The 48th Parliament has 150 MPs and 76 senators. Pick a seat or a party to see who holds it, then rate them.
Lower house · 150 MPs
One MP per electorate
Each of the 150 electorates elects one MP, for a term of up to three years.
Where government is formed
The party or coalition with the support of most MPs forms government, and its leader becomes Prime Minister.
Where most laws start
Most bills are introduced here, including every bill that imposes a tax or spends public money.
Upper house · 76 senators
Equal seats for every state
Each state elects 12 senators for six-year terms, with half elected at each election. Each territory elects two.
A second look at every law
Every bill must pass the Senate as well as the House. The Senate can reject or amend most bills, but can only request changes to tax bills and the bill that funds the day-to-day running of government.
Scrutinises spending
Senate committees examine bills, and at Senate Estimates hearings senators question ministers and officials about government spending.
| Party | Leader | House | Senate |
|---|---|---|---|
| GovernmentHolds a majority in the House. Its leader is Prime Minister and its senior members are ministers. | |||
| Labor | Anthony Albanese | 94 | 30 |
| OppositionThe Liberal–National Coalition, the largest group outside government. Its senior members are shadow ministers. | |||
| Coalition | Angus Taylor | 41 | 27 |
| Liberal | Angus Taylor | 27 | 23 |
| Nationals | Matt Canavan | 14 | 4 |
| LNP (Queensland)(members counted above) | – | 16 | 4 |
| CrossbenchMinor parties and independents. | |||
| Greens | David Shoebridge | 1 | 10 |
| One Nation | Pauline Hanson | 2 | 4 |
| Independents | – | 8 | 2 |
| Community Strong | – | 2 | 0 |
| Centre Alliance | Rebekha Sharkie | 1 | 0 |
| Katter's Australian | Bob Katter | 1 | 0 |
| United Australia | – | 0 | 1 |
| Lambie Network | Jacqui Lambie | 0 | 1 |
| Australia's Voice | Fatima Payman | 0 | 1 |
Only the government has ministers, who run departments. The opposition names a matching shadow minister for each portfolio.
The Liberals and Nationals are separate parties that work together in opposition and share a shadow ministry. In Queensland they run as one party, the LNP, whose members sit with one or the other in Canberra.