An important feature of the Australian parliamentary system is the prevalence of disputes and conflicts between the House of Representatives and the Senate. The most dramatic of these occurred in 1975 and resulted in the dismissal of the Whitlam Labor Government by the Governor-General.
Disagreements often occur over particular pieces of legislation, such as occurred in July 1998 with the Senate’s rejection of the Howard Government’s legislation to privatise Telstra.
- Double Dissolutions in Australia
- The 40th Anniversary of the 1974 Joint Sitting – detailed
- The 30th Anniversary of the 1974 Joint Sitting of Parliament
Archived Posts
- Coalition-Labor Deal On Rotation Of Members Confirmed By Senate August 31, 2016
- Government And ALP Agree On Senate Terms; First Elected To Get 6 Years August 12, 2016
- Australian Parliament Dissolved; Governor-General’s Official Secretary Reads Proclamation May 9, 2016
- Government House Releases Double Dissolution Documents May 8, 2016
- Malcolm Turnbull Formally Announces July 2 Double Dissolution Election May 8, 2016
- After July 2, When Will The Next Election Be Held? May 7, 2016
- Turnbull Recalls Parliament On April 18 And Moves Budget To May 3; Threatens Double Dissolution On July 2 If Bills Not Passed March 21, 2016
- Conroy Says Senate Voting Reform Would Give Coalition A Blocking Majority March 1, 2016
- 40th Anniversary Of The 1974 Joint Sitting Of Parliament August 6, 2014
- Double Dissolution Trigger Created As Senate Rejects Bill For Second Time June 18, 2014
- Would A Double Dissolution In Early 2014 Be Unconstitutional? May 25, 2013
- The 1974 Joint Sitting Of Parliament July 27, 2004
- Dirty Simon Crean Calls On John Howard To Make My Day June 19, 2002
- Double Dissolutions, Joint Sittings And Reserve Powers February 19, 2002
- Bob Hawke Announces The 1987 Double Dissolution Election May 27, 1987
- Malcolm Fraser: Double Dissolution Election Statement February 3, 1983
- “Australian Labor Prison” – Liberal Party 1975 Election Leaflet December 1, 1975
- Sir Paul Hasluck’s 1974 Proclamation Dissolving Parliament April 11, 1974
- 1951 Double Dissolution Correspondence: Menzies And McKell March 19, 1951
- High Court Strikes Down Communist Party Dissolution Bill March 9, 1951
