Image Library

Parliamentary Education Office, 2011. Please visit the Image Library page for important information about use of images.

Description

This diagram is about ministers.

Ministers are members of the government and have an area of responsibility known as a portfolio. They may also be in charge of a government department.

Ministers sit on the frontbench of the government side in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

They:

• Suggest ideas for new laws or changes to current laws
• Put laws into action
• Make decisions on how the country is run
• Answer questions during Question Time.