Parliament at work

statistics

Parliamentary statistics

Keep up-to-date with the current numbers and work of the Australian Parliament with these facts and figures.

Fact sheet

Budget

This fact sheet explores the Australian Government’s annual statement of how it plans to collect and spend money.

interactive

Build your own budget

Be the Australian Government and create your own budget.

Fact sheet

Clerks

Understand the role of the Clerks in the Senate and House of Representatives with this fact sheet.

Fact sheet

Committees

Parliamentary committees investigate issues and proposed laws in detail.

Fact sheet

Crossing the floor

If a member of a parliamentary party votes against their party it is called ‘crossing the floor’.

Fact sheet

Hansard

The official written record of what is said in the Australian Parliament is called Hansard.

House of Representatives

Learn about the role, appearance and composition of the Australian House of Representatives.

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House of Representatives current numbers

This image shows the current numbers in the House of Representatives.

Fact sheet

From election to a new Parliament

Regular federal elections are an important feature of Australia’s democracy.

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Forming the Australian Government quiz

How much do you know about how the Australian Government is formed?

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Forming the Australian Government interactive poster

Find out how the Australian Government is formed and who makes up the Executive with this interactive poster.

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The opening of a new Parliament

Find out the timings, traditions and requirements of establishing a new Australian Parliament with this in-depth video.

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Parliamentary committees

Explore the function of committees and how they support the work of the Australian Parliament with this explanatory video.

Fact sheet

Question Time

This fact sheet explores Question Time, the time when the Australian Parliament examines the work of the government by asking them questions.

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Question Time in the Australian Parliament

In Question Time members of parliament ask the government to explain its actions and decisions.

Fact sheet

Records of the Parliament

Official records are kept of everything that is said and done in the Australian Parliament.

Senate

Learn about the role, appearance and composition of the Australian Senate.

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Senate current numbers

This image shows the current numbers in the Senate.

Fact sheet

Senate estimates

Several times a year senators investigate how the government is spending taxpayers' money in meetings called Senate estimates.

Fact sheet

Serjeant-at-Arms

This fact sheet explores the role of the Serjeant-at-Arms and the history of the position.

Fact sheet

Standing orders

Standing orders are the rules used to manage the work of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Fact sheet

Usher of the Black Rod

Understand the role of the Usher of the Black Rod with this fact sheet.

Fact sheet

Voting in Parliament

Learn about voting in Australian Parliament with this fact sheet.

Your questions

Answers to real questions we've received about how the Australian Parliament and Government works.