Government

Who is the government?

In Australia, the government is the party or coalition of parties with the support of the majority of members in the House of Representatives. The government is responsible for coming up with ideas for how to run the country. They make policies – plans of action –, propose new laws and put new laws into action for Australia.

Forming government

Government is formed in the House of Representatives. The party or coalition of parties that has the support of the majority of members in the House is the government. They remain the government as long as they have the support of the majority of members. The government rarely changes outside of a federal election.

Although government is formed in the House, there are also members of the government in the Senate. The government may or may not hold the majority of seats in the Senate. 

Usually, a single party or coalition of parties is voted in with a majority of members in their own right, which is known as a  majority government. If, after a federal election, no political party or coalition of parties achieves a majority in the House, it is called a  hung parliament. It is still possible for a government to be formed if a party can reach majority support through agreement with independent and/or minor party members. This type of government is known as a minority government .

Government responsibilities

The responsibilities of the Australian Government include:

• developing national policies, for example, plans for managing trade, foreign affairs, immigration and the environment
• introducing bills – ideas for new laws or changes to existing ones – into Parliament
• putting laws into action through government departments
• making important decisions on behalf of Australians, such as whether or not to send Australian troops to war zones
• representing Australia overseas, through key spokespersons such as the Prime Minister and the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

The Prime Minister speaking from the Despatch Box in the House of Representatives.

DPS Auspic

The Prime Minister speaking from the Despatch Box in the House of Representatives.

DPS Auspic

Description

The Prime Minister stands and speaks at a box with a microphone in the House of Representatives. There are books on the table in front of him and people sitting on green benches in the background.

Copyright information

Permission should be sought from DPS AUSPIC for third-party or commercial uses of this image. To contact DPS AUSPIC email: auspic@aph.gov.au or phone: 02 6277 3342.

Roles within the government

The leader of the Australian Government is the Prime Minister, who by convention – tradition – is a member of the House of Representatives. They are picked by their party to lead their team and have the power to choose other members of the government for important roles. The Prime Minister gives areas of responsibility for how Australia is run – a portfolio – to some members of the government who become ministers.

Members of the government who are not ministers are backbenchers. They do a range of work for the government, including researching, participating in committees, making speeches and voting on bills.

Responsible government

Members of the government must be members of Parliament. This is part of the concept of responsible government. Because a party or coalition of parties must keep the support of the majority of members in the House, the government is accountable – responsible – to the Australian Parliament.

In Australia, the principle of responsible government works together with the principle of the separation of powers to guide the way in which law is made and managed, and to prevent any group having all the power.

House of Representatives current numbers.

DPS AUSPIC/Parliamentary Education Office (peo.gov.au)

House of Representatives current numbers.

DPS AUSPIC/Parliamentary Education Office (peo.gov.au)

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