Hi! Could you please explain what a half-Senate election is and why this happens. Thanks for your time.

Thanks for your question Luke.

A half-Senate election is when half the state senators and the four territory senators are elected. A half-Senate election is usually held at the same time as elections for the House of Representatives, which must happen at least every 3 years.

Half-Senate elections are more common than full Senate elections. This is because state senators have 6-year terms. State senators are elected on a rotating basis, with half up for election every 3 years. Territory senators and members of the House of Representatives have 3-year terms. 

A full Senate election – all 76 seats – only occurs after both the Senate and the House of Representatives have been dissolved – shut down – in a double dissolution.

The red Senate chamber. There are people sitting in seats which are arranged in a U-shape around a large central table.

The Senate from behind the President of the Senate's chair

DPS Auspic

The Senate from behind the President of the Senate's chair

The red Senate chamber. There are people sitting in seats which are arranged in a U-shape around a large central table.

DPS Auspic

Description

This image is of a large room with red furnishings. The seats are arranged in a horse-shoe shape around a large central table. There are people sitting in the seats and papers on the desks.

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.