You are here: Home > FAQ > 8. Senate

FAQ

Our Parliament: 8. Senate

8.1 What does the Senate look like?

The Australian Senate chamber is associated with the colour red. Red is the traditional colour of the British House of Lords and the Australian Senate chamber continues this tradition. The red used in the Australian Senate is a soft shade, typical of the Australian desert landscape. In addition, senators' badges are red and so are the lights on the clocks that call senators to the chamber.

The seats in the Senate chamber are arranged in rows in a horseshoe shape, with the President's chair at the open end of the horseshoe. Government senators sit to the right of the President and opposition senators sit to the left. Minor parties and independent senators sit in the central curved part of the horseshoe, known as the crossbench. Leaders sit at a central table.

top

8.2 What is the role of the Senate?

The Senate scrutinises the power of executive government.

It is popularly known as the state's house. This is because each state is represented by 12 senators regardless of size or population. Each territory is represented by two senators.

The main function of the Senate is to:

  • consider bills (proposals for new or altered laws) most of which begin in the House of Representatives
  • scrutinise the power of executive government; especially through Senate committees
  • represent the interests of Australia's six states and two territories

top

8.3 Who is the current President of the Senate?

The current President of the Senate is Senator the Honourable John Hogg, senator for Queensland. Senator Hogg was elected President in 2008.

top

8.4 What does the Clerk of the Senate do?

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

The Clerk sits in the Senate in front of the President and assists the President in running the Senate 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 Senate is responsible for:

  • advising the President 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 Senate is assisted by the Deputy Clerk and several clerk assistants.

top

8.5 What does the Usher of the Black Rod do?

The Usher of the Black Rod is a parliamentary officer in the Department of the Senate. The Usher of the Black Rod is named after the Black Rod which is carried as the Usher escorts the President to and from the Senate at the start and end of each parliamentary session.

Historically, the position of the Usher of the Black Rod was to maintain order in the House of Lords. Today the Usher's main responsibilities include:

  • helping the President maintain order in the chamber
  • maintaining security in the Senate areas of Parliament House
  • carrying out special duties on ceremonial occasions, such as the opening of Parliament
  • providing administrative services to senators.

top

8.6 What is the Black Rod?

The Black Rod is a thin black ebony rod about 1.3 metres long and topped with an ornamental silver crown positioned above a representation of the Australian Coat of Arms.

The Black Rod is the staff of office of the Usher of the Black Rod and is placed upright in a stand on the government side of the chamber while ever the chamber remains at work. The Black Rod is used during ceremonial occasions including:

The Black Rod in use today was made in 1927 for the opening of the Provisional Parliament House and was modelled on the Black Rod used in the New South Wales upper house. The timber was replaced with ebony for the opening of Parliament House in 1988. The Black Rod of the Victorian upper house was used for the first opening of Parliament in 1901 until the opening of the Provisional Parliament House in 1927.

top

8.7 What do senators do?

Senators at work in the chamber:

  • examine bills in detail
  • prepare and deliver speeches which debate bills
  • propose amendments (changes) to bills and debate the proposed changes
  • represent the interests of their states
  • raise concerns about issues of national or state interest
  • listen to ministerial statements and papers presented by the government
  • consider recommendations in committee reports.

Senators at work on a parliamentary committee:

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

Senators at work in their state:

  • 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 senators are also ministers of the government.

top

8.8 How many senators are in the current Senate?

In the current Senate there are 76 senators, 12 for each state and 2 for each territory. State senators are elected for 6 years. A system of rotation ensures that half the state senators retire every three years. By contrast, the four senators who represent the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory are elected for a period of three years at the same time as the members of the House of Representatives and half of the Senate. All senators can stand for re-election.

Section 24 of the Australian Constitution requires that the number of senators be as close as practical to half the number of members. The House of Representatives currently has 150 members.

top

8.9 What is the current composition of the Senate?

The current composition of the Senate is detailed in the table below.

POLITICAL PARTY NUMBERS
Australian Labor Party (ALP) 32
Liberal Party of Australia (Lib) 32
The Nationals (the NATS) 4
Country Liberal Party (CLP) 1
Australian Greens (AG) 5
Family First Party (FFP) 1
Independents 1
TOTAL 76

The method of voting for the Senate leads to a voice for minority parties. The greater number of parties in the Senate helps to represent wider Australian views and at times provides a brake on the power of the government by preventing bills passing the Senate. The voting system of proportional representation elects senators from less popular parties.

top

8.10 Who is the current Leader of the Government in the Senate?

The current Leader of the Government in the Senate is Senator the Honourable Christopher Evans, senator for Western Australia. Senator Evans is also the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship.

top

8.11 Who is the current Leader of the Opposition in the Senate?

The current Leader of the Opposition in the Senate is Senator the Honourable Eric Abetz; senator for Tasmania.

top

8.12 How many women are currently in the Senate?

There are 27 women currently in the Senate.

top