63-672: The Western Australian Legislative Assembly , or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of Western Australia , an Australian state. The Parliament sits in Parliament House in the Western Australian capital, Perth . The Legislative Assembly today has 59 members, elected for four-year terms from single-member electoral districts . Members are elected using the preferential voting system. As with all other Australian states and territories, voting
126-569: A first-past-the-post and block voting system, on a state-by-state basis. This was replaced in 1919 by preferential block voting . Block voting tended to produce landslide majorities. For instance, from 1920 to 1923 the Nationalist Party held all but one of the 36 seats, and from 1947 to 1950, the Australian Labor Party held all but three. In 1948, single transferable vote with proportional representation on
189-490: A Senate that blocks supply is obliged to either resign or call an election was one of the major disputes of the 1975 constitutional crisis . However, even where the Senate does not block supply, they can still use their power to frustrate the legislative agenda of the government. The overwhelming majority of senators have always been elected as representatives of political parties. Parties which currently have representation in
252-725: A bill to become law, it must be passed by both the Legislative Council and the Legislative Assembly, and receive royal assent from the Governor. The party or coalition commanding the support of a majority of the members of the Legislative Assembly is invited by the governor to form government. The head of government holds the office of Premier of Western Australia . Currently, the Legislative Council has 36 members elected for four-year terms from multi-member constituencies by proportional representation, and
315-430: A majority in the Senate and the balance of power has typically rested with minor parties and independents . In practice, this means government bills cannot be assured of passage and regulations may be disallowed. The power to bring down the government and force elections by blocking supply also exists, as happened for the first and thus far only time during the 1975 constitutional crisis . Since major reforms in 1970,
378-492: A population of around 500,000, elects the same number of senators as New South Wales , which has a population of more than 8 million. Because of this imbalance, governments favoured by the more populous states are occasionally frustrated by the extra power the smaller states have in the Senate, to the degree that former Prime Minister Paul Keating famously referred to the Senate's members as "unrepresentative swill". The proportional election system within each state ensures that
441-417: A state-by-state basis became the method for electing senators. At this time the number of senators was expanded from 36 to 60 and it was argued that a move to proportional representation was needed to even up the balance between both major parties in the chamber. The change in voting systems has been described as an "institutional revolution" that has had the effect of limiting the government's ability to control
504-476: A system where the Governor was responsible for most legislative matters, with only the appointed Legislative Council to guide him. Suffrage was extended to all adult males in 1893, although Indigenous Australians were specifically excluded. Women gained the right to vote in 1899, making Western Australia the second of the Australian colonies (behind South Australia ) to do so. In 1921, Edith Cowan became
567-834: A team of the leader's, party's or coalition's choosing (whether they be in the Legislative Assembly or in the Legislative Council ) can then be sworn in as ministers responsible for various portfolios. As Australian political parties traditionally vote along party lines, most legislation introduced by the governing party will pass through the House of Assembly. The Legislative Assembly was the first elected legislature in Western Australia, having been created in 1890, when Western Australia gained self-government. It initially consisted of 30 members, all of whom were elected, although only male landowners could vote. This replaced
630-539: A territory expires at the same time as there is an election for the House of Representatives. Section 13 of the Constitution requires that in half-Senate elections, the election of State senators shall take place within one year before the places become vacant. The actual election date is determined by the Governor of each State, who acts on the advice of the State Premier. The Governors almost always act on
693-509: Is compulsory for all Australian citizens over the legal voting age of 18. Most legislation in Western Australia is initiated in the Legislative Assembly. The party or coalition that can command a majority in the Legislative Assembly is invited by the Governor to form a government. That party or coalition's leader, once sworn in , subsequently becomes the Premier of Western Australia , and
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#1732772487673756-753: Is not merely a chamber of review. Instead of being modelled solely after the House of Lords , as the Senate of Canada was, the Australian Senate was in part modelled after the United States Senate , by giving equal representation to each state and almost equal powers with the lower house. This was done to give less populous states a real influence in the Parliament, while also maintaining the traditional review functions upper houses have in
819-595: Is the bicameral legislature of the Australian state of Western Australia , which constitutes the legislative branch of the state's political system. The parliament consists of the King (represented by the governor ), the Legislative Council (the upper house) and the Legislative Assembly (the lower house). The two Houses of Parliament sit in Parliament House in the state capital, Perth . For
882-492: Is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia , the lower house being the House of Representatives . The powers, role and composition of the Senate are set out in Chapter I of the federal constitution as well as federal legislation and constitutional convention . There are a total of 76 senators: twelve are elected from each of the six Australian states , regardless of population, and two each representing
945-447: The 2016 election to reduce the number of senators of elected with a very small number of first preference votes as a result of the candidates of these micro-parties preferencing each other. In the place of group tickets, a form of optional preferential voting was introduced. As a result of the changes, voters may now assign their preferences for parties above the line (numbering as many boxes as they wish), or individual candidates below
1008-736: The Australian Capital Territory (including the Jervis Bay Territory and Norfolk Island ) and the Northern Territory (including the Australian Indian Ocean Territories ). Senators are popularly elected under the single transferable vote system of proportional representation . Section 24 of the Constitution provides that the House of Representatives shall have, as near as practicable, twice as many members as
1071-482: The 2006 census taken on 8 August 2006, 73.76% of Western Australia's residents lived in and around Perth, but only 34 of Western Australia's 57 Legislative Assembly seats, representing 60% of the total, were located in the metropolitan region. There has been strong support over time in some quarters for the principle of one vote, one value , particularly from the Labor Party who were at particular disadvantage under
1134-483: The Australian Capital Territory also represent voters from the Jervis Bay Territory and since 1 July 2016, Norfolk Island . The latest expansion in Senate numbers took place in 1984, when the number of senators from each state was increased from 10 to 12, resulting in a total of 76 senators. Senators normally serve fixed six-year terms (from 1 July to 30 June). At most federal elections,
1197-403: The Constitution , the number of members of the House of Representatives has to be "as nearly as practicable" double the number of senators. The reasons for the nexus are twofold: a desire to maintain a constant influence for the smaller states, and maintain a constant balance of the two Houses in the event of a joint sitting after a double dissolution. A referendum in 1967 to eliminate the nexus
1260-410: The House an advantage in joint sittings but not in ordinary elections, where the Senate may be too evenly balanced to get House legislation through. A party does not need the support of the Senate to form government (needing only a majority in the House of Representatives), however the Senate can block supply, effectively preventing the government from lawfully spending money. Whether a government facing
1323-490: The Legislative Assembly has 59 members, elected for four-year terms from single-member constituencies, using preferential voting. As with all other Australian states and territories, enrolment to vote and voting for both Houses is compulsory for all resident Australian citizens—and eligible British citizens (i.e., those permanently resident and on the electoral roll prior to the passage of the Australia Act )—who are over
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#17327724876731386-634: The Legislative Assembly, but all seats then in place remained until the following election on 6 September 2008. A redistribution of seats announced by the Western Australian Electoral Commission on 29 October 2007 places 42 seats in Perth and 17 in the country, with a variation of ±10% from the average population normally permitted. The only distinction for rural seats is that any seat with an area of 100,000 square kilometres (38,610 sq mi) or greater (that is, 4% of
1449-490: The Senate and House of Representatives reflects the desire of the Constitution's authors to prevent the more populous states totally dominating the legislative process. In practice, however, most legislation (except for private member's bills ) in the Australian Parliament is initiated by the government, which has control over the lower house. It is then passed to the Senate, which has the opportunity to amend
1512-550: The Senate are: Other parties that have achieved Senate representation in the past include the Australian Conservatives (2017-2019), Derryn Hinch's Justice Party (2016-2019), Family First Party (2005-2011,2014-2016), Australian Democrats (1977-2008), Palmer United Party , Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party (2014-2016), Nuclear Disarmament Party , Liberal Movement , Liberal Democratic Party (2014-2019) and Democratic Labour Party (1955-1974). Due to
1575-435: The Senate incorporates more political diversity than the lower house ( House of Representatives ), which has historically been a two party body. The elected membership of the Senate more closely reflects the first voting preference of the electorate as a whole than does the composition of the House of Representatives, despite the large discrepancies from state to state in the ratio of voters to senators. This often means that
1638-524: The Senate's role as a house of review has increased with the expansion of its committee system . Senators from states ordinarily serve six-year terms, with half of the Senate up for re-election at each federal election along with the entirety of the House of Representatives. However, there is no constitutional requirement that Senate and House elections occur at the same time; the last Senate-only and House-only elections occurred in 1970 and 1972 respectively . The terms of senators from territories expire at
1701-429: The Senate, a joint sitting after a double dissolution is more likely than not to lead to a victory for the House over the Senate. When the Senate had an odd number of senators retiring at an election (3 or 5), 51% of the vote would lead to a clear majority of 3 out of 5 per state. With an even number of senators retiring at an election, it takes 57% of the vote to win 4 out of 6 seats, which may be insurmountable. This gives
1764-424: The Senate. The constitution grants the Senate nearly equivalent powers to the House of Representatives, with the exception that the Senate may not originate or amend money bills , but only reject or defer them. According to convention, the Senate plays no role in the formation of the executive government and the prime minister is drawn from the majority party or coalition in the House of Representatives. However,
1827-840: The State's land area) may have a variation of +10%–20% from the average, using an adjusted population based on the seat's area in square kilometres. 30 votes as a majority are required to pass legislation. Senate House of Rep. Council Assembly Council Assembly Council Assembly Council Assembly Council Assembly Council Assembly Assembly Assembly Parliament of Western Australia Labor (53) Opposition (6) National (3) Labor (21) Opposition (9) Liberal (7) National (2) Crossbench (6) Legalise Cannabis (1) Greens (1) One Nation (1) The Parliament of Western Australia
1890-552: The Westminster system. This has led to the description of a " Washminster system " to describe the Australian political structure. Although the prime minister and treasurer , by convention (though not legal requirement), are members of the House of Representatives (after John Gorton was appointed prime minister in 1968, he resigned from the Senate and was elected to the House), other ministers may come from either house, and
1953-525: The above example. Names of parties can be shown only if the parties are registered, which requires, among other things, a minimum of 1,500 members. The order of parties on the ballot papers and the order of ungrouped candidates are determined by a random ballot conducted by the Australian Electoral Commission . Candidates, parties and groups pay a deposit of $ 2,000 per candidate, which is forfeited if they fail to achieve 4% of
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2016-517: The bill, pass or reject it. In the majority of cases, voting takes place along party lines , although there are occasional conscience votes . The Senate maintains a number of committees , which engage in a wide variety of inquiries. The results have no direct legislative power, but are valuable forums that raise many points of view that would otherwise not receive government or public notice. The system for electing senators has changed several times since Federation . The original arrangement involved
2079-466: The chamber, as well as helping the rise of Australian minor parties. The 1984 election saw the introduction of group ticket voting , in order to reduce a high rate of informal voting that arose from the requirement that each candidate be given a preference, and to allow small parties and independent candidates a reasonable chance of winning a seat. This allowed voters to select a single party to distribute their preferences on their behalf (voting "above
2142-400: The composition of the Senate is different from that of the House of Representatives, contributing to the Senate's function as a house of review . With proportional representation, and the small majorities in the Senate compared to the generally larger majorities in the House of Representatives, and the requirement that the number of members of the House be "nearly as practicable" twice that of
2205-414: The day that they are elected. Their terms expire the day prior to the following general election day. While there is no constitutional requirement for the election of senators to take place at the same time as those for members of the House of Representatives, the government usually synchronises the dates of elections for the Senate and House of Representatives. However, because their terms do not coincide,
2268-438: The dissolution of the House of Representatives, typically at three-year intervals. Section 57 of the constitution provides for a double dissolution as a mechanism to break deadlocks between the House and Senate, whereby the entire Senate is dissolved and all seats made vacant. Casual vacancies are filled by the relevant state or territory parliament, or by the corresponding state or territory government on an interim basis if
2331-411: The election will be disrupted, and there can be half-Senate elections without a concurrent House election. The last time this occurred was on 21 November 1970 . The number of votes that a candidate must receive to be elected to the senate is referred to as a "quota". The quota is worked out by dividing the number of formal votes by one more than the number of vacancies to be filled and then adding one to
2394-449: The entire Senate (and the House of Representatives) is dissolved, in what is known as a double dissolution . Following a double dissolution, half the senators representing states serve terms ending on the third 30 June following the election (two to three years) and the rest serve a five to six-year term. Section 13 of the Constitution requires the Senate to allocate long and short terms amongst its members. The term of senators representing
2457-583: The first Governor of Western Australia, James Stirling . It predates the Parliament of Western Australia and was passed by the Western Australian Legislative Council instead. All up, ten acts were passed in 1832. Since 1832, acts have been passed in every year but 1890, the year the Western Australian Parliament was formed. The last act to be passed prior to the establishment of the Parliament
2520-654: The first woman to be elected to parliament anywhere in Australia when she won the Legislative Assembly seat of West Perth for the Nationalist Party . For many years, Western Australia used a zonal electoral system for both houses of parliament. In most Australian jurisdictions, each state electorate represents an approximately equal number of voters. However, in Western Australia, until 2008 an MP represented 28,519 voters in greater Perth (the Metropolitan Region Scheme area) or 14,551 country voters. At
2583-409: The government appoints a Senate leader and senators hold senior roles in the government as ministers of state and members of cabinet . Senators from the opposition likewise serve in the shadow ministry . The Senate elects one of its members to serve as president , who exercises only an ordinary vote and has no casting vote . Since the late 20th century, it has been rare for governments to hold
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2646-541: The government introduced fixed four-year terms for Parliament, with elections being held every four years on the second Saturday in March. The 2013 state election was the first election under the fixed date system. The oldest recorded act of Parliament in Western Australia is the Civil Court of Western Australia (1832) act, an act for establishing a Court of Civil Judicature, assented to on 10 February 1832, under
2709-410: The incoming Parliament will for some time comprise the new House of Representatives and the old Senate, except for the senators representing the territories, until the new senators start their term on the next 1 July. Following a double dissolution, all 76 senators face re-election. If there is an early House election outside the 12-month period in which Senate elections can occur, the synchronisation of
2772-451: The legal voting age of 18. The Western Australian Legislative Council was created in 1832 as an appointed body. In 1870 the then colony was ruled by a governor and an advisory Legislative Council made up of appointed officials and elected members. The Western Australian Legislative Assembly was created in 1890 when the then colony attained self-government . The first premier was John Forrest , who held office until 1901. On 3 November 2011,
2835-447: The line and below the line voting were consistent with the constitution. The Australian Senate voting paper under the single transferable vote proportional representation system resembles the following example (shown in two parts), which shows the candidates for Victorian senate representation in the 2016 federal election . To vote correctly, electors must either: Because each state elects six senators at each half-Senate election,
2898-428: The line"), but voters were still able to vote directly for individual candidates and distribute their own preferences if they wished (voting "below the line") by numbering every box. Following 1981, the government has only had a majority in the Senate from 2005–2007; otherwise, negotiations with other parties and independents have generally been necessary to pass legislation. Group tickets were abolished in advance of
2961-504: The line, and are not required to fill all of the boxes. Both above and below the line voting now use optional preferential voting . For above the line, voters are instructed to number at least their first six preferences; however, a "savings provision" is in place to ensure that ballots will still be counted if less than six are given. For below the line, voters are required to number at least their first 12 preferences. Voters are free to continue numbering as many preferences as they like beyond
3024-402: The minimum number specified. Another savings provision allows ballot papers with at least 6 below the line preferences to be formal. The voting changes make it more difficult for new small parties and independent candidates to be elected to the Senate, but also allow a voter to voluntarily exhaust preferences — that is, to ensure their vote cannot flow to specific candidates or parties — if none of
3087-461: The need to obtain votes statewide, independent candidates have difficulty getting elected. The exceptions in recent times have been elected in less populous States — the former Tasmanian Senator Brian Harradine and the former South Australian Senator Nick Xenophon . David Pocock was also elected to represent the ACT at the 2022 election. It is less uncommon for a senator initially elected representing
3150-444: The parliament is not in session. A constitutional amendment passed in 1977 provides that casual vacancies must be filled by a member of the same political party as the previous senator. The Constitution of Australia established the Senate as the second chamber of the national parliament of the newly federated Australia . In contrast to countries employing a pure Westminster system the Senate plays an active role in legislation and
3213-547: The primary vote. Candidates, parties and groups earn a public subsidy if they gain at least 4% of the primary vote. At the 2019 federal election, funding was $ 2.756 per formal first preference vote. Under sections 7 and 8 of the Australian Constitution: These conditions have periodically been the source of debate, and within these conditions, the composition and rules of the Senate have varied significantly since federation. Under Section 24 of
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#17327724876733276-410: The quota for election is only one-seventh or 14.3% (one third or 33.3% for territories, where only two senators are elected). Once a candidate has been elected with votes reaching the quota amount, any votes they receive in addition to this may be distributed to other candidates as preferences, if there are still open seats to fill. With an odd number of seats in a half-Senate election (3 or 5), 50.1% of
3339-551: The recommendation of the Governor-General, with the last independent Senate election writ being issued by the Governor of Queensland during the Gair Affair in 1974. Slightly more than half of the Senate is contested at each general election (half of the 72 state senators, and all four of the territory senators), along with the entire House of Representatives. Except in the case of a double dissolution , senators for
3402-428: The result. The 2019 senate election was a half senate election, so 6 senate vacancies were contested in each state. At this election, the quotas in each state were: Each state elects the same number of senators, meaning there is equal representation for each of the Australian states, regardless of population, so the Senate, like many upper Houses, does not adhere to the principle of one vote one value . Tasmania , with
3465-446: The seats of 40 of the 76 senators (half of the 72 senators from the six states and all four of the senators from the territories) are contested, along with the entire House of Representatives; such an election is sometimes known as a half-Senate election. The seats of senators representing states elected at a half-Senate election are not contested at the next election, provided it is a half-Senate election. However, under some circumstances,
3528-423: The states are elected for fixed terms of six years, commencing on 1 July following the election, and ceasing on 30 June six years later. The term of the four senators from the territories is not fixed, but is defined by the dates of the general elections for the House of Representatives, the period between which can vary greatly, to a maximum of three years and three months. Territory senators commence their terms on
3591-630: The system. Up until 2005, reform had proceeded gradually—the most dramatic changes had occurred with the enactment of the Electoral Districts Act 1947 and the Acts Amendment (Electoral Reform) Act 1987 , the latter of which raised the number of metropolitan seats from 29 to 34. Effective on 20 May 2005, the Electoral Amendment and Repeal Act 2005 (No.1 of 2005) abolished the country-metropolitan distinction for
3654-525: The total to 60. In 1975, the two territories, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory , were given an entitlement to elect two senators each for the first time, bringing the number to 64. The senators from the Northern Territory also represent constituents from Australia's Indian Ocean Territories ( Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands ), while the senators from
3717-497: The two Houses have almost equal legislative power. As with most upper chambers in bicameral parliaments , the Senate cannot introduce or amend appropriation bills (bills that authorise government expenditure of public revenue) or bills that impose taxation, that role being reserved for the lower house; it can only approve, reject or defer them (as famously occurred in the lead up to the Dismissal ). That degree of equality between
3780-468: The vote wins a majority (2/3) or (3/5). With an even number of seats in a half-Senate election (6), 57.1% of the vote is needed to win a majority of seats (4/6). The ungrouped candidates in the far right column do not have a box above the line. Therefore, they can only get a primary (number 1) vote from electors who vote below the line. For this reason, some independents register as a group, either with other independents or by themselves, such as group B in
3843-481: The voter's candidate preferences are elected. The changes were subject to a challenge in front of High Court of Australia by sitting South Australian Senator Bob Day of the Family First Party . The senator argued that the changes meant the senators would not be "directly chosen by the people" as required by the constitution. The High Court rejected Day's challenge unanimously, deciding that both above
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#17327724876733906-439: Was rejected. The size of the Senate has changed over the years. The Constitution originally provided for six senators for each state, resulting in a total of 36 senators. The Constitution permits the Parliament to increase the number of senators, provided that equal numbers of senators from each original state are maintained; accordingly, in 1948, Senate representation was increased from 6 to 10 senators for each state, increasing
3969-909: Was the Electoral Act 1889 , assented to on 26 June 1890. In 2023, the Western Australian Parliament passed 34 acts. Senate House of Rep. Council Assembly Council Assembly Council Assembly Council Assembly Council Assembly Council Assembly Assembly Assembly 31°57′06″S 115°50′49″E / 31.95167°S 115.84694°E / -31.95167; 115.84694 Australian Senate Labor (25) Opposition (30) Coalition Liberal (24) National (6) Crossbench (21) Greens (11) One Nation (2) Australia's Voice ( 1 ) Lambie Network ( 1 ) United Australia ( 1 ) [REDACTED] [REDACTED] The Australian Senate
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