Australian Politics 101

🇦🇺 AUSTRALIA · POLITICS 101

A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE. A STRONGER VOICE.

Start here for a quick understanding of politics and advocating for the world’s poor.
Australia politicsAustralia · Politics 101
What You’ll Learn
  • Which political leaders to focus on.
  • Who your leaders are and how to contact them.
  • How a bill becomes a law
  • How to influence your leaders.
  • Helpful information.
UNDERSTAND THE SYSTEM

Three Parts. Parliament.

House of Representatives

Members represent electoral divisions.

Senate

Senators represent states and territories.

The Crown

The Governor-General gives Royal Assent.
Parliament in a Nutshell
  • The Australian Parliament consists of two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate.
  • There are a total of 151 members in the House of Representatives and 76 members in the Senate.
  • Representatives serve three-year terms. Senators from each state serve six-year terms, while Senators from the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory serve three-year terms.
  • Each individual in Australia is represented by one Representative in the House of Representatives based on their electoral division. Australians from each state are represented by 12 Senators each, while Australians from the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory are represented by 2 Senators each.
  • Electoral divisions are determined by population distribution, and each division represents an average of 117,163 people.
  • When it comes to advocacy, members are primarily interested in hearing from their own constituents, the people living in their respective electoral divisions.
  • If you send an advocacy email to a leader who does not represent your division, it may be ignored or redirected to your own leader.
  • To effectively engage with your leaders, it is crucial to direct your advocacy efforts towards the leaders who represent your specific division.
YOUR REPRESENTATIVES

Find and Understand Your Leaders

What Politicians Should I Focus On?
  • In the context of the Australian Parliament, you should primarily focus on the leaders who represent your specific area. This includes your Representative in the House of Representatives, and your Senators in the Senate. These leaders have the power to influence policy decisions, allocate funding, and pass legislation. While the role of the Australian Prime Minister and government is significant, engaging with your local leaders allows you to directly impact the legislative process and advocate for specific issues related to poverty reduction.
    • Who Are My Leaders and How Can I Contact Them?
  • To find your Representative and Senators, you can visit the official Australian Parliament website or use online tools that provide information based on your postcode. These resources will help you identify the Representative representing your electoral division, and the Senators representing your state/territory. Once you have their names, you can easily locate their contact information on the Australian Parliament website or their official websites.
    • Gaining Support?
  • In the context of the Australian Parliament, the term “cosponsor” is not commonly used. However, throughout the entire legislative process, members of Parliament can support or endorse specific bills by expressing their agreement or voting in favor of the proposed legislation. The support of members is crucial in pushing for bills to be scheduled for debates, votes, and potential passage into law. Advocacy efforts often involve urging MPs to support and champion key poverty-reduction bills in order to generate momentum and secure parliamentary action.
    • UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS

    From an Idea to an Act

    01

    Introduce a Bill

    02

    Debate & Scrutiny

    03

    Both Chambers Agree

    04

    Royal Assent

    How Does a Bill Become a Law?
  • This video explains How a Bill becomes a Law. Bills can originate in either the House of Representatives or the Senate, but most originate in the House of Representatives.
  • Notice: Typically, the Member of Parliament (MP) planning to introduce a bill is required to give a written notice to the Clerk. The planned bill, with its title, will then be placed on the Notice Paper. The bill will then be scheduled to be introduced the next sitting day in their respective chamber. This is a necessary step for most bills, but not required for bills related to government spending or taxation.
  • The First Reading takes place the next sitting day in their respective chamber after the MP has given their notice. The First Reading involves officially introducing the bill into Parliament, and the MP introducing the bill gives a short summary of the bill.
  • The bill then proceeds to the Second Reading and the debate begins at this stage, though no amendments can be made to the bill at this stage. The Second Reading typically takes several days after the First Reading. At the end, the bill is voted on and it is decided whether it will continue through the rest of the stages. It is also decided whether or not the bill needs to be referred to a committee for further analysis.
  • If the chamber believes the bill needs the committee to further analyze the bill, this is then considered the Committee Stage. The relevant committee reviews the bill in much more depth and detail. They will hear from witnesses (which can sometimes include general, public hearings) and gather evidence, then report back their findings. In their report, they will often include recommendations for the chamber, including recommended amendments. However, the committee cannot make the amendments themselves. This stage is optional in the policy making process.
  • Once reported back from committee, or once the Second Reading has finished (if they did not refer it to committee), the bill may then enter the Consideration in Detail Stage. The chamber analyzes the entire bill in detail, going clause by clause, and members take turns considering and proposing amendments. This stage is optional in the policy making process.
  • The Third Reading then begins, where the final vote will take place. Debate is extremely rare at this stage, and the third reading acts more as a formality. A simple majority is needed to pass the bill.
  • If passed in the original chamber, the bill moves over to the other chamber, and the process is repeated. If the other chamber makes any amendments, it must then go back to the original chamber, as both chambers must agree on the exact wording of the bill.
  • Once both chambers agree to the wording of the bill, it goes to the Governor General for Royal Assent.
  • The Governor General signs the bill and it becomes a Law.
    • How Long Does It Take for a Bill to Pass?
  • The legislative process can vary in duration. Bills can be introduced and passed within a relatively short period, while others may take several months or even years to become law. It depends on the complexity of the bill, political considerations, and the level of support it receives from Members of Parliament.

    • Know Your Leaders

    Know Your Leaders.
  • Keep up to date with your leaders, their daily activities, and the daily activities of Parliament by signing up for alerts through They Vote For You and OpenAustralia.
    • Is My Leader on a Key Committee or Target Group?
  • Engaging every Member of Parliament is important, but engaging with Members of Parliament in key positions is crucial for advancing poverty-reduction initiatives. If your leaders serve on the following committees or groups, it is important to mobilize support and contact them to express your advocacy for poverty-related legislation.
  • Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: This committee handles many bills related to global poverty reduction and plays a significant role in advancing them through the legislative process.
  • Standing Committee on Appropriations and Administration: Members of the House of Representatives on this committee determine the allocation of funding for government programs and agencies, including those addressing poverty.
  • Senate Standing Committees on Finance and Public Administration: Members of the Senate on this committee determine the allocation of funding for government programs and agencies, including those addressing poverty.
  • Party Leadership: MPs in leadership positions have significant influence over parliamentary decisions, including the scheduling and prioritization of bills.
  • Caucuses, Associations, or Groups: Some MPs may be part of caucuses, associations, or groups that focus on poverty-related issues. Identifying these MPs and engaging with them can be instrumental in gaining support for poverty-reduction bills.
    • Are You a ‘Dual Constituent’?
  • Okay so we totally just made up the term ‘Dual Constituent,’ but we’re trying to find a way to describe people with ties to multiple divisions, such as studying in a different area than where you grew up or where you live with your parents outside of the school year, it is essential to leverage this opportunity. As a ‘Dual Constituent,’ you can maximize your impact by contacting and engaging with leaders from all the electoral divisions to which you have connections.
    • A Borgen Project advocacy meeting
    How Can I Influence My Leaders to Support Legislation That Improves Living Conditions for Millions of People?
  • You’ve come to the right place! Here are the key ways to make an impact:
  • Call and contact online your leaders to express support for key bills. Even a few seconds of your time can bring important issues to their attention.
  • Mobilize others to contact Parliament. Encourage friends, family, and community members to join in advocating for the ODA or poverty-reduction legislation. The more people who express support, the stronger the message becomes.
  • Engage in lobbying efforts. You don’t have to be an expert to meet with your elected officials. Communicate your passion for addressing global poverty and highlight key points about the ODA or legislation you’re advocating for. Sending a thank-you email after the meeting is an opportunity to reinforce important information.
  • Utilize social media platforms. Members and their staff often monitor social media for constituent concerns and support. Tweeting or posting on Facebook about poverty-related issues can help raise awareness and gain attention from your leaders.
  • Remember, your individual efforts, multiplied by the engagement of others, can make a significant difference in influencing your leaders to support legislation that improves the lives of millions of people affected by poverty.