In Australian parliamentary practice, the Opposition or the Official Opposition consists of the second largest party or coalition of parties in the Australian House of Representatives , with its leader being given the title Leader of the Opposition . The Opposition serves the same function as the official opposition in other Commonwealth of Nations monarchies that follow the Westminster conventions and practices. It is seen as the alternative government and the existing administration's main opponent in the Australian Parliament and at a general election. By convention, the Opposition Leader in the federal Parliament comes from the House of Representatives , as does the deputy, although the Government and Opposition may also both have leaders in the Senate . The Opposition is sometimes styled as His Majesty's Loyal Opposition to show that, although the group may be against the sitting government, it remains loyal to the Crown (the embodiment of the Australian state), and thus to Australia.
13-691: Opposition (28) Liberal (19) National (9) Crossbench (5) Greens (3) Independent ( 1 ) Independent Labor ( 1 ) The Victorian Legislative Assembly is the state lower house of the bicameral Parliament of Victoria in Australia ; the state upper house being the Victorian Legislative Council . Both houses sit at Parliament House in Spring Street , Melbourne . The main colour used for
26-498: A serjeant-at-arms , who at present also holds the position of assistant clerk procedure. The Legislative Assembly presently consists of 88 members, each elected in single-member electoral districts , more commonly known as electorates or seats. This is done using preferential voting , which is the same voting system used for the federal lower house, the Australian House of Representatives . Members represent approximately
39-564: A federal level is the centre-right Liberal Party / National Party Coalition , led by Peter Dutton . The opposition parties and leaders in the Australian states and territories are: Leanne Castley (Lib) Mark Speakman (Lib) Selena Uibo (ALP) Steven Miles (ALP) Vincent Tarzia (Lib) Dean Winter (ALP) John Pesutto (Lib) Shane Love (Nat) Electoral districts of Victoria Electoral districts of Victoria are
52-518: A member of their political party, but it is left to their individual discretion as to whether or not they attend party meetings. The Speaker also continues to carry out their ordinary electorate duties as a member of Parliament and must take part in an election campaign to be re-elected as a member of Parliament. A Deputy Speaker is also elected by the Assembly, who supports and assists the Speaker in
65-582: A process called redivision . The last redivision took place in 2021, when the Victorian Electoral Boundaries Commission reviewed Victoria's district boundaries. The boundaries arising from the 2013 redivision applied at the 2014 and the 2018 state elections . Previous redivisions took place in 2005, 2001 and 1991. The last redivision completed in October 2021, and all changes came into effect on 1 November 2022, when
78-742: The electoral districts , commonly referred to as "seats" or "electorates", into which the Australian State of Victoria is divided for the purpose of electing members of the Victorian Legislative Assembly , one of the two houses of the Parliament of the State. The State is divided into 88 single-member districts. The Legislative Assembly has had 88 electorates since the 1985 election, increased from 81 previously. Electoral boundaries are redrawn from time to time, in
91-463: The execution of their duties. The Legislative Assembly is also supported by a department of civil servants who provide procedural and administrative advice on the running of the Assembly, and performs other functions. The head of the department is the Clerk of the Assembly, who is assisted by a deputy clerk, an assistant clerk committees and an assistant clerk procedure. The Assembly is also assisted by
104-578: The lower house is invited by the Governor to form government. The leader of that party subsequently becomes Premier of Victoria , and their senior colleagues become ministers responsible for various portfolios. As Australian political parties traditionally vote along party lines, almost all legislation introduced by the governing party will pass through the legislative assembly. Committees are formed of members from one house or both houses. Committees hold inquiries into particular issues and call for input from
117-783: The same population in each electorate. Since 2006, members of the Legislative Assembly are elected for a fixed term of 4 years, with elections occurring on the last Saturday of November every 4 years. There are no limits to the number of terms for which a member may seek election. Casual vacancies are filled at a by-election. Victorian state election, 26 November 2022 Legislative Assembly << 2018 – 2026 >> Senate House of Rep. Council Assembly Council Assembly Council Assembly Council Assembly Council Assembly Council Assembly Assembly Assembly Opposition (Australia) The current Opposition at
130-649: The upholstery and carpets furnishing the Chamber of the Legislative Assembly is green. The presiding officer of the Legislative Assembly is the Speaker . There are presently 88 members of the Legislative Assembly elected from single-member divisions. Victoria was proclaimed a Colony on 1 July 1851 separating from the Colony of New South Wales by an act of the British Parliament. The Legislative Assembly
143-474: The wider community. At the beginning of each new parliamentary term, the Legislative Assembly elects one of its members as a presiding officer, known as the Speaker. The House may re-elect the incumbent speaker merely by passing a motion; otherwise, a secret ballot is held. In practice, the Speaker is usually a member of the governing party or parties, who have the majority in the House. The Speaker continues to be
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#1732772290118156-602: Was created on 13 March 1856 with the passing of the Victorian Electoral Bill , five years after the creation of the original unicameral Legislative Council. The Assembly first met on 21 November 1856, and consisted of sixty members representing thirty-seven multi and single-member electorates. On the Federation of Australia on 1 January 1901, the Parliament of Victoria continued except that the colony
169-516: Was now called a state. In 1917, the Nationalist government in Victoria introduced compulsory preferential voting before the 1917 state election . This enabled the factions in the party to field competing candidates without splitting the vote by keeping preferences within the party. Most legislation is initiated in the Legislative Assembly. The party or coalition with a majority of seats in
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