Whilst the Parliament has a number of important roles, the power to make laws is unquestionably the most significant, in terms of the impact the institution has on the lives of the nation’s people.
Most federal government legislation is initiated in the House of Representatives, but some legislation also begins its passage through the Senate. All laws or amendments to existing laws are introduced into the parliament as bills.
All laws must be passed in identical form by both houses of parliament. The Governor-General must give assent to all legislation.
Law-Making
- Royal Assent to Legislation – what is the role of the Queen and the Governor-General in the passage of legislation by the Australian Parliament? This page includes details of legislation Governors-General have reserved for the Queen’s pleasure or returned with suggested amendments.
- Supply and the Budget: An Explanation [2002]
Legislative Activity
- Sitting Times and Acts Passed 1900-90 – decade by decade House of Representatives statistics of number of sitting days/year, average sitting hours/year, Acts passed/year, Hours debated/year.
- House of Representatives Activity Statistics 1983-99 – detailed statistics of House legislative activity, questions and more.
Archived Posts
- Dec 06, 2017: Bob Katter’s Bizarre Speech On Same-Sex Marriage
- Sep 14, 2016: Turnbull Introduces Same-Sex Marriage Plebiscite Bill
- Sep 12, 2016: Shorten And Bandt Introduce Bills To Legalise Same-Sex Marriage
- Apr 15, 2016: High Court To Hear Challenge To Senate Voting Reforms On May 2
- Apr 11, 2016: Revised Parliamentary Sitting Times Released
- Mar 21, 2016: Turnbull Recalls Parliament On April 18 And Moves Budget To May 3; Threatens Double Dissolution On July 2 If Bills Not Passed
- Mar 18, 2016: Senate Voting Reforms Passed By Both Houses
- Mar 18, 2016: Senate Adjournment Motion Amended To Prevent Early Recall
- Mar 17, 2016: Gary Gray: “I Am Made Sad By My Party’s Position”
- Sep 02, 2014: Mining Tax Abolished As Government Deals With Palmer
- Aug 06, 2014: 40th Anniversary Of The 1974 Joint Sitting Of Parliament
- Jul 17, 2014: Labor Reacts To Repeal Of Carbon Tax With Commitment To Emissions Trading Scheme
- Jul 15, 2014: Abbott Government Does Deal With Palmer To Loosen Financial Advice Laws
- Jul 14, 2014: Carbon Tax Repeal Bills Pass House For Third Time With Palmer Amendments
- Jul 10, 2014: Carbon Tax Repeal Bill Defeated In Senate As Palmer Squabbles With Government Over Amendments
- Jul 08, 2014: Palmer Party Senate Leader Glenn Lazarus Heckled During First Speech On Repealing Carbon Tax
- Jun 23, 2014: Clive Palmer And Andrew Wilkie Vote Against Budget Bills
- Jun 23, 2014: Abbott Submits Carbon Tax Repeal Bills To House Of Representatives For Third Time
- Feb 06, 2014: The 44th Parliament: Work Of The Session – Nov-Dec 2013
- Dec 12, 2013: High Court Invalidates ACT Same-Sex Marriage Law; Decision Unanimous
- Dec 08, 2013: Abbott Pressures Parliament To Repeal Taxes By Christmas
- Nov 21, 2013: Carbon Tax Repeal Bills Passed By House Of Representatives
- Nov 08, 2013: Abbott Government Outlines Legislative Program For First Parliamentary Sittings
- Nov 01, 2013: Shorten Says ALP Will Support Carbon Tax Abolition Provided ETS Remains
- Oct 15, 2013: Abbott And Hunt Release Carbon Tax Repeal Legislation
- Feb 26, 2013: Scullion: A Genuine Sense Of Bipartisanship
- Feb 13, 2013: Act Of Recognition Passes In House Of Representatives
- Dec 10, 2012: Spigelman Says Human Rights Bill Is A Threat To Free Speech
- Sep 10, 2012: Malcolm Turnbull Speech On Same-Sex Marriage
- Apr 23, 2012: A (Portentous?) Statement From Andrew Wilkie
- Nov 30, 2009: Senator Sue Boyce Crosses The Floor To Support Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme
- May 26, 2009: Turnbull Pushes For Delay of Emissions Trading Scheme Legislation
- Dec 09, 2005: Voluntary Student Unions Bill: Speech By Senator Bob Brown
- Dec 09, 2005: Voluntary Student Unions Bill: Speech By Senator Barnaby Joyce
- Dec 09, 2005: Voluntary Student Unions Bill: Speech By Senator Kerry Nettle
- Dec 09, 2005: Voluntary Student Unions Bill: Speech By Senator Steve Fielding
- Dec 09, 2005: Voluntary Student Unions Bill: Speech By Senator Natasha Stott-Despoja
- Dec 09, 2005: Voluntary Student Unions Bill: Speech By Senator Penny Wong
- Nov 02, 2005: Greens Condemn Secrecy, Abuse Of Parliament
- Nov 02, 2005: Howard Rushes Amendment To Counter Terrorism Legislation
- Mar 10, 2004: Abbott Announces Medicare Plus Deal With Senate Independents
- Mar 27, 2003: Full Text Of Victoria’s Constitution (Parliamentary Reform) Act 2003
- Mar 27, 2003: Victorian Parliamentary Reform – Explanatory Memorandum
- May 19, 2002: Supply And The Budget
- Apr 29, 2002: Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Legislation Amendment (Terrorism) Bill 2002
- Apr 29, 2002: Democrats: You Do Not Have The Right To Remain Silent
- Aug 29, 2001: John Howard’s Border Protection Bill
- Jul 01, 2000: House Of Representatives Activity Statistics – 1983-1999
- May 15, 2000: Legislation Handbook – 2000
- Nov 24, 1998: Statistics On Legislation Passed By Federal Parliament 1993-98
- May 04, 1989: Michael Cobb Introduces Private Member’s Bill On Flag Desecration
- Feb 28, 1973: Bill To Lower Voting Age To 18: Fred Daly Second Reading Speech
- Mar 09, 1951: High Court Strikes Down Communist Party Dissolution Bill
- Apr 27, 1950: Communist Party Dissolution Bill – Second Reading Speech by Robert Menzies
