Opposition

Discover the opposition – the largest party or coalition of parties not in government – with this fact sheet. The opposition is sometimes called the ‘alternative government’ and has an important role closely examining the work of the government.

What will I learn?

  • The opposition is the largest party – or coalition of parties – in the House of Representatives not in government.
  • The opposition has an important role in keeping the government accountable to the Australian Parliament.
A Z

Glossary words

accountable, scrutinise

Curriculum alignment

Year 7 ACHCK048
Year 8 AC9HC8K02

What is the opposition?

The opposition is the largest party – or coalition of parties – that does not have the support of the majority of members in the House of Representatives. The opposition is sometimes called the alternative government because it could form government if it was to win the support of the majority of members.
 
Although the opposition is formed in the House of Representatives, there are also members of the opposition in the Senate. Members of the opposition sit on the opposite side of the Senate and House of Representatives to members of the government.

Role of the opposition
The opposition side of the House of Representatives.

The opposition side of the House of Representatives.

Penny Bradfield/DPS Auspic

The opposition side of the House of Representatives.

The opposition side of the House of Representatives.

Penny Bradfield/DPS Auspic

Description

The Leader of the Opposition and members of the opposition in the House of Representatives.

Copyright information

Permission should be sought from DPS AUSPIC for third-party or commercial uses of this image. To contact DPS AUSPIC email: auspic@aph.gov.au or phone: 02 6277 3342.

 

The opposition has an important role in keeping the government accountable to the Australian Parliament. They do this by:

  • scrutinising – closely examining – the work of the government
  • asking the government to explain its actions, especially during Question Time
  • debating bills – proposed laws – in the Parliament
  • working on committees to examine bills and important national issues
  • providing alternatives to government policies.

Opposition leadership

By convention – tradition – the Leader of the Opposition is always a member of the House of Representatives. The Leader of the Opposition in the Senate is the head of the opposition members in the Senate.

Some members of the opposition are selected by the Leader of the Opposition to be shadow ministers and are responsible for examining the work of ministers. For example, the Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs closely examines the work of the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

The Leader of the Opposition and top-level shadow ministers make up the Shadow Cabinet. The Shadow Cabinet is the leading decision-making group of the opposition. They meet regularly to develop opposition policies.