Lyla Lindsey
Australia has a federal system of government that consists of three branches: the legislative, the executive, and the judicature. The legislative branch is the Parliament of Australia, which consists of the monarch of Australia, the Senate (the upper house), and the House of Representatives (the lower house). The executive branch includes the Prime Minister, the cabinet, other ministers, and government departments. The judicature branch includes the High Court of Australia and other federal courts. Australia has a two-party system in the House of Representatives, with the first majority government elected in 1910 by the Australian Labor Party. Since 1981, no party or coalition has held a majority in the Senate, leading to power-sharing and negotiations with minor parties and independents.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of seats in the House of Representatives | 151 |
| Number of seats in the Senate | 76 |
| Number of seats in the first election | 111 |
| Current federal government structure established | 1901 |
| First majority government | 1909 |
| Party with the first majority government | Protectionist Party and Free Trade Party |
| Party with the first Senate majority | Australian Labor Party |
| Party with the most years in government | Liberal Party of Australia |
| Number of Prime Ministers since federation | 31 |
| Longest-serving Prime Minister | Sir Robert Menzies |
| Number of years the Coalition has governed at the federal level | 30,791 days |
| Number of years Labor has governed at the federal level | 14,695 days |
| Number of years since Australians have given one party or coalition a majority of the vote in a federal election | 48 |
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What You'll Learn
Australia's two-party system
The ALP was the first party to win a majority government in the 1910 election, marking the start of a 50-year period where they dominated Australian politics. During this time, the Labor Party governed for approximately 15 years, while the Nationalist Party governed for about 12 years, and the United Australia Party for around nine years.
However, after the formation of the LPA, the political landscape shifted. From 1949 to 2023, the LPA held office for a total of 50 years, while the ALP held office for about 22 years. Despite this, in the period from 1972 to 2022, both parties held power for almost equal lengths of time, with the LPA (in Coalition) holding power for 28 years and the ALP for 22 years.
It is worth noting that while Australia's lower house, the House of Representatives, has been dominated by these two major parties, the upper house, the Senate, rarely has a single-party majority. The Senate has included representatives from a range of political parties, including minor parties that have seldom or never had representation in the House of Representatives. This is due in part to the Senate's system of single transferable voting, which requires a lower quota than the House to obtain a seat, making it more accessible to minor parties.
In recent years, there has been a notable decline in the share of the vote won by the two major parties at federal elections, leading to an increase in the number of "safe seats" held by minor parties and independents. This trend has resulted in power-sharing arrangements, with the Coalition agreement between the Liberals and Nationals being Australia's most successful example of cross-party cooperation.
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The Australian Labor Party's historical success
The Australian Labor Party (ALP), also known as the Labor Party or simply Labor, is Australia's major centre-left political party. It is one of the two major parties in Australian politics, alongside the centre-right Liberal Party of Australia. The ALP is the oldest continuously operating political party in Australia, having been established on 8 May 1901.
The first election contested by Labor candidates was the 1891 New South Wales election, when they won 35 of 141 seats. In 1891, the United Labor Party (ULP) of South Australia was founded, and three candidates were elected to the South Australian Legislative Council. In 1893, the ULP was elevated to balance-of-power status with 10 of 54 lower house seats. In 1904, Chris Watson became Australia's first Labor Prime Minister, as well as the world's first national Labour head of government. However, his was a minority government that lasted only four months.
In the 1910 federal election, the ALP, led by Andrew Fisher, became the first party in Australia to win a majority in either house of the Australian parliament. In 1914, as Australia entered the First World War, the Labor Party was re-elected with decisive majorities in both houses, another world-first for the party. During the first 50 years of Federation, the Labor Party was the most successful party, governing for approximately 15 of those years. Since 1910, the Labor Party has either served as the governing party or the opposition in every election.
The Labor Party has produced 13 prime ministers and has held federal power for a total of 22 years since 1949. The party has had particular success in New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory, where it currently holds government. The ALP has also had success with its policies, such as supporting community schools, fast-tracking tradies' qualifications, protecting penalty rates, and backing men's health.
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The Liberal Party's dominance since 1949
The Liberal Party of Australia (LP) is the country's major centre-right political party and is considered one of the two major parties in Australian politics, the other being the Australian Labor Party (ALP). The Liberal Party was founded in 1944 by Robert G. Menzies as a successor to the United Australia Party. The party is generally conservative and tends to favour the interests of private enterprise and the reduction of government restrictions on business and industry.
Since its founding, the Liberal Party has been the dominant force in Australian politics, controlling the federal government more often than any other party. The party first came to power in 1949, in coalition with the Country Party, and ruled for the next 23 years—the longest unbroken run in government at the federal level. During this period, Australia experienced prolonged economic growth, and Menzies fulfilled his promises to end rationing of butter, tea, and petrol, and provided a five-shilling endowment for first-born children. Menzies' government also concluded several major defence and trade treaties, opened up Australia to multi-ethnic immigration, and instigated important legal reforms regarding Aboriginal Australians.
At the state level, the Liberals have also been dominant for long periods, particularly in Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia. The party has held power in these states for extended periods, often with the support of coalition partners. In recent years, the Liberal Party has continued to be a major force in Australian politics, holding government at the federal level from 2013 to 2022, and currently governing in the Northern Territory, Queensland, and Tasmania at the sub-national level.
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The Senate's role in scrutinising government activity
Australia has had a two-party system in its House of Representatives since 1909, with the Australian Labor Party and the Liberal/National/LNP/CLP Coalition being the two major parties. However, the Senate has included representatives from a range of political parties, including several that are not represented in the House of Representatives.
The Senate plays an important role in scrutinising government activity. The upper house consists of 76 members, with twelve members representing each of the six Australian states, and two members representing each of the two self-governing territories. Senators are elected using the proportional system, which means that the chamber features a multitude of political parties. This has allowed the opposition and minor parties to use their Senate numbers as a basis for conducting inquiries into government operations. The Senate also has a large number of committees that deal with matters referred to them by the Senate and conduct hearings where the government's budget and operations are examined. These committees are protected by parliamentary privilege, and every participant is protected from being prosecuted under any civil or criminal action for anything they may say during a hearing.
The Senate's ability to scrutinise government activity is also evident in the estimates hearings, which are conducted three times a year. During these hearings, all senators have the opportunity to ask questions of ministers and public officials, and examine the government's budget and operations. The Senate's powers are nearly equivalent to those of the House of Representatives, with the exception that the Senate cannot originate or amend money bills, but only reject or defer them.
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The impact of declining votes for major parties
Australia has a history of a two-party system in its House of Representatives, with the Australian Labor Party and the Liberal Party of Australia being the dominant forces. However, there has been a notable trend of declining votes for these major parties in federal elections. This has resulted in an increase in the number of "safe seats" won by minor parties and independents, and a growing concern about the possibility of a "hung parliament".
The impact of this trend is significant. Firstly, it has disrupted the traditional two-party dynamic, with the major parties losing their stronghold on certain seats and facing greater competition from minor parties and independents. Secondly, it has increased the likelihood of power-sharing arrangements, as no single party or coalition has held a majority in the Senate since 1981. This has led to more frequent negotiations and collaborations between parties, which some view as a positive reflection of the will of voters and a constructive approach to governance.
The decline in votes for major parties has also had an impact on the legislative process. With a more diverse range of parties and independents in Parliament, there may be greater scrutiny of government activity and a more inclusive decision-making process. Additionally, the need to negotiate with crossbenchers in the House of Representatives may have influenced the passage of legislation through the Senate, even for so-called "majority governments".
Furthermore, the trend towards declining votes for major parties has had an impact on the stability and predictability of Australian politics. The absence of a clear majority for a single party or coalition since 1975 has resulted in a dynamic political landscape, with power dynamics shifting between parties and within coalitions. This has led to a more complex and fluid political environment, where negotiations, alliances, and compromises play a crucial role in governing.
While the declining votes for major parties have had several impacts on Australian politics, it is important to note that power-sharing arrangements and minority governments are not unique to Australia. Internationally, many countries, such as New Zealand, Canada, and several European nations, have successfully implemented power-sharing governments, demonstrating the feasibility and potential benefits of shared governance.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Australia has had a majority government. The first majority government was formed in 1909 when the Protectionist Party merged with the Free Trade Party in an anti-socialist alliance. The first party to win a majority government at an election was the Labor Party in 1910.
The Australian government consists of the party or coalition that has majority support in the lower house, which is the House of Representatives. The House of Representatives has 151 members, each representing around 165,000 people. The party or coalition with a majority in the lower house is entitled to form a government and exercises both executive and legislative power.
Australia has had a majority government on several occasions throughout its history. However, it is worth noting that the country has experienced a decline in the share of the vote won by the major parties in federal elections. Since 1975, Australians have not given a single party or coalition a majority of the vote in a federal election. This has resulted in power-sharing arrangements and minority governments becoming more common.
