Each political party represented in the Federal Parliament elects leaders in each house.
Just as the government is decided in the House of Representatives, so the parties elect their leaders and deputy leaders from amongst their representatives in the House. If the party is not represented in the lower house, its leader will be chosen from amongst its members in the Senate.
These tables are correct as of the first day of the 2017 sittings of the 45th Parliament. Following the retirement of Senator Stephen Conroy on September 30, 2016, the ALP elected Senator Don Farrell as its deputy leader in the Senate.
| House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Leader | Deputy Leader |
| Liberal Party | Malcolm Turnbull Wentworth (NSW) |
Julie Bishop Curtin (WA) |
| National Party | Barnaby Joyce New England (NSW) |
Senator Fiona Nash (NSW) Parliamentary Deputy Leader |
| Australian Labor Party | Bill Shorten Maribyrnong (Vic) |
Tanya Plibersek Sydney (NSW) |
The major parties also elect leaders and deputy leaders in the Senate. These people form part of the leadership group and act as the focal point for their parties in the upper house.
For example, the current Liberal leader in the Senate, George Brandis, is referred to as the Government Leader in the Senate. Senator Penny Wong is referred to as the Opposition Leader in the Senate.
| Senate | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Leader | Deputy Leader |
| Liberal Party | Sen. George Brandis (Queensland) |
Sen. Mathias Cormann (Western Australia) |
| National Party | Sen. Nigel Scullion (Northern Territory) |
Sen. Fiona Nash (New South Wales) |
| Australian Labor Party | Sen. Penny Wong (South Australia) |
Sen. Don Farrell (South Australia) |
| Australian Greens | Sen. Richard Di Natale (Victoria) |
Joint Co-Deputy Leaders Sen. Larissa Waters (Queenland) Sen. Scott Ludlam (Western Australian) |
| Pauline Hanson’s One Nation | Sen. Pauline Hanson (Queensland) |
|
| Nick Xenophon Team | Sen. Nick Xenophon (South Australia) |
|
