Making Australian law

A bill is a proposal for a law




Most bills are introduced by government ministers.

To become a law, a bill must be:

Agreed to by the House
of Representatives

Agreed to by
the Senate

Signed by the
Governor-General

A bill usually begins in the House of Representatives where members debate and vote on it. If the majority of members vote for a bill it is agreed to and sent to the Senate.

When a bill gets to the Senate, senators debate and vote on it. If the majority of senators vote for a bill it is agreed to and sent to the Governor-General to be signed.

When the Governor-General signs a bill, it is given Royal Assent. This means it becomes a law-called an Act of Parliament.

Members of parliament can suggest amendments – changes – to a bill. The words of a bill can be amended if both the House of Representatives and the Senate agree.

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