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OUr parliament: 7. house of representatives

7.1 What does the House of Representatives look like?

The Australian House of Representatives chamber is associated with the colour green. Green is the traditional colour of the British House of Commons and the Australian House of Representatives chamber continues this tradition. However, the green used in the Australian House of Representatives is a soft shade, typical of the Australian eucalypt landscape. In addition, members’ badges are green and so are the lights on the clocks that call members to the chamber.

The seats in the House of Representatives chamber are arranged in rows in a horseshoe shape, with the Speaker's Chair at the open end of the horseshoe. Government members sit to the right of the Speaker and opposition members sit to the left. The minor parties and Independent members sit in the central curved part of the horseshoe. Leaders sit at a central table upon which rest two ornate wooden chests called despatch boxes.

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7.2 What is the role of the House of Representatives?

The House of Representatives is the focus of Australian politics. It is popularly known as the people’s house. This is because each elected member represents a portion of the Australian population. It also provides Australians with an alternative choice of government in the opposition.

The main function of the House of Representatives is to:

  • form government. This means that the House also has the power to unform or take away support for governments
  • consider bills (proposals for new or altered laws). The majority of bills are government proposals and begin in the House of Representatives
  • scrutinise the power of executive government; especially through Question Time
  • debate matters of national interest and local electoral concern.

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7.3 Who is the current Speaker of the House of Representatives?

The current Speaker of the House of Representatives is Mr Harry Jenkins MP. Mr Jenkins, Member for Scullin, is the 28th Speaker of the House and was elected Speaker in 2008.

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7.4 What does the Clerk of the House of Representatives do?

The Clerk of the House of Representatives is the most senior parliamentary officer of the Department of the House of Representatives. The Clerk of the House is a public servant, not an elected member of parliament.

The Clerk assists the Speaker in running the House of Representatives chamber according to the rules of the chamber called the Standing Orders, containing over 200 rules which detail chamber protocol and procedure.

The Clerk of the House of Representatives is responsible for:

  • advising the Speaker of the rules of the chamber
  • recording chamber decisions
  • maintaining records of chamber business
  • certifying the passage of bills
  • reading the long title of bills
  • announcing petitions
  • looking after official parliamentary records and papers.

The Clerk of the House of Representatives is assisted by the Deputy Clerk and several clerk assistants.

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7.5 What does the Serjeant-at-Arms do?

The Serjeant-at-Arms is a parliamentary officer in the Department of the House of Representatives. The Serjeant-at-Arms’ name is derived from the Latin serviens or servant. The parliamentary Mace (the symbol of the Speaker’s authority) is carried on the right shoulder of the Serjeant as he or she escorts the Speaker to and from the House at the start and end of each parliamentary session.

The Serjeant’s main responsibilities include:

  • helping the Speaker maintain order in the chamber
  • maintaining security in the House of Representatives areas of Parliament House
  • carrying out special duties on ceremonial occasions
  • providing administrative services to members.

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7.6 What is the Mace?

The parliamentary Mace is an ornate sceptre which symbolises the authority of the House of Representatives and the Speaker. At the start of each day’s session of parliament, the Mace is carried into the chamber by the Serjeant-at-Arms where it is placed on a central table. The crown of the Mace always points to the government side of the chamber when the House is in session.

The current Mace was a gift to the Parliament by the House of Commons and King George VI in 1951 and is made of gilt silver and gold. The gift marked the Jubilee year of the Australian federation. The head bears a royal crown, the Australian Coat of Arms, the royal cipher (monogram with the Queen’s initials) and emblems of the six Australian states. The head of the Mace is also etched with fruit, rams' heads and wheat, symbolising the importance of Australia's agricultural and sheep industry.

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7.7 What do members do?

Members at work in the chamber:

  • prepare and deliver speeches which debate bills
  • propose amendments (changes) to bills and debate the proposed changes
  • represent the interests of people in their electorates
  • raise concerns about issues of national and electoral interest
  • listen to ministerial statements and papers presented by ministers
  • consider recommendations of committee reports.

Members at work on a parliamentary committee:

  • collect information from experts, interest groups and witnesses on matters of national importance
  • write reports about current issues and problems
  • write committee reports prepared by the committee secretariat
  • make recommendations on how issues and problems can be addressed or improved.

Members at work in their electorate:

  • meet with lobby groups, community organisations and other groups who want to influence laws
  • manage constituent inquiries and complaints and try to understand and solve problems
  • attend party meetings and official functions.

Some members are also ministers of the government.

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7.8 How many members are in the current House of Representatives?

The House of Representatives currently has 150 members. Each member is elected for a maximum three year term but may serve longer if, following a federal election, the member retains his or her seat. Each member represents an electorate of approximately 92,000 voters (although some electorates have a greater or lesser number).

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7.9 What is the current composition of the House of Representatives?

The current composition of the House of Representatives is detailed in the table below.

POLITICAL PARTY NUMBERS
Australian Labor Party (ALP) 83
Liberal Party of Australia (LPA) 55
The Nationals (The NATS) 9
Independents 3
TOTAL 150

The method of preferential voting for the House favours the major parties.

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7.10 Who is the current leader of the government?

The current leader of the government is the Prime Minister of Australia the Honourable Kevin Rudd MP. Mr Rudd represents the electorate of Griffith and is Australia’s 26th prime minister. He became the first elected Queensland Prime Minister since Andrew Fisher in 1908.

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7.11 Who is the current Leader of the Opposition?

The current Leader of the Opposition is the Hon. Malcolm Turnbull MP. Mr Turnbull represents the electorate of Wentworth and has served in the federal Parliament since 2004. Before becoming the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Turnbull was the shadow Treasurer.

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7.12 How many women are currently in the House of Representatives?

There are 39 women currently in the House of Representatives.

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