What is the role of the Governor-General in allowing a conscience vote?
A conscience – free vote – means that members of parliament are not forced to vote with their team; instead, they can vote according to their own beliefs. Each parliamentary party decides if its members are allowed a conscience vote on a particular issue.
The Governor-General is the King’s representative in Australia. Although the Governor-General has a role in both the governing of Australia and the Australian Parliament, they are not an elected member of parliament. Therefore, they are not involved in the process of a deciding if a conscience vote will be held in Parliament.
The House of Representatives during a division.
DPS Auspic
The House of Representatives during a division.
DPS Auspic
Description
This image is of a large room with green furnishings. The seats are arranged around a large central table. There is a large chair at the open end of the U-shaped seats that is elevated above the other chairs. There are people milling around, especially at the end of the central table.
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.