul Meernaa Caedwalla Hasluck, the Governor-General of Australia, do by this my Proclamation dissolve the Senate and the House of Representatives.
(L.S.) Given under my Hand and the Great Seal of Australia on 11 April 1974.
By His Excellency’s Command, E.G. WHITLAM Prime Minister

4. On 11.11.1975, by the Hon. Sir John Robert Kerr, when both Houses of the Twenty-ninth Parliament were dissolved prior to the general elections of 13.12.1975.
PROCLAMATION
Australia JOHN R. KERR Governor-General	By His Excellency the Governor-General of Australia
WHEREAS by section 57 of the Constitution it is provided that if the House of Representatives passes any proposed law, and the Senate rejects or fails to pass it, or passes it with amendments to which the House of Representatives will not agree, and if after an interval of three months the House of Representatives, in the same or the next session, again passes the proposed law with or without any amendments which have been made, suggested, or agreed to by the Senate and the Senate rejects or fails to pass it, or passes it with amendments to which the House of Representatives will not agree, the Governor-General may dissolve the Senate and the House of Representatives simultaneously:
AND WHEREAS the conditions upon which the Governor-General is empowered by that section of the Constitution to dissolve the Senate and the House of Representatives simultaneously have been fulfilled in respect of the several proposed laws intituled—
Health Insurance Levy Act 1974 Health Insurance Levy Assessment Act 1974 Income Tax (International Agreements) Act 1974 Minerals (Submerged Lands) Act 1974 Minerals (Submerged Lands) (Royalty) Act 1974 National Health Act 1974 Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1974 Conciliation and Arbitration Act (No. 2) 1974 National Investment Fund Act 1974 Electoral Laws Amendment Act 1974 Electoral Act 1975 Privy Council Appeals Abolition Act 1975 Superior Court of Australia Act 1974 Electoral Re-distribution (New South Wales) Act 1975 Electoral Re-distribution (Queensland) Act 1975 Electoral Re-distribution (South Australia) Act 1975 Electoral Re-distribution (Tasmania) Act 1975 Electoral Re-distribution (Victoria) Act 1975 Broadcasting and Television Act (No. 2) 1974 Television Stations Licence Fees Act 1974 Broadcasting Stations Licence Fees Act 1974
NOW THEREFORE, I Sir John Robert Kerr, the Governor-General of Australia, do by this my Proclamation dissolve the Senate and the House of Representatives.
(L.S.) Given under my Hand and the Great Seal of Australia on 11 November 1975.
By His Excellency’s Command, MALCOLM FRASER Prime Minister
God save the Queen!

5. On 4.2.1983, by the Rt Hon. Sir Ninian Martin Stephen, when both Houses of the Thirty-second Parliament were dissolved prior to the general elections of 5.3.1983.
PROCLAMATION
Commonwealth of Australia N.M. STEPHEN Governor-General	By His Excellency the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia
WHEREAS by section 57 of the Constitution it is provided that if the House of Representatives passes any proposed law, and the Senate rejects or fails to pass it, or passes it with amendments to which the House of Representatives will not agree, and if after an interval of three months the House of Representatives, in the same or the next session, again passes the proposed law with or without any amendments which have been made, suggested, or agreed to by the Senate and the Senate rejects or fails to pass it, or passes it with amendments to which the House of Representatives will not agree, the Governor-General may dissolve the Senate and the House of Representatives simultaneously:
AND WHEREAS the conditions upon which the Governor-General is empowered by that section of the Constitution to dissolve the Senate and the House of Representatives simultaneously have been fulfilled in respect of the several proposed laws intituled—
Sales Tax Amendment Bill (No. 1A) 1981 Sales Tax Amendment Bill (No. 2A) 1981 Sales Tax Amendment Bill (No. 3A) 1981 Sales Tax Amendment Bill (No. 4A) 1981 Sales Tax Amendment Bill (No. 5A) 1981 Sales Tax Amendment Bill (No. 6A) 1981 Sales Tax Amendment Bill (No. 7A) 1981 Sales Tax Amendment Bill (No. 8A) 1981 Sales Tax Amendment Bill (No. 9A) 1981 Canberra College of Advanced Education Amendment Bill 1981 States Grants (Tertiary Education Assistance) Amendment Bill (No. 2) 1981 Australian National University Amendment Bill (No. 3) 1981 Social Services Amendment Bill (No. 3) 1981.
NOW THEREFORE I, SIR NINIAN MARTIN STEPHEN, the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, do by this my Proclamation dissolve the Senate and the House of Representatives.
(L.S.) GIVEN under my Hand and the Great Seal of Australia on 4 February 1983.
By His Excellency’s Command, MALCOLM FRASER Prime Minister
God save the Queen!

6. On 5.6.1987, by the Rt Hon. Sir Ninian Martin Stephen, when both Houses of the Thirty-fourth Parliament were dissolved prior to the general elections of 11.7.1987.
PROCLAMATION
Commonwealth of Australia N.M. STEPHEN Governor-General	By His Excellency the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia
WHEREAS by section 57 of the Constitution it is provided that if the House of Representatives passes any proposed law, and the Senate rejects or fails to pass it, or passes it with amendments to which the House of Representatives will not agree, and if after an interval of three months the House of Representatives, in the same or the next session, again passes the proposed law with or without any amendments which have been made, suggested, or agreed to by the Senate and the Senate rejects or fails to pass it, or passes it with amendments to which the House of Representatives will not agree, the Governor-General may dissolve the Senate and the House of Representatives simultaneously:
AND WHEREAS the conditions upon which the Governor-General is empowered by that section of the Constitution to dissolve the Senate and the House of Representatives simultaneously have been fulfilled in respect of the proposed law intituled Australia Card Bill 1986:
NOW THEREFORE I, SIR NINIAN MARTIN STEPHEN, the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, do by this my proclamation dissolve the Senate and the House of Representatives at 5.00 o’clock in the afternoon on Friday, 5 June 1987.
(L.S.) GIVEN under my Hand and the Great Seal of Australia on 5 June 1987:
By His Excellency’s Command, R.J.L. HAWKE Prime Minister
God save the Queen!

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