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Political system and administration of justice statistics

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Political system and administration of justice statistics

Number of recognised political parties

104. The Australian Electoral Commission maintains a register of political parties. This register lists those parties which are eligible to have the party affiliation of their endorsed candidates printed on ballot papers.

105. To be eligible for registration, a party must be established on the basis of a written Constitution that sets out the aims of the party, and either:

A parliamentary party, which is a political party with at least one member in the Parliament of the Commonwealth, or
A political party that has at least 500 members who are entitled to be on the electoral roll and are not relied on by any other party.

106. As at 23 January 2006, there were 54 political parties registered in Australia.^³¹

Distribution of legislative seats by party

Table 32

State of the parties - Commonwealth Parliament September 2005

House of Representatives
Liberal Party	74
Nationals	12
Country Liberal Party	1
Government parties	87
Australian Labor Party	60
Independent	3
Total	150
Senate
Liberal Party	32
Nationals	6
Country Liberal Party	1
Government parties	39
Australian Labor Party	28
Australian Democrats	4
The Greens	4
Family First Party	1
Total	76

Source: Library of the Commonwealth Parliament.

Women in Parliament

Table 33

Percentage of women in Parliament - November 2004

Jurisdiction	Number of women in Lower House	Percentage of total %	Number of women in Upper House	Percentage of total %
Commonwealth	37	24.7	22	28.9
New South Wales	23	25	13	31
Victoria	27	30.7	13	29.5
Queensland	33	37.1	N/A	N/A
Western Australia	13	22.8	10	29.4
South Australia	16	34	6	27.3
Tasmania	6	24	4	26.7
Australian Capital Territory	6	35.3	N/A	N/A
Northern Territory	7	28	N/A	N/A

* Table based on information from the websites of each Parliament.

Periodicity of elections at the national and local level

107. Members of the Commonwealth House of Representatives are elected for a maximum term of three years, though elections may be called earlier. Senators have fixed terms of six years. Normally half the Senate retire every three years, and elections for the Senate are usually held at the same time as elections for the House of Representatives.

108. In NSW, the Legislative Assembly operates on four-year fixed terms. Members of the Legislative Council hold office for two terms of the Legislative Assembly (half the members of the Legislative Council retire at each Legislative Assembly election on a rotating basis). Local Councils in NSW operate on a four-year fixed term.

109. Members of the Victorian Legislative Assembly serve terms of a minimum of three years and a maximum of four years. Members of the Legislative Council hold office for two terms of the Legislative Assembly (half the members of the Legislative Council retire at each Legislative Assembly election on a rotating basis). Local Councils operate on a three-year term.

110. In Queensland, the Legislative Assembly has a maximum term of three-years. Local Councils operate on a three-year fixed term.

111. In WA, the Legislative Council operates on a four-year fixed term. The Legislative Assembly has a maximum term of four years. Half the Local Councillors of each Council in WA are elected every two years for four-year terms.

112. In SA, the Legislative Council operates on six to eight-year terms. The House of Assembly has a minimum of three-year and a maximum of four-year terms. Local Council elections are held every three years.

113. The Tasmanian Legislative Council has terms of six years, with three or two Members elected in alternative years. The House of Assembly has terms of up to four-years. In Local Councils, half the Councillors are elected every two years for four-year terms.

114. Members of the Legislative Assembly in the NT serve four-year terms. Municipal Council elections are held every four years. Local Councillors serve one to four year terms.

115. In the ACT, Members of the Legislative assembly serve four-year terms.^³²

Voter turnouts

116. Every Australian citizen (18 years or older) is required by law to vote. If the citizen is unable to provide a “valid and sufficient” reason for not voting, a penalty is imposed.

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