45th Parliament of Australia

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45th Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia
44th  
  46th
Parliament House (2017) Parliament House at dusk, Canberra ACT.jpg
Parliament House (2017)
Parliament House (2017)

30 August 2016 – 11 April 2019
Members76 senators
150 representatives
Senate Leader George Brandis
(until 20 December 2017)
Mathias Cormann
(from 20 December 2017)
Senate President Stephen Parry
(until 2 November 2017)
Scott Ryan
(from 13 November 2017)
House Leader Christopher Pyne
House Speaker Tony Smith
Sessions
1st: 30 August 2016 – 4 April 2019
Flag of Australia.svg Australiaportal

The 45th Parliament of Australia was a meeting of the legislative branch of the Australian federal government, composed of the Australian Senate and the Australian House of Representatives. It met in Canberra from 30 August 2016 to 4 April 2019. The 2016 general election held on 2 July gave the Coalition of the Liberal and National Parties control of the House, albeit with a slimmer majority than the 44th Parliament, allowing their leader Malcolm Turnbull to stay in office as the 29th Prime Minister of Australia. During the term of the parliament, the government slipped into minority due to defections and by-elections. The leadership of the government also changed during the parliament, when Scott Morrison replaced Turnbull as Liberal Leader and Prime Minister in August 2018. The 45th Parliament was officially prorogued by the Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove at 8:29 a.m. on 11 April 2019, and the House of Representatives dissolved at 8:30 a.m. [1]

Contents

2016 federal election

House of Representatives

At the 2016 federal election, in the 150-seat House of Representatives, the incumbent Coalition government was reelected with 76 seats, a majority of one seat. The Labor opposition won 69 seats. Five other MPs were elected to the crossbench, with the Greens, the Nick Xenophon Team, Katter's Australian Party, and independents Andrew Wilkie and Cathy McGowan winning a seat each.

Composition

Government (76)
Coalition

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Liberal (45)

LNP (21)

National (10)

Opposition (69)

Labor (69)

Crossbench (5)

Greens (1)

Xenophon (1)

Katter (1)

Independent (2)
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| 15 LNP MPs sit in the Liberal party room and 6 in the National party room
| independent MPs: Andrew Wilkie (Denison) and Cathy McGowan (Indi). Australian House of Representatives, 45th Parliament.svg
Government (76)
Coalition
  Liberal (45)
  LNP (21)
  National (10)

Opposition (69)
  Labor (69)

Crossbench (5)
  Greens (1)
  Xenophon (1)
  Katter (1)
  Independent (2)  
  1. 15 LNP MPs sit in the Liberal party room and 6 in the National party room
  2. independent MPs: Andrew Wilkie (Denison) and Cathy McGowan (Indi).
According to the 1-100 Gallagher Index, the disproportionality in the lower house is comparatively high at about 12.7 in 2016 - compared to 9.7 in 2013, 11.3 in 2010 and 10.3 in 2007. 2016 Election Australia Gallagher Index.png
According to the 1−100 Gallagher Index, the disproportionality in the lower house is comparatively high at about 12.7 in 2016 − compared to 9.7 in 2013, 11.3 in 2010 and 10.3 in 2007.
House of Representatives (IRV) — Turnout 91.01% (CV) — Informal 5.05% [2]
2016 Australian House.svg
PartyVotes%SwingSeatsChange
  Australian Labor Party 4,702,29634.73+1.3569Increase2.svg 14
  Coalition 5,693,60542.04−3.5176Decrease2.svg 14
  Liberal Party of Australia 3,882,90528.67−3.3545Decrease2.svg 13
  Liberal National Party (QLD) 1,153,7368.52−0.4021Decrease2.svg 1
  National Party of Australia 624,5554.61+0.3210Increase2.svg 1
  Country Liberal Party (NT) 32,4090.24−0.080Decrease2.svg 1
  Australian Greens 1,385,65010.23+1.581Steady2.svg
  Nick Xenophon Team 250,3331.85+1.851Increase2.svg 1
  Katter's Australian Party 72,8790.54−0.501Steady2.svg
  Palmer United Party 3150.00−5.490Decrease2.svg 1
Others1,436,02310.60+4.782 [a] Steady2.svg
Total13,541,101  150
Two-party-preferred vote
  Liberal/National Coalition 6,818,82450.36−3.1376Decrease2.svg 14
  Australian Labor Party 6,722,27749.64+3.1369Increase2.svg 14
Invalid/blank votes131,7224.70−0.86
Total votes14,262,016
Registered voters/turnout15,671,55191.01–2.22
Source: Federal Election 2016

Senate

In the 76-seat Senate, following the double dissolution election, the Coalition government was returned with 30 seats, and the Labor opposition obtained 26 seats. The crossbench consisted of 20 senators: the Greens winning 9 seats, One Nation winning 4 seats, the Nick Xenophon Team winning 3 seats, and the Liberal Democratic Party, Derryn Hinch's Justice Party, Family First Party and Jacqui Lambie Network each winning one seat.

Membership changes after the election

In the time elapsed between the 2016 election and the following federal election, many parliamentarians resigned from their seats, while some were disqualified by the High Court of Australia. The parliamentary eligibility crisis involving dual citizenship was responsible for a significant portion of these departures, although the cases of Barnaby Joyce and John Alexander only left brief vacancies due to their prompt returns in by-elections. Some individual parliamentarians also made an impact by changing their party membership or independent status.

SeatBeforeChangeAfter
MemberPartyTypeDateDateMemberParty
Vic (Senate) Stephen Conroy Labor Resignation30 September 201625 October 2016 Kimberley Kitching Labor
SA (Senate) Bob Day Family First Resignation, disqualification 1 November 201619 April 2017 Lucy Gichuhi Family First
WA (Senate) Rod Culleton One Nation Departure from party18 December 2016Rod Culleton Independent
Independent Disqualification 11 January 201727 March 2017 Peter Georgiou One Nation
SA (Senate) Cory Bernardi Liberal Formation of new party7 February 2017Cory Bernardi Conservatives
SA (Senate) Lucy Gichuhi Family FirstRefusal to join party merger3 May 2017Lucy GichuhiIndependent
WA (Senate) Scott Ludlam Greens Resignation, disqualification 14 July 201710 November 2017 Jordon Steele-John Greens
Qld (Senate) Larissa Waters Greens18 July 201710 November 2017 Andrew Bartlett Greens
WA (Senate) Chris Back LiberalResignation31 July 201716 August 2017 Slade Brockman Liberal
Qld (Senate) Malcolm Roberts One Nation Disqualification 27 October 201710 November 2017 Fraser Anning One Nation
New England Barnaby Joyce National 2 December 2017Barnaby Joyce
(re-elected)
National
NSW (Senate) Fiona Nash National22 December 2017 Jim Molan Liberal
SA (Senate) Nick Xenophon Xenophon Team Resignation31 October 201714 November 2017 Rex Patrick Xenophon Team
Tas (Senate) Stephen Parry Liberal Resignation, disqualification 2 November 20179 February 2018 Richard Colbeck Liberal
Bennelong John Alexander Liberal Resignation 11 November 201716 December 2017John Alexander
(re-elected)
Liberal
Tas (Senate) Jacqui Lambie Lambie Network Resignation, disqualification 14 November 20179 February 2018 Steve Martin Independent
SA (Senate) Skye Kakoschke-Moore Xenophon Team22 November 201716 February 2018 Tim Storer Independent
Qld (Senate) Fraser Anning One NationDeparture from party15 January 2018 Fraser Anning Independent
NSW (Senate) Sam Dastyari LaborResignation25 January 201814 February 2018 Kristina Keneally Labor
Batman David Feeney Labor Resignation 1 February 201817 March 2018 Ged Kearney Labor
SA (Senate) Lucy Gichuhi IndependentParty membership2 February 2018Lucy GichuhiLiberal
Qld (Senate) George Brandis LNP Resignation8 February 201821 March 2018 Amanda Stoker LNP
ACT (Senate) Katy Gallagher Labor Disqualification 9 May 201823 May 2018 David Smith Labor
Perth Tim Hammond LaborResignation10 May 201828 July 2018 Patrick Gorman Labor
Braddon Justine Keay Labor Resignation Justine Keay
(re-elected)
Labor
Fremantle Josh Wilson LaborJosh Wilson
(re-elected)
Labor
Longman Susan Lamb LaborSusan Lamb
(re-elected)
Labor
Mayo Rebekha Sharkie Centre Alliance 11 May 2018Rebekha Sharkie
(re-elected)
Centre Alliance
Tas (Senate) Steve Martin IndependentParty membership28 May 2018Steve MartinNational
Qld (Senate) Fraser Anning IndependentParty membership4 June 2018Fraser Anning Katter's Australian
NSW (Senate) Brian Burston One NationDeparture from party14 June 2018Brian BurstonIndependent
IndependentParty membership18 June 2018 United Australia
NSW (Senate) Lee Rhiannon GreensResignation15 August 2018 Mehreen Faruqi Greens
Qld (Senate)Andrew BartlettGreensResignation27 August 20186 September 2018Larissa WatersGreens
Wentworth Malcolm Turnbull LiberalResignation31 August 201820 October 2018 Kerryn Phelps Independent
Qld (Senate) Fraser Anning Katter's Australian Departure from party25 October 2018Fraser AnningIndependent
Chisholm Julia Banks LiberalDeparture from party27 November 2018Julia BanksIndependent
Tas (Senate) David Bushby LiberalResignation21 January 20196 March 2019 Wendy Askew Liberal
Vic (Senate) Jacinta Collins LaborResignation15 February 2019 Raff Ciccone Labor
NSW (Senate) David Leyonhjelm Liberal Democrats Resignation1 March 201920 March 2019 Duncan Spender Liberal Democrats
Qld (Senate) Fraser Anning Independent Formation of new party4 April 2019Fraser Anning Conservative National Party
ACT (Senate) David Smith LaborResignation11 April 2019vacant
SA (Senate) Cory Bernardi Conservatives Party deregistration24 June 2019 [b] Cory BernardiIndependent
  1. The Independent members were Cathy McGowan (Indi, Vic) and Andrew Wilkie (Denison, Tas).
  2. The party deregistration was after the 2019 election but before the start of the 46th Parliament

Major events

Major legislation

See also

References

  1. "Proclamation - Prorogue the Parliament and dissolve the House of Reps". Federal Register of Legislation. Australian Government. 11 April 2019.
  2. Barber, Stephen (7 April 2017). "Federal Election 2016" (PDF). Research Paper 2016–17. Parliamentary Library. ISSN   2203-5249.
  3. Anderson, Stephanie (1 November 2016). "Bob Day tenders resignation as Family First senator". ABC News.
  4. Re Culleton (No 2) [2017] HCA 4
  5. "Senator Peter Georgiou". Senators and Members of the Parliament of Australia . Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  6. "One Nation senator Peter Georgiou sworn in". SBS News. 26 March 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  7. "Family First ex-senator Bob Day's election ruled invalid by High Court". ABC News . 5 April 2017.
  8. "Senator Lucy Gichuhi". Senators and Members of the Parliament of Australia . Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  9. "Lucy Gichuhi sworn in as SA senator". SBS News. 9 May 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  10. Strutt, J; Kagi, J (14 July 2017). "Greens senator Scott Ludlam resigns over failure to renounce dual citizenship". ABC News. Australia.
  11. Waters, Larissa. "Statement from Senator Larissa Waters". GreensMPs. Australian Greens. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  12. "New Liberal senator for WA sworn-in". Campaspe News. 17 August 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  13. Re Canavan [2017] HCA 45 (27 October 2017).
  14. Doran, Matthew (31 October 2017). "New face, new name: Xenophon readies party for his Canberra departure". ABC News. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  15. Remeikis, Amy (1 November 2017). "Liberal Stephen Parry to resign over dual British citizenship". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  16. "High Court ticks new WA Greens senator". PerthNow. 10 November 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  17. Metherell, Lexi (13 November 2017). "Bennelong voters brace for pre-Christmas poll". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  18. "Senate confusion after new trio sworn-in". SBS. 13 November 2017. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  19. "Jacqui Lambie bids tearful farewell to Senate after shock British citizenship finding forces her out". ABC News. 14 November 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
  20. "New SA Senator for Nick Xenophon Team outlines history, priorities". ABC News. 14 November 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  21. Holderhead, Sheradyn (16 November 2017). "Role reversal as Nick Xenophon takes job as an adviser to former staffer Senator Rex Patrick". The Advertiser. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  22. Massola, James (22 November 2017). "Senator Skye Kakoschke-Moore quits over British citizenship". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  23. "Jim Molan to replace Fiona Nash in Senate, High Court rules". ABC News. 22 December 2017.
  24. "Labor senator Sam Dastyari formally quits Parliament". The Sydney Morning Herald. 25 January 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  25. Yaxley, Louise (1 February 2018). "David Feeney resigns from Parliament over dual citizenship, prompting Batman by-election". ABC News (Australia). Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  26. Carey, Adam; Towell, Noel (17 March 2018). "Batman votes: Labor holds seat in crucial byelection". The Age.
  27. Yaxley, Louise (9 May 2018). "Citizenship drama flares again, with four MPs and one senator on the way out after High Court ruling". ABC News (Australia). Retrieved 9 May 2018.