The Senate is the so-called “upper house” in Australia’s bicameral parliament.
Unlike the House of Representatives, the Senate’s membership is based on state representation. Each state has 12 senators and each of the two territories has 2, giving a total of 76.
Senators serve fixed six-year terms, with each term beginning on July 1 and ending on June 30 six years later. Section 13 of the Constitution stipulates that Senate elections take place every three years and that elections for the Senate can only take place in the 12 months prior to the expiry of senators’ terms. Hence, the Senate has a rotating membership, with half of each state’s representation facing the electorate every three years in a half-Senate election.
The Senate may be dissolved in the event of a deadlock between the two houses, as set out in Section 57 of the Constitution.
State of the Parties
- Aug 31, 2016: Senate Rotation of Members Confirmed
- Aug 21, 2016: The New Senate: The Defeated, Retired, New and Returning
- Aug 12, 2016: Government and ALP Agree On Senate Terms
- Aug 04, 2016: 2016 Election – Final Senate Results
- Jul 07, 2014: New Senators Sworn In
- Oct 03, 2013: Senate Numbers and the Abbott Government
- Jul 01, 2002: State of the Parties 1974-2002
- Dec 09, 2001: Complete List of Current and Prospective Senators
- Dec 09, 2001: The Balance of Power in the Senate
Senate Activity
- Dec 16, 2005: John Howard’s Senate Abuses – The Story Since 1 July – the Federal Opposition has attacked the government over its Senate behaviour since assuming control on July 1, 2005.
- Mar 15, 1995: Federal Parliament Sitting Days 1994
Senate Procedures
Senate Seating Plans
Women Senators
- Women Senators Since 1901 – complete list of women senators, showing party affiliation, states and dates served.
- Women in the 45th Parliament (2016)
Lists: Members of the Senate
- Longest Serving Members of Parliament
- Living Former Senators 1949-1972
- Members of the Senate 1999
- Members of the Senate 1996
- 1974-1975: Full List of Senators
- 1971-1974: Full List of Senators
- 1901-1903 Senators – First Parliament
Archived Posts
- Jul 31, 2019: Sen. Nita Green (ALP-Qld) – Maiden Speech
- Jul 31, 2019: Sen. Tony Sheldon (ALP-NSW) – Maiden Speech
- Jul 30, 2019: Sen. Matt O’Sullivan (Lib-WA) – Maiden Speech
- Jul 30, 2019: Sen. Tim Ayres (ALP-NSW) – Maiden Speech
- Jul 30, 2019: Sen. Hollie Hughes (Lib-NSW) – Maiden Speech
- Jul 24, 2019: Sen. Raff Ciccone (ALP-Vic) – Maiden Speech
- Jul 24, 2019: Sen. Andrew Bragg (Lib-NSW) – Maiden Speech
- Jul 23, 2019: Sen. Claire Chandler (Lib-Tas) – Maiden Speech
- Jul 23, 2019: Sen. Susan McDonald (Nats-Qld) – Maiden Speech
- Jul 01, 2019: David Hurley Sworn In As 27th Governor-General Of Australia
- Jun 19, 2019: Fiona Patten Not Happy Malcolm Roberts Has Been Re-Elected
- Apr 03, 2019: Sen. Duncan Spender (LDP-NSW) – Maiden Speech
- Jun 27, 2018: Sen. David Smith (ALP-ACT) – Maiden Speech
- Jun 20, 2018: Sen. Amanda Stoker (LNP-Qld) – Maiden Speech
- May 22, 2018: Turnbull And Shorten Pay Moving Tribute To Sir John Carrick
- May 09, 2018: Sen. Tim Storer (Ind-SA) – Maiden Speech
- Mar 27, 2018: Sen. Kristina Keneally (ALP-NSW) – Maiden Speech
- Mar 21, 2018: Sen. Steve Martin (Ind-Tas) – Maiden Speech
- Feb 15, 2018: Sen. Kristina Keneally (ALP-NSW) Sworn In
- Feb 14, 2018: Sen. Jim Molan (Lib-NSW) – Maiden Speech
- Dec 05, 2017: Sen. Andrew Bartlett (Greens-Qld) – Maiden Speech
- Dec 04, 2017: Sen. Rex Patrick (NXT-SA) – Maiden Speech
- Nov 29, 2017: Sen. Jordon Steele-John (Greens-WA) – Maiden Speech
- Oct 17, 2017: Sen. Slade Brockman (Lib-WA) – Maiden Speech
- Sep 04, 2017: Senate Refers Nash And Xenophon To High Court; Hinch And Gallagher Safe; Hanson Audit Motion Defeated
- Sep 04, 2017: Senate President Statement On Burqa Wearing
- Aug 17, 2017: Pauline Hanson’s Senate Burqa Stunt; Labor And Greens Give Brandis A Standing Ovation
- Aug 16, 2017: Sen. Peter Georgiou (One Nation-WA) – Maiden Speech
- Jul 14, 2017: Scott Ludlam Resigns From The Senate; Victim Of Section 44 Dual Citizenship Rule
- Jun 21, 2017: Sen. Lucy Gichuhi (SA-Ind) – Maiden Speech
- May 10, 2017: Women In The 45th Australian Parliament
- Feb 07, 2017: Current Federal Parliamentary Leaders
- Feb 07, 2017: Senate President’s Statement On Culleton Disqualification
- Feb 03, 2017: Culleton Ineligible To Nominate For Senate, High Court Rules; Recount Likely To Elect Peter Georgiou
- Jan 11, 2017: Senator Rodney Culleton Disqualified; Senate President Declares Vacancy In WA; High Court To Decide How To Fill It
- Sep 16, 2016: Stephen Conroy Announces Resignation From Senate In Undelivered Speech
- Sep 12, 2016: Senator Derryn Hinch (DHJP-Vic) – Maiden Speech
- Sep 01, 2016: Senate Passes Resolution Calling For Royal Commission Into Banking Industry
- Aug 31, 2016: Senate Seating Plan – 45th Parliament
- Aug 31, 2016: Dastyari Statement On Top Education Payments; Bernardi On The Attack
- Aug 31, 2016: Coalition-Labor Deal On Rotation Of Members Confirmed By Senate
- Aug 30, 2016: 45th Parliament Opens; Members And Senators Sworn In; House Speaker And Senate President Re-Elected Unopposed
- Aug 30, 2016: Current Federal Parliamentary Leaders
- Aug 29, 2016: Xenophon Senators Will Oppose Same-Sex Marriage Plebiscite; Senate Now Seems Certain To Oppose Poll
- Aug 22, 2016: 2016 Senate Votes: A Higher But Fragmented Vote For Minor And Micro Parties
- Aug 21, 2016: The New Senate: The Defeated, The Retired, The New And The Returning
- Aug 12, 2016: Government And ALP Agree On Senate Terms; First Elected To Get 6 Years
- Aug 10, 2016: How Well Did Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Do In The 2016 Federal Election?
- Aug 05, 2016: Senator Derryn Hinch Addresses The Melbourne Press Club
- Aug 04, 2016: Getting Things Done In The New Senate
- Aug 04, 2016: One Nation Wins Another Seat In NSW; Coalition Loses One More, Leyonhjelm Returns; Crossbench Grows To 20
- Aug 04, 2016: One Nation Wins Two Queensland Senate Seats; Coalition Loses Ground; ALP And Greens Unchanged
- Aug 03, 2016: Ricky Muir: I Can Leave Parliament Proud
- Aug 03, 2016: Victorian Senate Results Finalised; Liberals Gain 1, Greens Keep 2, Hinch Elected
- Aug 02, 2016: South Australian Senate Results Finalised; Xenophon Soars As Liberals, ALP And Greens Lose Ground; Bob Day Re-Elected
- Aug 01, 2016: ACT Senate Results Finalised: One-All, No Change
- Aug 01, 2016: Western Australian Senate Results Finalised; One Nation Wins Second Seat
- Jul 27, 2016: Tasmanian Senate Results Finalised; ALP, Liberals, Greens And Lambie Take All 12 Seats
- Jul 25, 2016: Northern Territory Senate Results Finalised: One Each To ALP And CLP
- Jul 09, 2016: How Well Did Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Do In The Federal Election?
- Jun 11, 2016: A Cautionary Tale: Senate Votes In The 2013 Federal Election
- Jun 10, 2016: Parties And Groups Contesting The Senate In The 2016 Federal Election
- Jun 10, 2016: Nominations – House of Representatives & Senate 2016
- May 13, 2016: High Court Unanimously Dismisses Challenge To Senate Voting Changes
- Mar 18, 2016: Senate Adjournment Motion Amended To Prevent Early Recall
- Mar 16, 2016: Sen. James Paterson (Lib-Vic) – Maiden Speech
- Mar 15, 2016: James Paterson Sworn In As Victorian Liberal Senator
- Mar 01, 2016: Senator Joe Bullock Announces Resignation Over ALP Policy On Same-Sex Marriage
- Mar 01, 2016: Conroy Says Senate Voting Reform Would Give Coalition A Blocking Majority
- Nov 11, 2015: Standing Orders And Other Orders Of The Senate
- Sep 21, 2015: Current Federal Parliamentary Leaders
- Oct 02, 2014: Senate President Announces Decision On Covered Visitors To Parliament House
- Sep 30, 2014: ALP And Greens Back Palmer Motion For Select Committee Inquiry Into Queensland Government
- Sep 08, 2014: Harry Evans, Former Clerk And Champion Of The Senate, Dies, 68
- Jul 10, 2014: Carbon Tax Repeal Bill Defeated In Senate As Palmer Squabbles With Government Over Amendments
- Jul 08, 2014: Jacqui Lambie Asks Her First Question As A Senator; Wants Billions And Special Economic Zone For Tasmania
- Jul 08, 2014: Palmer Party Senate Leader Glenn Lazarus Heckled During First Speech On Repealing Carbon Tax
- Jul 07, 2014: Senate Seating Plan – 44th Parliament
- Jul 07, 2014: Tasmanian Liberal Senator Stephen Parry Elected President Of The Senate
- Jul 07, 2014: Senators Sworn In; New Balance Of Power As 2013 Federal Election Finally Complete
- Jun 16, 2014: Another Season Of Valedictory Speeches As Twelve Senators Depart
- May 23, 2014: Busting The Budget: Greens MP Condones Blocking Of Appropriation Bills By Senate
- May 09, 2014: Changes To Senate Voting Methods Recommended; Liberals, ALP And Greens Agree To Stamp Out Preference Gaming
- Apr 29, 2014: W.A. Senate Election Result Now Finalised; Liberal 3, ALP 1, Greens 1, PUP 1
- Apr 14, 2014: Brian Harradine, Long-Serving Independent Senator Expelled By ALP, Dies, 79
- Apr 06, 2014: Liberals Clinging To Three Seats In WA Senate Election; Labor Thrashed As Greens Triumph And Palmer Surges
- Mar 03, 2014: Scott Ludlam Invites Tony Abbott To Western Australia: “We Want Our Country Back”
- Feb 18, 2014: High Court Voids Western Australian Senate Election; New Poll Looms
- Dec 30, 2013: Clive Palmer Releases Memorandum Of Understanding With Motoring Enthusiast Party
- Nov 15, 2013: Electoral Commission Asks Court Of Disputed Returns To Void W.A. Senate Result
- Nov 04, 2013: W.A. Senate Result Declared
- Nov 02, 2013: Greens And Sports Party Prevail In WA Senate Count; Next Stop Court Of Disputed Returns
- Oct 31, 2013: AEC Loses 1,375 Votes In WA Senate Count; Mick Keelty To Investigate
- Oct 30, 2013: Deborah O’Neill Appointed To Fill Bob Carr’s Casual Senate Vacancy
- Oct 23, 2013: Bob Carr Resigns From The Senate, Abandons Promise To Beat Strom Thurmond
- Oct 10, 2013: Electoral Commissioner Orders Senate Recount In Western Australia
- Oct 03, 2013: Electoral Commission Refuses Request For Senate Recount In W.A. – Greens To Appeal
- Oct 03, 2013: The New Senate Numbers And The Abbott Government
- Oct 02, 2013: Greens Seek Recount After Scott Ludlam Loses Western Australian Senate Seat
- Oct 01, 2013: Palmer Wins By 7 Votes, Triggering Recount; Final Senate Results Now On Way
- Sep 09, 2013: Transition To Abbott Government Begins; Shorten, Albanese Vie For ALP Leadership As Recriminations Start; Mirabella Struggling In Indi; Palmer Takes Fairfax; Micro Parties Descend On Senate
- Feb 23, 2013: Zed Seselja Topples Gary Humphries For ACT Liberal Senate Preselection
- Feb 16, 2013: ‘Enemy Of The State’ – Senator Nick Xenophon Deported From Malaysia
- Feb 01, 2013: Evans, Roxon Quit Gillard Cabinet; Reshuffle Imminent
- Jan 23, 2013: NITV Interview With Nova Peris
- Aug 10, 2012: Senate President John Hogg To Retire
- Jun 21, 2012: Senator Mary Jo Fisher To Resign
- Jun 01, 2012: Sherry Resigns From Senate
- May 10, 2012: Valedictory Speech: Senator Nick Sherry
- Apr 13, 2012: Bob Brown Resigns; Christine Milne New Greens Leader
- Mar 31, 2012: Senator Judith Adams Dies
- Mar 02, 2012: Bob Carr Enters The Senate And Becomes Foreign Minister
- Jun 15, 2011: Craig Thomson And The Gillard Government
- Dec 13, 2007: 3-2-1 Split In Tasmanian Senate Poll
- Dec 16, 2005: John Howard’s Senate Abuses – The Story Since July 1st
- Aug 07, 2005: Greens Say They Will Test New Senate On Day One
- Nov 29, 2004: Condolences For Former Senator Janine Haines – House Of Representatives
- Nov 17, 2004: Steve Fielding, Family First Senator-Elect, Addresses National Press Club
- Nov 16, 2004: Governor-General’s Address Opening The 41st Parliament
- Mar 10, 2004: Abbott Announces Medicare Plus Deal With Senate Independents
- Dec 06, 2003: Andrew Bartlett ‘Stands Aside’ Over Drunken Incident In Senate Chamber
- Sep 30, 2003: John Faulkner: Balancing Government Effectiveness With Oversight And Scrutiny
- Aug 25, 2003: Mal Colston, Venal Politician, Labor Rat, Dead At 65
- May 01, 2003: Democrats Support Breast-Feeding In Senate
- Jul 01, 2002: State Of The Parties: Senate 1974-2002
- Jun 25, 2002: Meg Lees Under Attack By Democrats; Senate Numbers At Stake
- Jun 12, 2002: The Senate: Terms Of Office, Voting, And “Reform”
- May 19, 2002: Supply And The Budget
- Apr 29, 2002: Democrats: You Do Not Have The Right To Remain Silent
- Mar 11, 2002: Bill Heffernan’s Disgraceful Speech Under Parliamentary Privilege
- Dec 09, 2001: The Balance of Power in the Senate
- Dec 09, 2001: Current and Prospective Senate Membership
- May 01, 2001: Longest Currently Serving Members Of Federal Parliament
- Jul 01, 1999: Members Of The Senate From July 1, 1999
- Oct 15, 1998: Howard Signals Intention To Accept Colston’s Vote
- Oct 15, 1997: Kernot Quits Democrats To Join Labor
- Jul 01, 1996: Members Of The Senate From July 1st, 1996
- May 01, 1996: Senator Natasha Stott Despoja (Dem-SA) – First Speech
- Mar 15, 1995: Federal Parliamentary Sitting Days – 1994
- Sep 17, 1990: Senator Nick Sherry (ALP-Tas) – Maiden Speech
