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Audio
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| Opening credits showing animated shapes with the words, Understand, Teach, Book, Resources. The Parliamentary Education Office logo. |
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| The Prime Minister, the Hon Anthony Albanese MP, speaking at a press conference. |
Prime Minister: My fellow Australians, this morning I visited the Governor-General and Her Excellency has accepted my advice that an election be held on Saturday... |
| A proclamation signed by the Governor-General and the Prime Minister. |
In Australia, federal elections must be held at least every 3 years. |
| Images of people at voting screens. Ballots being counted by officials. |
On election day, Australian citizens aged 18 years and over, vote to choose the people who will represent them in the Parliament. |
| Animated graphic of the House of Representatives showing over half the seats are held by the government and the Prime Minister’s seat at the table. |
The political party, or coalition of parties with the support of the majority of the members elected to the House of Representatives, forms the government. The leader of the government becomes the Prime Minister. |
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Graphic of the Senate with the text:
State senators - 6 years
Territory senators - 3 years
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In contrast to the House of Representatives, most senators are elected for a 6-year term. |
| A 'Welcome to Country' ceremony in the Great Hall at Australian Parliament House. |
After the general election, the Parliament is formally opened with a 'Welcome to Country' by Ngunnawal people. |
| Footage of senators in the Senate and members in the House of Representatives. |
Senators and members then assemble in their respective houses. |
| The Usher of the Black Rod enters the House of Representatives. |
The Usher of the Black Rod delivers a message summoning all members to the Senate. |
| The Serjeant-at-Arms and the Usher of the Black Rod in the House of Representatives. |
Usher of the Black Rod: Honourable members, the Deputy to Her Excellency the Governor-General, desires your attendance in the Senate.
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| Footage of members leaving the House of Representatives, walking across to and entering the Senate. |
The ceremony is held in the Senate because there is a convention that the monarch, or the Governor-General representing the monarch, does not enter the House of Representatives. This tradition dates back to the British Parliament in the 17th century. |
| The Chief Justice of the High Court sitting in the Senate. |
Chief Justice: Pursuant to the instrument which the Clerk has now read, I declare open the 48th Parliament of the Commonwealth. |
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Footage of members being sworn-in.
Footage of senators signing the Test Roll and the Senators' Roll.
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After the Parliament is officially opened, members return to the House of Representatives to be sworn-in. In the Senate, new senators are also sworn-in.
The House of Representatives then elects a Speaker to chair or run the meetings.
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| The Clerk speaking from the table in the House of Representatives. |
Clerk of the House of Representatives: The next business of the House is the election of a Speaker. |
| Footage of members in the House of Representatives. |
This is important because no business can be conducted in the House without a Speaker. |
| The Speaker being escorted to the Speaker's chair and congratulated by his colleagues. |
It is customary for the newly elected Speaker to be reluctantly escorted to the chair by his or her supporters. This is a tradition dating back to the early UK Parliament when some Speakers were beheaded or imprisoned for delivering news from the Parliament to the King that he disliked.
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| The Leader of the Government in the Senate speaking. |
The Leader of the Government in the Senate: Clerk, noting that the office of the President has become vacant, I move that Senator Lines take this chair of the Senate as President.
The Senate elects a President to chair
their meetings.
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| The senators stand and the Usher of the Black Rod leads the Governor-General into the Senate. |
Later in the day, the Governor-General arrives at the Senate to address members of parliament.
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| The Usher of the Black Rod walks to the House of Representatives and knocks on the door with the base of the Black Rod. |
Once again, members of the House of Representatives are summoned to the Senate. As is tradition, the Usher of the Black Rod knocks on the door 3 times, and waits to be admitted to the House. |
| The Usher of the Black Rod addresses the House of Representatives. |
Usher of the Black Rod: Mr Speaker, Her Excellency the Governor-General desires the attendance of honourable members in the Senate.
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Members walk to the Senate.
The Governor-General speaking in the Senate.
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When all members of parliament are gathered in the Senate, the Governor-General makes an opening speech.
Governor-General: Good afternoon everybody. I acknowledge the Ngunnawal people as the
traditional custodians...
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| Footage of senators and members giving speeches and working in committees. |
After the Parliament is officially opened, it is business as usual for both the Senate and the House of Representatives. This includes debating and making new laws, and discussing issues that are important to the nation. The new parliament is underway – making decisions about governing the country on behalf of all Australians.
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The Parliamentary Education Office logo.
www.peo.gov.au
Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2025.
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