Blog Entries

How well do Australians know their Senate?

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 13:52:27 +1100

How well do Australians know their Senate? According to a 2020 survey by the Australia Institute (AI), not very well at all.

Indigenous representation in the Senate

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 13:38:16 +1100

The upcoming 47^th Parliament is set to include 11 Indigenous parliamentarians. This will bring the total number of Indigenous parliamentarians since Federation to 17 and break the record set by the 46^th Parliament.

When governments work together who holds them to account?

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 13:36:11 +1100

Complex national issues and shared challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic require different levels of government to work together in different ways. This can create challenges for state and federal parliaments and other institutions responsible for holding individual governments to account.

The Senate’s power to order documents

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 11:40:04 +1000

The power to order documents, both in existence and created for the purpose, is one of the most significant methods of parliamentary inquiry and has deep historical roots. See, for example, orders made by the United Kingdom House of Commons in February 1699 requiring the production of lists of persons collecting taxes on salt, beer, ale and other liquors.

Altering the Constitution—Parliamentary stage

Tue, 04 Jul 2023 10:14:00 +1000

The rules for altering the Australian Constitution are provided by section 128 of the Constitution. Before a referendum can be held, a proposed law for the alteration of the Constitution must first be passed by the Australian Parliament.

How do we categorise the Australian system of government?

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 10:33:00 +1100

The Australian system of government is notoriously difficult to categorise. Although based upon the Westminster tradition, the unique role of the Australian Senate means that our parliamentary system cannot be described as purely ‘Westminster’.

Welcome class of 2022

Mon, 22 Aug 2022 15:14:05 +1000

The opening of the 47th Parliament on 26 July 2022 saw 11 newly elected senators kickstart their parliamentary careers, and just like any new job, there has been an exciting period of learning and orientation over the past month.

10 years of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights

Thu, 11 Aug 2022 12:08:02 +1000

This year marks ten years since the formation of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights (PJCHR), making it an opportune time to ask: what is it that the PJCHR does and what impact has it had in the last ten years?

Opening of the 47th Parliament

Wed, 27 Jul 2022 09:00:00 +1000

On 26 July 2022, the two Houses of the Parliament met for the opening of the 47th Parliament. This date was set by the Governor-General, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd), who, on advice from the government, issued a proclamation calling the parliament to meet for the first time since the federal election.

Who's who in the Senate: The Usher of the Black Rod

Mon, 18 Jul 2022 13:49:00 +1000

As part of the opening of the 47th Parliament on 26 July 2022, the Usher of the Black Rod will be directed by the Governor-General to summon members of the House of Representatives to the Senate where the Governor-General will announce the newly elected government’s program.

Senate committees – where the Senate meets the public

Wed, 22 Jun 2022 10:00:00 +1000

On 21 May 2022, the voting population of Australia headed to polling stations around the country to cast their vote in the federal election. However, there is another way that any member of the public can participate in our democracy and it doesn't require a three year wait.

Welcome to Senate matters

Tue, 14 Jun 2022 10:00:00 +1000

Welcome to Senate matters — a new collection of short-form public interest articles on the work, people and events of the Senate.

Prorogation and what it means for Senate business

Tue, 31 May 2022 14:59:04 +1000

The Governor-General issued a proclamation on 10 April 2022 proroguing Parliament at 9.29am the following day and then dissolving the House of Representatives, ahead of a federal election on 21 May.

The Budget and Senate Estimates

Tue, 31 May 2022 14:52:08 +1000

This week all eyes will be on the Budget, the government’s most important financial statement, which will be delivered by the Treasurer on 29 March. Attention will then go to Senate estimates where the Senate will look at the government’s proposed spending in more detail.

90 years of Senate Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation

Tue, 31 May 2022 14:45:42 +1000

This month marks 90 years of the Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation, previously called the Regulations and Ordinances Committee.

Explainer: What is a private senator’s bill?

Tue, 31 May 2022 14:43:15 +1000

A key role of the Australian Parliament is to make and change the law. Each year the Australian Parliament considers hundreds of proposed laws, known as bills. Read here to find out about private senators' bills.

Who’s who in the Senate: The President of the Senate

Wed, 12 Jan 2022 15:48:00 +1100

The President is the presiding officer of the Senate whose chief function is to guide and regulate the proceedings in the Senate.

Sitting in a time of COVID-19

Fri, 03 Dec 2021 15:47:00 +1100

When the Senate sat on 2 December for the last time in 2021, it marked off a remarkable two years for the Parliament.

Senate elects a new President

Mon, 18 Oct 2021 15:46:00 +1100

The Senate elected Senator Brockman as the 26^th President of the Senate. The role of the President became vacant after Senator Scott Ryan retired on 13 October 2021.

120 years of Senate select committees

Mon, 26 Jul 2021 15:44:00 +1000

Select committees are single-issue committees that cease to exist once they produce a final inquiry report.