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
- JSCEM Report on 2022 Federal Election Tabled November 27, 2023
- Sen. Nita Green (ALP-Qld) – Maiden Speech July 31, 2019
- Sen. Tony Sheldon (ALP-NSW) – Maiden Speech July 31, 2019
- Sen. Matt O’Sullivan (Lib-WA) – Maiden Speech July 30, 2019
- Sen. Tim Ayres (ALP-NSW) – Maiden Speech July 30, 2019
- Sen. Hollie Hughes (Lib-NSW) – Maiden Speech July 30, 2019
- Sen. Raff Ciccone (ALP-Vic) – Maiden Speech July 24, 2019
- Sen. Andrew Bragg (Lib-NSW) – Maiden Speech July 24, 2019
- Sen. Claire Chandler (Lib-Tas) – Maiden Speech July 23, 2019
- Sen. Susan McDonald (Nats-Qld) – Maiden Speech July 23, 2019
- David Hurley Sworn In As 27th Governor-General Of Australia July 1, 2019
- Fiona Patten Not Happy Malcolm Roberts Has Been Re-Elected June 19, 2019
- Sen. Duncan Spender (LDP-NSW) – Maiden Speech April 3, 2019
- Sen. David Smith (ALP-ACT) – Maiden Speech June 27, 2018
- Sen. Amanda Stoker (LNP-Qld) – Maiden Speech June 20, 2018
- Turnbull And Shorten Pay Moving Tribute To Sir John Carrick May 22, 2018
- Sen. Tim Storer (Ind-SA) – Maiden Speech May 9, 2018
- Sen. Kristina Keneally (ALP-NSW) – Maiden Speech March 27, 2018
- Sen. Steve Martin (Ind-Tas) – Maiden Speech March 21, 2018
- Sen. Kristina Keneally (ALP-NSW) Sworn In February 15, 2018
- Sen. Jim Molan (Lib-NSW) – Maiden Speech February 14, 2018
- Sen. Andrew Bartlett (Greens-Qld) – Maiden Speech December 5, 2017
- Sen. Rex Patrick (NXT-SA) – Maiden Speech December 4, 2017
- Sen. Jordon Steele-John (Greens-WA) – Maiden Speech November 29, 2017
- Sen. Slade Brockman (Lib-WA) – Maiden Speech October 17, 2017
- Senate Refers Nash And Xenophon To High Court; Hinch And Gallagher Safe; Hanson Audit Motion Defeated September 4, 2017
- Senate President Statement On Burqa Wearing September 4, 2017
- Pauline Hanson’s Senate Burqa Stunt; Labor And Greens Give Brandis A Standing Ovation August 17, 2017
- Sen. Peter Georgiou (One Nation-WA) – Maiden Speech August 16, 2017
- Scott Ludlam Resigns From The Senate; Victim Of Section 44 Dual Citizenship Rule July 14, 2017
- Sen. Lucy Gichuhi (SA-Ind) – Maiden Speech June 21, 2017
- Women In The 45th Australian Parliament May 10, 2017
- Current Federal Parliamentary Leaders February 7, 2017
- Senate President’s Statement On Culleton Disqualification February 7, 2017
- Culleton Ineligible To Nominate For Senate, High Court Rules; Recount Likely To Elect Peter Georgiou February 3, 2017
- Senator Rodney Culleton Disqualified; Senate President Declares Vacancy In WA; High Court To Decide How To Fill It January 11, 2017
- Stephen Conroy Announces Resignation From Senate In Undelivered Speech September 16, 2016
- Senator Derryn Hinch (DHJP-Vic) – Maiden Speech September 12, 2016
- Senate Passes Resolution Calling For Royal Commission Into Banking Industry September 1, 2016
- Senate Seating Plan – 45th Parliament August 31, 2016
- Dastyari Statement On Top Education Payments; Bernardi On The Attack August 31, 2016
- Coalition-Labor Deal On Rotation Of Members Confirmed By Senate August 31, 2016
- 45th Parliament Opens; Members And Senators Sworn In; House Speaker And Senate President Re-Elected Unopposed August 30, 2016
- Current Federal Parliamentary Leaders August 30, 2016
- Xenophon Senators Will Oppose Same-Sex Marriage Plebiscite; Senate Now Seems Certain To Oppose Poll August 29, 2016
- 2016 Senate Votes: A Higher But Fragmented Vote For Minor And Micro Parties August 22, 2016
- The New Senate: The Defeated, The Retired, The New And The Returning August 21, 2016
- Government And ALP Agree On Senate Terms; First Elected To Get 6 Years August 12, 2016
- How Well Did Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Do In The 2016 Federal Election? August 10, 2016
- Senator Derryn Hinch Addresses The Melbourne Press Club August 5, 2016
- Getting Things Done In The New Senate August 4, 2016
- One Nation Wins Another Seat In NSW; Coalition Loses One More, Leyonhjelm Returns; Crossbench Grows To 20 August 4, 2016
- One Nation Wins Two Queensland Senate Seats; Coalition Loses Ground; ALP And Greens Unchanged August 4, 2016
- Ricky Muir: I Can Leave Parliament Proud August 3, 2016
- Victorian Senate Results Finalised; Liberals Gain 1, Greens Keep 2, Hinch Elected August 3, 2016
- South Australian Senate Results Finalised; Xenophon Soars As Liberals, ALP And Greens Lose Ground; Bob Day Re-Elected August 2, 2016
- ACT Senate Results Finalised: One-All, No Change August 1, 2016
- Western Australian Senate Results Finalised; One Nation Wins Second Seat August 1, 2016
- Tasmanian Senate Results Finalised; ALP, Liberals, Greens And Lambie Take All 12 Seats July 27, 2016
- Northern Territory Senate Results Finalised: One Each To ALP and CLP July 25, 2016
- How Well Did Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Do In The Federal Election? July 9, 2016
- A Cautionary Tale: Senate Votes In The 2013 Federal Election June 11, 2016
- Parties And Groups Contesting The Senate In The 2016 Federal Election June 10, 2016
- Nominations – House of Representatives & Senate 2016 June 10, 2016
- High Court Unanimously Dismisses Challenge To Senate Voting Changes May 13, 2016
- Senate Adjournment Motion Amended To Prevent Early Recall March 18, 2016
- Sen. James Paterson (Lib-Vic) – Maiden Speech March 16, 2016
- James Paterson Sworn In As Victorian Liberal Senator March 15, 2016
- Senator Joe Bullock Announces Resignation Over ALP Policy On Same-Sex Marriage March 1, 2016
- Conroy Says Senate Voting Reform Would Give Coalition A Blocking Majority March 1, 2016
- Standing Orders And Other Orders Of The Senate November 11, 2015
- Current Federal Parliamentary Leaders September 21, 2015
- Senate President Announces Decision On Covered Visitors To Parliament House October 2, 2014
- ALP And Greens Back Palmer Motion For Select Committee Inquiry Into Queensland Government September 30, 2014
- Harry Evans, Former Clerk And Champion Of The Senate, Dies, 68 September 8, 2014
- Carbon Tax Repeal Bill Defeated In Senate As Palmer Squabbles With Government Over Amendments July 10, 2014
- Jacqui Lambie Asks Her First Question As A Senator; Wants Billions And Special Economic Zone For Tasmania July 8, 2014
- Palmer Party Senate Leader Glenn Lazarus Heckled During First Speech On Repealing Carbon Tax July 8, 2014
- Senate Seating Plan – 44th Parliament July 7, 2014
- Tasmanian Liberal Senator Stephen Parry Elected President Of The Senate July 7, 2014
- Senators Sworn In; New Balance Of Power As 2013 Federal Election Finally Complete July 7, 2014
- Another Season Of Valedictory Speeches As Twelve Senators Depart June 16, 2014
- Busting The Budget: Greens MP Condones Blocking Of Appropriation Bills By Senate May 23, 2014
- Changes To Senate Voting Methods Recommended; Liberals, ALP And Greens Agree To Stamp Out Preference Gaming May 9, 2014
- W.A. Senate Election Result Now Finalised; Liberal 3, ALP 1, Greens 1, PUP 1 April 29, 2014
- Brian Harradine, Long-Serving Independent Senator Expelled By ALP, Dies, 79 April 14, 2014
- Liberals Clinging To Three Seats In WA Senate Election; Labor Thrashed As Greens Triumph And Palmer Surges April 6, 2014
- Scott Ludlam Invites Tony Abbott To Western Australia: “We Want Our Country Back” March 3, 2014
- High Court Voids Western Australian Senate Election; New Poll Looms February 18, 2014
- Clive Palmer Releases Memorandum Of Understanding With Motoring Enthusiast Party December 30, 2013
- Electoral Commission Asks Court Of Disputed Returns To Void W.A. Senate Result November 15, 2013
- W.A. Senate Result Declared November 4, 2013
- Greens And Sports Party Prevail In WA Senate Count; Next Stop Court Of Disputed Returns November 2, 2013
- AEC Loses 1,375 Votes In WA Senate Count; Mick Keelty To Investigate October 31, 2013
- Deborah O’Neill Appointed To Fill Bob Carr’s Casual Senate Vacancy October 30, 2013
- Bob Carr Resigns From The Senate, Abandons Promise To Beat Strom Thurmond October 23, 2013
- Electoral Commissioner Orders Senate Recount In Western Australia October 10, 2013
- Electoral Commission Refuses Request For Senate Recount In W.A. – Greens To Appeal October 3, 2013
- The New Senate Numbers And The Abbott Government October 3, 2013
- Greens Seek Recount After Scott Ludlam Loses Western Australian Senate Seat October 2, 2013
- Palmer Wins By 7 Votes, Triggering Recount; Final Senate Results Now On Way October 1, 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 September 9, 2013
- Zed Seselja Topples Gary Humphries For ACT Liberal Senate Preselection February 23, 2013
- ‘Enemy Of The State’ – Senator Nick Xenophon Deported From Malaysia February 16, 2013
- Evans, Roxon Quit Gillard Cabinet; Reshuffle Imminent February 1, 2013
- NITV Interview With Nova Peris January 23, 2013
- Senate President John Hogg To Retire August 10, 2012
- Senator Mary Jo Fisher To Resign June 21, 2012
- Sherry Resigns From Senate June 1, 2012
- Valedictory Speech: Senator Nick Sherry May 10, 2012
- Bob Brown Resigns; Christine Milne New Greens Leader April 13, 2012
- Senator Judith Adams Dies March 31, 2012
- Bob Carr Enters The Senate And Becomes Foreign Minister March 2, 2012
- Craig Thomson And The Gillard Government June 15, 2011
- 3-2-1 Split In Tasmanian Senate Poll December 13, 2007
- John Howard’s Senate Abuses – The Story Since July 1st December 16, 2005
- Greens Say They Will Test New Senate On Day One August 7, 2005
- Condolences For Former Senator Janine Haines – House Of Representatives November 29, 2004
- Steve Fielding, Family First Senator-Elect, Addresses National Press Club November 17, 2004
- Governor-General’s Address Opening The 41st Parliament November 16, 2004
- Abbott Announces Medicare Plus Deal With Senate Independents March 10, 2004
- Andrew Bartlett ‘Stands Aside’ Over Drunken Incident In Senate Chamber December 6, 2003
- John Faulkner: Balancing Government Effectiveness With Oversight And Scrutiny September 30, 2003
- Mal Colston, Venal Politician, Labor Rat, Dead At 65 August 25, 2003
- Democrats Support Breast-Feeding In Senate May 1, 2003
- State Of The Parties: Senate 1974-2002 July 1, 2002
- Meg Lees Under Attack By Democrats; Senate Numbers At Stake June 25, 2002
- The Senate: Terms Of Office, Voting, And “Reform” June 12, 2002
- Supply And The Budget May 19, 2002
- Democrats: You Do Not Have The Right To Remain Silent April 29, 2002
- Bill Heffernan’s Disgraceful Speech Under Parliamentary Privilege March 11, 2002
- The Balance of Power in the Senate December 9, 2001
- Current and Prospective Senate Membership December 9, 2001
- Longest Currently Serving Members Of Federal Parliament May 1, 2001
- Members Of The Senate From July 1, 1999 July 1, 1999
- Howard Signals Intention To Accept Colston’s Vote October 15, 1998
- Kernot Quits Democrats To Join Labor October 15, 1997
- Members Of The Senate From July 1st, 1996 July 1, 1996
- Senator Natasha Stott Despoja (Dem-SA) – First Speech May 1, 1996
- Federal Parliamentary Sitting Days – 1994 March 15, 1995
- Senator Nick Sherry (ALP-Tas) – Maiden Speech September 17, 1990
