Who decides whether a bill will be introduced to the lower or upper house?

A bill – proposed law – is introduced in the house where the person responsible for it sits. If someone is a member of the House of Representatives (the lower house), their bill is introduced there. If they are senator, their bill will be introduced in the Senate (the upper house).

There is a rule in the Australian Constitution that says money and taxation bills must be introduced in the House of Representatives. These types of bills cannot start in the Senate.

Most bills introduced in the Australian Parliament are government bills. These are introduced by the minister with responsibility for the area the bill is about. For example, the Minister for the Environment would introduce a bill for the protection of marine parks as it falls under their area of responsibility. Most ministers are members of the House, so most bills are introduced there.