Parliament and Government

What is Parliament?

Max the Cat - Launceston, TAS

What is the role of parliament?

Sam - Fremantle, WA

What is the role and function of the Senate?

Ellie - Grafton, NSW

What is responsible government?

Teagan - Narrandera, NSW

What is government?

Peter - Geelong, VIC

What is the definition of a hung parliament?

Arisa - Gold Coast, QLD

Apart from democracy what other forms of governments are there?

Fletcher - Sydney, NSW

How do members of parliament discuss an issue? Is it like a debate?

Abbie - Mount Gambier, SA

Why are we a constitutional monarchy?

Finn - Sydney, NSW

How can a member of government also be part of the Senate?

Chloe - Melbourne, VIC

What exactly happens when you get booted out of the House of Representatives under 94A?

Jessica - Beenleigh, QLD

How is the government elected in parliament?

Curtis - Brisbane, QLD

Do petitions have to be tabled in Parliament once they are given to a member?

Liliana - Elwood, VIC

Where about does my member sit in parliament?

Curtis - Caboolture, QLD

What is the role of parties in parliament?

Lance - Maryborough, QLD

How have the British and US systems of government influenced the Australian government system?

Alice - Adelaide, SA

How can individuals participate in the Australian political system?

Paige - Perth, WA

After a double dissolution, does the senate get back to the normal half-senate election pattern?

John - Bowral, NSW

Does the Federation Chamber have a part in the law making process?

Edward - Eaglemont, VIC

Can you please explain voting on the voices and the division process?

Shaniqua - planet earth

Hi! Just wondering what the definition of Australian Democracy Is?

HistoryGirl02 - Adelaide, SA

What is the oath of office that is taken by new senators and members of the House of Representatives when they are sworn in?

Wayne - Budgewoi, NSW

Define the two-party system?

Tomomi - Varsity Lakes, QLD

How does the government work and why is the government so important?

Shuobing - Melbourne, VIC

Does the Parliament of Australia have a situation room similar to the White House?

Hartley - Emu Heights, NSW

What are the buildings or locations that are connected to each level of government?

Noah - Innisfail, QLD

How do the different houses of parliament work?

Cameron - Armadale, WA

How many clocks are there in Parliament House? What makes the bells on the clocks ring? Why do the bells ring for four minutes?

Lachlan - Melbourne, VIC

What is the difference between the role of the Federal Executive Council and the Cabinet?

Steve - Penrith, NSW

I was wondering how many people are in each political party in Parliament?

Tayisha - Barden Ridge, NSW

Who are all the members of parliament?

Ethan - Windsor, NSW

What happens if the current PM and ministers of the cabinet lose their seats in the next election?

Jessica - Brisbane, QLD

What is a 'senate estimate'?

Jessica - Brisbane, QLD

How does the seating arrangement work in the House of Representatives? Can members sit anywhere apart from their own seats?

Marshall - Australia

What does 'I move that the member be no longer heard' mean?

Mary - Australia

Explain what the different types of motions are

Jessica - Brisbane, QLD

What happens if Federal MP's disagree with the Speaker's ruling?

Jessica - Brisbane, QLD

Apart from the standing orders, what other 'rules' does the House have to follow, specifically in Question Time?

Jessica - Brisbane, QLD

For a Federal MP, who writes the speeches in Question Time, Press Conferences, or leadership speeches?

Jessica - Brisbane, QLD

What is the purpose of the despatch box? How did the name come about? Thanks for your time!

Jessica - Brisbane, QLD

What are the arguments for and against a Bill of Rights here in Australia?

Mrs Kingdon - Success, WA

What is the role of the Prime Minister in allowing a free vote on an issue debated in the Parliament?

Eleni - Melbourne, VIC

What are the similarities and differences of the chambers and the two houses of parliament?

Gabby - Planet Earth

Can someone please explain the four models of representation (delegate, partisan, trustee and mirror). Thank you

Ainsley - Mandurah, WA

Why can't the speaker be from the Crossbench (Minor Parties)? This ensures that the impartiality is being upheld.

Jessica - Brisbane, QLD

Can the appropriate MP's choose their ministerial position? Or is it delegated to them?

Jessica - Brisbane, QLD

How often do ministers meet and for how long each session? Why are ministers paid so much more than everyone else?

Louise - Melbourne, VIC

Has an MP been removed under 94B? How can a member be removed under this ruling?

Jessica - Brisbane, QLD

What system of government does Australia have?

Simran - Perth, WA

What are the roles of the shadow ministers?

Jennifer - NSW

I have a research activity on Australian Government and am trying to figure out the total number of parties available in Australia

Euugene - Papua New Guinea

What are the rights and responsibilities of an Australian citizen?

Lily - Brisbane, QLD

When is the flag at Parliament House changed?

Barb - Canberra, ACT

Why did the parliamentarians move to a new parliament house?

Bridie - Seaham, NSW

Why is there a green and red room?

Maddison - Seaham, NSW

When does a Member who does not recontest their seat at the next election effectively retire? Is it at the dissolution of the House?

Tiffany - Canberra, ACT

How many people are in the Parliament house at one time?

Kerry - Japan

Why must the mace be present? Why did the make it a mace? Why not a sword? Is the mace a symbol of power?

Mike - Terrigal, NSW

Why is the Senate called the upper house and the House of Representatives called the lower house?

Henrietta - Sandringham, VIC

Who designed Parliament house and when was it built?

Elijah - Adelaide, SA

How many parties are there in the Parliament right now?

Conrad - Adelaide, SA

How many seats in total are in Parliament House?

Nathan - Fairfield, NSW

What is the difference between a Prime Minister and a President?

Lana - Adelaide, SA

Why doesn't the federal government control all funding?

Meg - Canberra, ACT

What is the definition of commonwealth money?

Howard - Melbourne, VIC

Why is it that the Prime Minister and Cabinet are not mentioned in the Australian Constitution?

Kym - Surfers Paradise, QLD

Are there any rules, legislation or convention defining how a member of the House of Representatives should vote? What is the duty of a member of the House of Representatives in regard to deciding how to vote?

John - Sydney, NSW

What legislation covers the expenses of members and senators once the writs for an election are issued?

John - Avalon, VIC

If members have a pecuniary interest in an issue, are they allowed to vote on it, and what legislation is involved?

John - Avalon, VIC

Under what circumstances would standing orders be suspended and for what purpose?

Lee - Kirup, WA

How long do parliament sittings go for?

Barbara - Liverpool, NSW

Who designed the mace and why did they choose that design?

Bridget - Mandurah, WA

Can you list all the responsibilities of federal government?

Chelzea - Perth, WA

What are the main jobs of people in parliament and who is doing them now?

Sophie - Sunshine Coast, QLD

Why are the doors locked when a division is held?

Sean - Gold Coast, QLD

How will Australian government change in the future?

Finn - Adelaide, SA

Why do senators sometimes move motions that they know will fail?

Leon - Belmont, NSW

Why do members of parliament address the Speaker and not the questioner during Question Time?

Leon - Belmont, NSW

How many people are there in the Cabinet?

Nemo - Melbourne, VIC

How are decisions made in the cabinet carried out?

Kevin - Sydney, NSW

What are the row of books on the table of the house of representatives?

Carson - Planet Earth

What is a session of parliament?

Graeme - Melbourne, VIC

Which current senators will serve three years and which will serve six years?

Max - McCrae, VIC

What is the role of the King in Australia's system of government?

Annmarie - Busselton, WA

Which party or parties are in power at present?

Chris - Port Vila, Vanuatu

Why is the Mace important?

Patrick and Christian - Adelaide, SA

How is government policy is shaped and developed by the Prime Minister and Cabinet?

Kathy - Melbourne, VIC

Is there an established list of portfolios for each level of government? What are they? How do they get allocated?

Elisa - Adelaide, SA

What is the role of the Governor-General in allowing a conscience vote?

Christopher - Melbourne, VIC

Why does there have to be 76 senators in the Senate?

Sam - the universe

Why do they need such a big flag?

Sam - Albury, NSW

How long was the longest sitting?

Jeslyn - VIC

Does the executive dominate decision-making in the Australian parliamentary system?

Ahmed - Brisbane, Queensland

How long did the shortest sitting go for?

I Like Dolphins - Melbourne, Vic

Is the Governor-General allowed inside the House of Representatives?

Michael - Canberra, ACT

How do you find out what is going to be discussed at future Senate and House sittings?

Sarah - Coopers Plains, QLD

Why do we have parliament house?

Kitty - Australia

Why is the Lord's Prayer read at the beginning of each day in the House of Representatives and Senate if Australia is a secular nation?

Brandon - somewhere out there ...

Are there currently any backbench committees? What is their role?

Jane - VIC

How does Parliament House accommodate members and senators who have disabilities?

Skip - Canberra, ACT

What defines a Majority in Parliament? Are the votes in Parliament private?

Mackenzie - Burnie, TAS

When does Federal Parliament sit and when does it close for the year?

Tony - Planet Earth

Do any people live in parliament house?

Liam - Shellharbour, NSW

How does the Government handle a financial crisis, if there is a process?

Vincent - Shellharbour Village, NSW

Is an election called if no party wins a majority in the House of Representatives?

Petra - Melbourne, VIC

Can the minor parties or independents form government?

Dee - Gold Coast, QLD

What would happen if the coalition of parties in government decided to break their coalition?

Lee - Alstonville, NSW

Can the advisers of Parliamentarians go into the chambers?

Michael - somewhere out there

Is there any bodies that regulate the behaviour of members of parliament? Besides media and voters

Wayne - Brisbane, QLD

How does tax work and does the government have a effect on it?

William - Ku-Ring-Gai, NSW

What is the Judiciary and what does it do?

Eric - Westleigh, NSW

What can you tell me about the flags in the House of Representatives?

Hilmar - Bacchus Marsh, VIC

If the Opposition won the majority in the Senate, would they sit on the right of the President?

Tom - Canberra, ACT

What is democracy?

Jarrah - Liverpool, NSW

Why did Australia decide to have a parliament with a government and an opposition opposition instead of a co-operative form of Parliament?

Lyndal - Surfers Paradise, QLD

How has power shifted to the Australian Government from the states since federation?

Kumari - Melbourne, VIC

In practical terms, what were the responsibilities of past parliamentarians who were appointed as a 'Minister without Portfolio'?

Conrad - NSW

I would like to find out how members of parliament voted on a bill

Trena - Bossley Park, NSW

What happens when a supply bill is blocked? Why was supply blocked in 1975?

Mark - Australia

How much did Parliament House cost to build?

Eve - Cocos Islands, WA

Why is there grass on the roof of Parliament House?

Sol - Cocos Island, WA

How is the opening date for the next Parliament decided and who makes that decision?

Lee - Alstonville, NSW

If a minister is asked a question during Question Time, can they request the Prime Minister answer instead?

Catherine - Australia

Why do the Nationals and Liberals work together while the other parties (Labor, Greens, etc) are by themselves?

Ivy - Hobart, TAS

How are casual vacancies in the Senate filled?

Andrew - Cashmere, QLD

What is a parliamentary majority?

Dorothy - Dickson, ACT

What is a Dorothy Dix question? And what is she doing in Parliament?

Cliff - Ulladulla, NSW

What is a 'white paper'?

Greta - Meadowbank, NSW

Can MPs walk in and out of the chamber while the house is sitting?

Liam - Sydney, NSW

What is a Machinery of Government change?

Skip - Bendigo, Vic

What are reserve powers?

Floyd - New York, USA

What is the difference between the Australian Parliament and the Australian Government?

Floyd - Rivett, ACT

Why are there only 2 senators for every territory?

Denise - Dandenong, VIC

What is the name for the parliamentary officer who knows the rules of parliament?

Erin - Cowan, NSW

What are some of the differences between the Senate and the House of Representatives?

Blake - Bribie Island, QLD

What happens if they incorrectly count the votes in the House of Representatives or in the Senate?

Alex - King Island, TAS

What happens if the votes are tied in the House of Representatives and in the Senate?

Jacqueline - Doncaster, VIC

Why do members of parliament only have 4 minutes to get back to vote on a bill?

Chips - Downer, ACT

What happens if a member of parliament is late to a vote?

Ellsworth - Gravesend, NSW

What is the crossbench and who sits there?

Bjorn - Broome, WA

What support and guidance is given to new members of parliament to help them in their roles?

Phoenix - Lara, VIC

I'd like to know what the customs and traditions are that Cabinet operates by and is there a 20 year public release rule?

Chris - Melbourne, VIC

Why is there a limit on how long members of Parliament can speak?

Vicki - Rockhampton, QLD

Why do members of parliament say hear, hear after someone from their party has spoken?

Tamara - Newport, VIC

Can the Prime Minister also be the Speaker?

Brains - Birregurra, VIC

How often do people debate in the House of Representatives?

Miranda - Bowral, NSW

How long did it take to build the Parliament House?

Baswa - Bethania, QLD

How long will Parliament House be used before they need a new one?

Anu - Chullora, NSW

How many rooms are there in parliament house?

Maree - Inala, QLD

Why do we have a parliament?

Belinda - Camden, NSW

Where can I find more information about Senate estimates?

Ken - Glebe, NSW

Why is there more than one clock in the House of Representatives, behind the Speaker's chair?

Catherine - Dandenong, VIC

Does everyone have to speak in Parliament?

Valentine - Manilla, NSW

Why do members start their speech by saying thank you speaker?

Sabrina - Strathfield, NSW

Do the debates in parliament get crazy with people yelling and screaming?

Melina - Leeton, NSW

Why are all debates recorded?

Sparkle - Charnwood, ACT

How does an idea or recommendation from a government department become a bill and how do resources get allocated to the government department? How long does this process take?

Lucinda - Australia

How many senate estimates committees are there?

Jasmine - WA

What can people do when they don’t agree with something Parliament has done?

Reechara - Sapphire Central, QLD

Who protects the people from the governments over reach?

Reechara - Sapphire Central, QLD

Why are petitions protected by parliamentary privilege?

Reechara - Sapphire Central, QLD

How do I start a petition to parliament? How many signatures do we need? What can we do to get this happening?

John - Australia

Does Parliament House have a dedicated press briefing room, and does the government perform daily press briefings?

Shaun - Sydney, NSW

Where do MPs get food in Parliament House? Are there coffee shops for the staff?

James - Armidale, NSW

What are additional estimates? How long does a department have to answer in writing a question on notice and are answers recorded in Hansard?

Lisa - Melbourne, VIC

Why is there a Senate estimates and not a House estimates?

Emma - Bendigo, VIC

Could you estimate the cost of running parliamentary committees?

Declan - Australia

What are the responsibilities of living in a democracy?

Haider - Adelaide, SA

In Parliament, which votes require a simple majority and which votes require an absolute majority?

Fulin - Parramatta, NSW

Can the government include the crossbench in the ‘pairing’ system?

Mal - Melbourne, Australia

What is the Washminster system?

Suzanne - Canberra, ACT

What is the difference between a question without notice and a question on notice?

Candice - Neutral Bay, NSW

What are Royal Commissions and where can I find information about how many recommendations have been met?

Elisa - Williamstown, SA

What if the government breaks the law?

Rohan - Hazelbrook, NSW

Why might MPs try to leave House of Representatives before a vote?

Anna - Perth

Are conventions not written in the Constitution (e.g. the King appointing Governor-Generals on the Prime Minister's advice) binding/mandatory?

Kyle - Carey Park, Bunbury

What does it mean when members say "I move that this bill now be read a second time?"

George - Gold Coast, QLD

Why do you often see just a few members sitting in the houses?

Hamish - Sydney, NSW

What makes democracy in Australia different to other countries' democracies and ways of ruling?

Melissa - Brisbane, QLD

How are new government departments or agencies created?

Veronica - Adelaide, SA

Can the president of the senate request a senator to leave for unruly conduct like the speaker in the reps?

Barry - Australia

In the Federation Chamber, how do members decide where to sit?

Hamish - Sydney, NSW

What traditions guide how the government works?

Ben - Perth, WA

Why do some members and senators not attend divisions?

Luka - NSW

Who decides who gets to ask questions during question time?

Uyseok - British Columbia

Who sits on the two chairs behind the President of the Senate?

Harry - Brisbane

Does the budget give the treasurer power over other ministers? Shouldn't each minister choose how much money they need instead?

Edward - Brisbane, QLD

What is confidence and supply?

Anton - Kaleen, ACT

Could a member of parliament bring a pet or assistance animal with them into the chambers or Parliament House?

Harry - Bulimba, QLD