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This webpage gives an overview of the federal parliament, contact details for the Prime Minister and links to obtain details of Members of the House of Representatives and Senators.
At the bottom of this page is a section about the current composition of the parliament following the 2010 election.
Overview
Australia's federal Parliament has two Houses - the lower house is called the House of Representatives and the upper house is the Senate.
Click here for the Australian Parliament website.
For an overview of the parliament on the APH website - click here.
The governemnt is formed by the political party that has a majority in the House of Representatives.
Prime Minister - Hon Julia Gillard
- the Prime Minister is the leader of the governing Party.
Leader of the Opposition - Hon Tony Abbott
Contacting your MPs and Senators
The Prime Minister
The PM's website
Contact the Prime Minister - you can send the PM an email online.
Federal Cabinet
For a list of Cabinet and other Ministers and portfolios, click here.
Leader of the Opposition
Click here for details about Tony Abbott.
Shadow Cabinet - click here for list and contact details.
House of Representatives - Members
The House of Representatives has a total of 150 Members.
Every voter has one MP in the House of Representatives.
In order to find the name and details of your own Member in the House of Representatives, you need to know which Electorate you are in.
The Australian Electoral Commission has a special webpage called 'Online Enrolment Verification Facility' - just type in your details to find your federal and state electorates and local government information as well.
OR phone 13 23 26 to find out your electorate. (They will also give you MP details.)
Lists of Members - full details
This APH page contains lists of Members in the House of Representatives - alphabetically, by electorate, by party and by state.
Senate - Senators
The Senate has 76 Members - 12 for each State and 2 for each of the Territories (NT and ACT). Each voter is represented by ALL the Senators in their State or Territory.
Senators' details - this page gives details for all Senators.
To see an Alphabetical list - click here.
To find out your own State Senators (12 for each State, 2 for Territories) - click here - use Search box or click on your state.
Current composition of the government
At the 2010 federal election held on 21 August 2010, the Australian Labor Party and the Coalition both gained 72 seats. A party needs 76 seats to govern.
Eventually the Green MP Adam Bandt, the Independent from Tasmania Andrew Wilkie and two of the three rural Independents (Tony Windsor, Rob Oakeshott) decided to support Labor - at least in matters of 'supply' (money) and trivial 'no-confidence' motions.
The election results on the Australian Electoral Commission website - click here.
Bob Katter and WA National Tony Crook supported the Coalition.
This gave Labor 76 seats - so Labor formed government. Julia Gillard is the Prime Minister.
House of Representatives - 150 Members:
Labor (ALP): 72
Coalition: 44 - Liberal Party, 21 - Liberal National Party of Queensland, 7 - The Nationals (inc Tony Crook), 1 - Country Liberals (NT)
Greens: Adam Bandt
Independents: Bob Katter, Tony Windsor, Rob Oakeshott, Andrew Wilkie.
Click here for the webpage listing all MPs by party, state, alphabetical, etc.
For a list by political party - click here, then click on "Members by party" and then select the party you require.
Senate - 76 Senators:
The current Senate took effect on 1 July, 2010.
From 1 July 2008: Australian Greens 5; ALP 32; Family First 1; Independent 1;
Liberal Party 32; National Party/CLP 5. [Senators' List]
Get the FREE book Electoral Pocket Book and the federal electoral Boundaries Map from the Australian Electoral Commission by phoning 13 2326 and asking for a copy!
The 2009 edition is now available online - click here.
It provides lots of information about Australia's electoral system.
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