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
- Bob Katter’s Bizarre Speech On Same-Sex Marriage December 6, 2017
- Turnbull Introduces Same-Sex Marriage Plebiscite Bill September 14, 2016
- Shorten And Bandt Introduce Bills To Legalise Same-Sex Marriage September 12, 2016
- High Court To Hear Challenge To Senate Voting Reforms On May 2 April 15, 2016
- Revised Parliamentary Sitting Times Released April 11, 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
- Senate Voting Reforms Passed By Both Houses March 18, 2016
- Senate Adjournment Motion Amended To Prevent Early Recall March 18, 2016
- Gary Gray: “I Am Made Sad By My Party’s Position” March 17, 2016
- Mining Tax Abolished As Government Deals With Palmer September 2, 2014
- 40th Anniversary Of The 1974 Joint Sitting Of Parliament August 6, 2014
- Labor Reacts To Repeal Of Carbon Tax With Commitment To Emissions Trading Scheme July 17, 2014
- Abbott Government Does Deal With Palmer To Loosen Financial Advice Laws July 15, 2014
- Carbon Tax Repeal Bills Pass House For Third Time With Palmer Amendments July 14, 2014
- Carbon Tax Repeal Bill Defeated In Senate As Palmer Squabbles With Government Over Amendments July 10, 2014
- Palmer Party Senate Leader Glenn Lazarus Heckled During First Speech On Repealing Carbon Tax July 8, 2014
- Clive Palmer And Andrew Wilkie Vote Against Budget Bills June 23, 2014
- Abbott Submits Carbon Tax Repeal Bills To House Of Representatives For Third Time June 23, 2014
- The 44th Parliament: Work Of The Session – Nov-Dec 2013 February 6, 2014
- High Court Invalidates ACT Same-Sex Marriage Law; Decision Unanimous December 12, 2013
- Abbott Pressures Parliament To Repeal Taxes By Christmas December 8, 2013
- Carbon Tax Repeal Bills Passed By House Of Representatives November 21, 2013
- Abbott Government Outlines Legislative Program For First Parliamentary Sittings November 8, 2013
- Shorten Says ALP Will Support Carbon Tax Abolition Provided ETS Remains November 1, 2013
- Abbott And Hunt Release Carbon Tax Repeal Legislation October 15, 2013
- Scullion: A Genuine Sense Of Bipartisanship February 26, 2013
- Act Of Recognition Passes In House Of Representatives February 13, 2013
- Spigelman Says Human Rights Bill Is A Threat To Free Speech December 10, 2012
- Malcolm Turnbull Speech On Same-Sex Marriage September 10, 2012
- A (Portentous?) Statement From Andrew Wilkie April 23, 2012
- Senator Sue Boyce Crosses The Floor To Support Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme November 30, 2009
- Turnbull Pushes For Delay of Emissions Trading Scheme Legislation May 26, 2009
- Voluntary Student Unions Bill: Speech By Senator Bob Brown December 9, 2005
- Voluntary Student Unions Bill: Speech By Senator Barnaby Joyce December 9, 2005
- Voluntary Student Unions Bill: Speech By Senator Kerry Nettle December 9, 2005
- Voluntary Student Unions Bill: Speech By Senator Steve Fielding December 9, 2005
- Voluntary Student Unions Bill: Speech By Senator Natasha Stott-Despoja December 9, 2005
- Voluntary Student Unions Bill: Speech By Senator Penny Wong December 9, 2005
- Greens Condemn Secrecy, Abuse Of Parliament November 2, 2005
- Howard Rushes Amendment To Counter Terrorism Legislation November 2, 2005
- Abbott Announces Medicare Plus Deal With Senate Independents March 10, 2004
- Full Text Of Victoria’s Constitution (Parliamentary Reform) Act 2003 March 27, 2003
- Victorian Parliamentary Reform – Explanatory Memorandum March 27, 2003
- Supply And The Budget May 19, 2002
- Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Legislation Amendment (Terrorism) Bill 2002 April 29, 2002
- Democrats: You Do Not Have The Right To Remain Silent April 29, 2002
- John Howard’s Border Protection Bill August 29, 2001
- House Of Representatives Activity Statistics – 1983-1999 July 1, 2000
- Legislation Handbook – 2000 May 15, 2000
- Statistics On Legislation Passed By Federal Parliament 1993-98 November 24, 1998
- Michael Cobb Introduces Private Member’s Bill On Flag Desecration May 4, 1989
- Bill to Lower Voting Age to 18: Fred Daly Second Reading Speech February 28, 1973
- High Court Strikes Down Communist Party Dissolution Bill March 9, 1951
- Communist Party Dissolution Bill – Second Reading Speech by Robert Menzies April 27, 1950
