Parliament of Australia

/ ˈpɑː.lɪ.mənt əv ɒˈstreɪ.li.ə / institution /

RE: AUSTRALIA, DEMOCRACY, GOVERNANCE, PARLIAMENT, POLITICS

The Parliament of Australia is the federal lawmaking body of the country. It meets at Parliament House in Canberra, the capital city. Australia’s Parliament has two chambers: the House of Representatives, which represents the people, and the Senate, which represents the states and territories.

Members of Parliament (MPs and Senators) are elected by the public, and their main job is to make and change national laws, approve the federal budget, and hold the government accountable through public debate and question time. The Prime Minister is the head of government and must have the support of the House of Representatives.

Australia follows a Westminster-style democracy, mixed with features from the U.S. system, such as a strong Senate. The Parliament deals with issues like immigration, defence, health, education, and the environment—decisions that affect all Australians. The Parliament is open to the public and often broadcast live, reflecting the country’s commitment to transparency, debate, and representative government.

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