How do you become a federal member of Parliament? What process is involved?

Graphic of a blue rectangle being dropped into a larger blue box. This is repeated multiple times.

Ballot box graphic

Parliamentary Education Office (peo.gov.au)

Ballot box graphic

Graphic of a blue rectangle being dropped into a larger blue box. This is repeated multiple times.

Parliamentary Education Office (peo.gov.au)

Description

This graphic is a representation of a ballots being placed into a ballot boxes.

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Thanks for your question about the Australian Parliament! The term 'member of parliament' generally refers to a member of the House of Representatives, although it can also refer to a senator.

To become a member of parliament you need to win a seat in a federal election.

There are a number of requirements for enrolling as a candidate in a federal election. These are available on the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) website.