What happens to a law that is not passed by one of the houses?

Great question George! If one of the houses doesn't pass a bill – a proposal for a new law – then it cannot become a law. Both the Senate and the House of Representatives have to agree to a bill for it to become a law.

If one of the houses doesn't pass a bill, then the originating house – the house in which the bill was first introduced – may:

  • pass the bill again and send it back to the second house
  • change the bill so the second house will be more likely to pass it
  • lay the bill aside (not go forward with the bill).

Section 57 of the Australian Constitution allows a way forward if the Senate and House of Representatives cannot agree on a bill introduced in the House of Representatives. If the Senate and the House cannot agree on a bill introduced twice in the House of Representatives (and all the requirements in the Constitution have been met), the Prime Minister can ask the Governor-General to call an election for all the seats in the House of Representatives and the Senate. This is called a double dissolution. It is designed to break the deadlock between the houses. It has occurred 7 times.

The steps a bill must go through before a double dissolution can be called.

Double dissolution trigger

Parliamentary Education Office (peo.gov.au)

Double dissolution trigger

The steps a bill must go through before a double dissolution can be called.

Parliamentary Education Office (peo.gov.au)

Description

The process for a double dissolution:

  • bill passes in the House of Representatives
  • bill fails to pass in the Senate
  • three months pass
  • bill passes in the House of Representatives
  • bill fails to pass in the Senate
  • double dissolution can be requested.

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