RESEARCH PAPER SERIES, 2020–21   UPDATED 16 APRIL 2021

Composition of Australian parliaments by party and gender: a quick guide

Anna Hough

Politics & Public Administration Section

This quick guide contains the most recent tables showing the composition of Australian parliaments by party and gender (see Tables 1 and 2 below). It takes into account changes to the Commonwealth and state/territory parliaments since the last update was published on 2 December 2020.

1 Commonwealth

In the House of Representatives, Craig Kelly (LIB, Hughes, NSW) announced on 23 February 2021 that he had resigned from the Liberal Party to sit as an independent.

2 New South Wales

Legislative Assembly

On 3 March 2021 John Sidoti (LIB, Drummoyne) resigned from the Liberal Party to sit as an independent.

Michael Johnsen (NATS, Upper Hunter) resigned from parliament on 31 March 2021. His membership of the Nationals had been suspended on 24 March 2021. A by-election for the seat of Upper Hunter will be held on 22 May 2021.

Legislative Council

On 16 February 2021 the President of the Legislative Council, John Ajaka (LIB) announced his intention to resign from the Legislative Council on 31 March 2021. The resulting casual vacancy has not yet been filled.

3 Western Australia

The figures for Western Australia reflect the results of the general election held on 13 March 2021. As a result of the election the number of women in the Parliament of Western Australia has increased from 30 to 43 (31.6 per cent to 45.3 per cent).

4 South Australia

House of Assembly

In the House of Assembly, Fraser Ellis (LIB, Narungga) resigned from the Liberal Party on 19 February 2021 to sit as an independent.

Legislative Council

Following the retirement of Mark Parnell (GRN), the resulting casual vacancy will be filled by Robert Simms (GRN).

5 Tasmania

In the House of Assembly, Sue Hickey (LIB, Clark) announced on 22 March 2021 that she had resigned from the Liberal Party to sit as an independent, sending the government into minority status and precipitating an early election on 1 May 2021.

6 Australian Capital Territory

Following the resignation of Alistair Coe (LIB, Yerrabi) on 12 March 2021, James Milligan (LIB) was elected to the resulting casual vacancy via a countback of the 2020 election results.

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