Parliament/Press

Parliament Information:

What Happens After an Election:

After an election, the moderators will usually give all the Members of Parliament and Senators a week after the general election. There are usually two things going on:

Party Negotiations

• • Usually between the two biggest parties and other parties or independents.

  • The biggest party (the one with the most seats) gets government.

  • The second biggest party gets opposition.

  • The parties usually negotiate coalition agreements or supply & confidence agreements (C&S).

    • Coalition Agreements are usually taken extremely seriously and disagreements happen in private.

    • Supply & Confidence mean that the party can rely on the other party for confidence and the supply of their votes.

Legislation Submission

• • Everyone should start writing legislation, matters of public importance and motions to the speakership.

  • The Government should start writing the President's Address, which lays out what the government plans to do during the 3 month term.

Cabinet(s) Formation

• • The government and the opposition will form their cabinet and respective shadow cabinet. 

During Parliament:

During parliament, bills, matters of public importance and motions are passed and voted on in the house. Here are all the main types of legislation in AustraliaSim:

Bills

• • These are written to create new laws and to create government action.

  • Bills can be amended with member or senator input.

  • They have to be passed through both houses of parliament through the following timeline:

    • Second Reading:

      • Members of the Public can debate.

      • Parliamentary Members can show intention to amend the legislation.

    • Second Reading Vote (all members of a chamber vote)

IF THERE ARE ANY AMENDMENTS:

• • • Committee Stage (where members propose amendments. Note that the senate goes to committee every bill)

    • Amendment Vote (where members vote on amendments, if amendments are proposed)

    • Third Reading Vote (all members of a chamber vote)

THE CYCLE REPEATS IN THE OTHER HOUSE

Motions

• • These are usually written for a government to execute action that cannot be enforced by law.

  • Motions can also be amended with member or senator input.

  • Instead of the committee stage, the just hold amendment proposals, there is only one vote on the motion as a whole.

  • If a motion is passed in one house, it does not need to be passed by another house.

Matters of Public Importance

• • These are usually used as an open platform to debate on a certain current issue.

  • Can be used by governments to understand what they could do.

  • Much more effective in the House of Representatives than in the Senate.

Any legislation can be submitted by this form, which will send it directly to speaker-ship. Contact any moderator or clerk if you need help making legislation. (Only use the form if you are an MP or a Senator)