| Changes In Federal Parliament | |
|---|---|
| Year | Change |
|
1901
|
First Federal election held under State legislation.
The first Parliament had 36 Senators (6 per State) and 75 Members of the House of Representatives. |
|
1903
|
First Federal elections held under federal law. 46.8% of electors voted. |
|
1922
|
Northern Territory gained one Member of the House of Representatives with restricted voting rights. |
|
1927
|
Parliament met in Canberra for the first time. |
|
1948
|
The number of Senators for each State was increased from 6 to 10 (total 60) and the number of Members of the House of Representatives correspondingly increased to 121.
The Australian Capital Territory was granted one Member of the House of Representatives with restricted voting rights. The Representation Act 1948 was Assented to on May 18, 1948. |
|
1966
|
ACT Member of the House of Representatives was granted full voting rights. |
|
1968
|
NT Member of the House of Representatives was granted full voting rights. |
|
1974
|
ACT and NT gained 2 Senators each, their terms coinciding with House of Representatives terms. The Senate (Representation of Territories) Act 1973 was Assented to on August 7.
ACT gains second Member of the House of Representatives with full voting rights. |
|
1978
|
Northern Territory granted Self-Government. |
|
1983
|
The number of Senators was increased from 10 to 12 per State (total 76, including 4 from ACT and NT).
The Representation Act 1983 was Assented to on December 8 and commenced February 21, 1984. Consequently, the number of Members of the House of Representatives was increased to 145 (total 148, including ACT and NT). |
|
1989
|
ACT granted Self-Government. |
Source: Australian Electoral Commission Publications.
