People

How is the Prime Minister chosen?

Soph - Downer, ACT

What do members of parliament do?

Adam - Ipswich, QLD

What is a backbencher?

Rhys - Beenleigh, QLD

What is the average salary of a prime minister?

Nicholas - Melbourne, VIC

Which members of the government are considered a part of the Executive government and the Cabinet?

Liliana - Elwood, VIC

Are all Government Ministers members of the Cabinet?

Liliana - Elwood, VIC

Must a shadow minister come from the same house as the corresponding minister?

Liliana - Elwood, VIC

What is the prime minister's role?

Curtis - Caboolture, QLD

How does a political party choose its leader?

Joelle - Toowoomba, QLD

Where does the Prime Minister live?

Riley - Brisbane, QLD

Who is the speaker of the house, what do they do and how long do they hold that position?

Barbara - Launceston, TAS

If the speaker wishes to raise an issue concerning their electorate how is this done?

Maggie - Queanbeyan, NSW

What are the 3 main functions of Cabinet ministers?

Amanda - Melbourne, VIC

Why do we need the party whip?

Nathan - Blacktown, NSW

What is a Hansard reporter?

Nathan - Blacktown, NSW

Who is the Serjeant-at-Arms? How many female Serjeants-at-Arms have there been?

Gen - Brisbane, QLD

What is it like to work at the Parliament (not a member of parliament)?

Harley - Armadale, WA

What does the Prime Minister do when he is not in Canberra?

Lily - Melbourne, VIC

What is the role of Attorney General in law making in the federal sphere?

Eleni - Melbourne, VIC

Does Australia have a parliamentary line of succession to the Prime Minister and if so, what is the order?

Hartley - Penrith, NSW

Why shouldn't the Speaker of the House be a Retired Judge or a current member of the Judiciary, appointed by the Judicial Executive.

Peter - Tweed Heads South, NSW

Who has the constitutional right to dismiss the speaker of the House of Representatives?

Garnet - Broome, WA

What is the role of Deputy Leader of the Opposition?

Kinta - Tweed Heads, NSW

Can you become a prime minister at 15?

Rhianna - Newcastle, NSW

How long can the Prime Minister stay in the job?

Lily - Seaham, NSW

Who has been in parliament for the longest?

Tom - Seaham, NSW

What is the job of Transport Minister in Federal Parliament?

Ethan - Seaham, NSW

Is the role of an MP or senator defined or set out in any legislation?

Christine - Macedon, VIC

Does the leader of the opposition have to recite an oath of office (as leader of opposition) over and above his/her oath as MP?

Laurie - Brisbane, QLD

What is the order of power in Australian government?

Alex - Bunbury, WA

Can an LGBTQ person run for Prime Minister?

Lynne - Ararat, VIC

What does the deputy clerk do?

James - Epping, NSW

What role does the president do in the senate and why are they important?

Nick - Adelaide, SA

Who was the oldest person to be in parliament?

Deakin - Unley, SA

Can a senator be treasurer?

Peter - Perth, WA

Why do we need a Leader of the Opposition in the Senate and a Leader of the Government in the Senate?

Mikayla - Brisbane, QLD

How does the leading party decide the PM, and how?

Toby - Adelaide, SA

What is a Chief of Staff? What do they do? Who gets one?

Liam - somewhere out there

If I was Prime Minister could I create my own party?

Kulkiran - Lalor, VIC

What are the major differences between the roles of Federal Treasurer and Finance Minister?

RGM - Forrest, VIC

Why is the prime minister so famous?

Kasey - Mount Gambier, SA

Can the Prime Minister be replaced other than by not being re-elected?

Alanna - Caroline Springs, VIC

Why are members of parliament given money on top of their salary?

Andrei - Melbourne, VIC

Is the Prime Minister allowed to bring a computer into Question Time and use it when answering questions?

Joan - Melbourne, VIC

Can we overthrow the King and how?

Tara - Salisbury North, SA

Is it legal to be a member of more than one political party at the same time?

Steve - At Home, QLD

How many shadow ministers, ministers, representatives and senators are there?

Sofia - Brisbane, QLD

Who are the youngest leaders of a party in parliament?

Max - Syndey, NSW

How many Aboriginal or Torres Straits Islander MPs or Senators are there and what are their names?

Rae - Leongatha, VIC

Why are Senators who have lost their seats because they had dual citizenship permitted to stand for election again?

Joy - Kincumber, NSW

Can a Minister remain in their role while not a member of parliament? Section 64 of the constitution seems to imply they can for three months.

John - Wyee Point, NSW

Who has more power, the Prime Minister or the Governor-General?

Lee - Alstonville, NSW

Can the Governor-General refuse to act on the advice of the Prime Minister and other ministers?

Lee - Alstonville, VIC

How many staff do senators/members have in their office?

Lee - Alstonville, NSW

Can a state governor, instead of the Governor-General, swear in the Deputy Prime Minister?

Lee - Alstonville, NSW

What is a minister and what do they do?

Cyrus - Hornsby, NSW

Why do Senators have longer terms than the terms of the members of the House of Representatives?

Eric - Westleigh, NSW

What are the main requirements for establishing a political party?

Sally - Yackandandah, VIC

As well as Ministers being allocated an office in the Ministerial Wing at Parliament House do they also have offices in their department buildings?

Chris - Toowoomba, QLD

Who is allowed to enter the chambers?

Scott - Mildura, VIC

Why are some members of Parliament called honourable?

Sam - Bundaberg, QLD

What happens if a MP leaves parliament? Do they get replaced?

Hamish - Burnside, VIC

What is the process of appointing a new Governor-General if the current Governor-General fails to uphold his duties?

Chloe-Jane - Hillside, VIC

Can the Prime Minister be removed from the House of Representatives for bad behaviour?

Christian - Stawell, VIC

What powers does the Governor-General have?

Alicia - Melbourne, VIC

Who is the Leader of the House and what do they do?

Andrew - Canberra, ACT

The Prime Minister must sit in the House of Representatives. Can the Deputy Prime Minister be a senator?

Janet - Canberra, ACT

Does the Speaker of the House of Representatives have to wear a wig?

Bunny - VIC

Does the PM s family still pay money for their bills? (eg: water bills)

Livi - Melbourne, VIC

What happens when a member of parliament loses their seat?

Alison - Cranbourne, VIC

Who can fire the Prime Minister?

CoconutCrazy - SA

Who represents me in Australian parliament?

Rory - Adelaide, SA

How is the Deputy Speaker appointed or elected?

Liam - Penshurst, NSW

What is a non-elected officer and where can I find some interesting facts?

Lee - Clare, SA

Does the Australian Prime Minister pay tax on his parliamentary salary?

Michelle - Lismore, NSW

How old do you have to be to become a member of parliament?

Isabelle - Doreen, VIC

How many senators are there and can the number change?

Marcus - Sanctuary Point, NSW

Why does Australia have a Governor-General as part of its parliament?

Vincenzo - Williamstown, VIC

Does the Prime Minister have the last say?

Sylvia - Warrnambool, VIC

Is the leader of the opposition allowed to debate in parliament?

Mick - Grong Grong, NSW

What do members of parliament do when they're not at Parliament House?

Kaz - Byron Bay, NSW

Have there been any female speakers?

Keshwa - Glenroy, VIC

Why aren't the Clerk and the Serjeant-at-Arms allowed to vote in the House of Representatives?

Phoebe - Orange, NSW

Can the government or opposition kick people off their team?

Antonio - Belgrave, VIC

How many people can represent a single political party?

Sophie - Burradoo, NSW

Can someone disagree with their team in parliament? Are there consequences?

Charli - Ceduna, SA

What does the Prime Minister do at Parliament House?

Barney - Captains Flat, NSW

What titles do the Prime Ministers get after they have retired?

Sam - Adelaide, SA

Is it the duty of the Governor-General to dissolve Parliament where there is evidence of violations of the Constitution and/or International law?

James - Bondi, NSW

Do members of parliament vote just based on party policy principles? Or do parliamentary speeches influence parliamentarians votes on bills?

Jason - Port Pirie, SA

Who is the most powerful person in parliament?

Emma - Bendigo, VIC

After a double dissolution election, do senators’ terms start on the day of the election or 1 July, like after a normal senate election?

Hua - Hughes, ACT

Can a senator move to the House of Representatives and become Prime Minister?

Mel - Melbourne, VIC

Can a senator be a minister?

Abo - Brisbane, QLD

What are the colours of the Australian political parties?

Jil - Napier, NZ

What is the Oath or Affirmation for Ministers and how can it be changed?

John - Australia

How is the governor-general appointed and what is their role?

Rohan - Hazelbrook, NSW

Does the UK monarch always hold the title King/Queen of Australia?

John - Bowral, NSW

Who allocates the seating positions of government members in the House of Representatives? On what basis?

Trish - Coochiemudlo Island, QLD

Can the Speaker be a minister?

Max - VIC

Can someone be a member of a State Parliament and Federal Parliament at the same time?

Paul - Australia

Which laws describe the role and function of ministers?

Greg - Sydney, NSW

Hi PEO, I was just wondering why the prime minister can't be the representative of the English King/Queen in Australia (Governor-General)?

Ben - Western Australia

Does the Governor General, in their role as the King's representative, ever actually communicate with the King?

Girraween Primary School - Northern Territory