Does a shadow minister have to come from the same house as the corresponding minister?
Hi Liliana! No, there are no rules about a shadow minister sitting in the same house as a minister. For example, in June 2025, the Minister for Sport is a member of the House of Representatives but the Shadow Minister for Sport is a senator.
If a minister is a member of the House of Representatives, a member of the ministry in the Senate will answer questions and introduce bills relating to the minister's portfolio – area of responsibility – in the Senate. The same thing happens the other way around – if a minister is a senator, a minister in the House of Representatives will speak on their behalf in the House.
By convention – tradition – the Prime Minister is always a member of the House of Representatives. By convention the Leader of the Opposition is also always a member of the House of Representatives.
A shadow minister speaking in the House of Representatives
DPS Auspic
A shadow minister speaking in the House of Representatives
DPS Auspic
Description
A shadow minister speaking from the Despatch Box into microphones in the House of Representatives. Shadow ministers are members of the opposition who scrutinise – closely examine – the work of the government and individual ministers.
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.