The Senate - The People

Introduction

Welcome to the SENATE web page by Natalia E, Joanne B and Erica G

There are two houses of Parliament. The lower house, which is The House of Representatives, and the upper house which is The Senate. The Senate confirms all the bills. Our Web page has information on, Ministerial Representation, Parliamentary Secretaries, Officers of the Senate, Where do the Senators go, Question Time, Senate Office holders, Senate Party Leaders, Whips, Positions and we even have a maze for you to do!

There are two representatives in each Territory, and twelve for each state. The Senate chamber is designed in red.

Ministerial Representation

Ministers

Senator Robert Hill: Minister for the Environment and Heritage Representing: Prime Minister; Minister for Trade; Minister for Foreign Affairs; Minister for Forestry and Conservation

Senator Richard Alston: Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts. Representing: Minister for Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business; Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry; Minister for the Arts and Centenary of Federation; Minister for Employment Services

Senator Jocelyn Newman: Minister for Family and Community Services; minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women. Representing Minister for Defense; Minister Veterans' Affairs; Minister for Community Services

Senator Nick Minchin: minister for Industry, Science and Resources Representing Minister for Sport and Tourism

Senator Amanda Vanstone: Minister for Justice and Customs Representing Attorney-General; Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs

This is the Senate Chamber

Senator John Herron: Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Affairs. Representing: Minister for Health and Aged Care; Minister for Aged Care; Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Reconciliation

Senator Rod Kemp: Assistant Treasurer. Representing Treasurer; Minister for Financial Services and Regulation

Senator Christopher Ellison: Special Minister of State. Representing: Minister for Finance and Administration; Minister for Education, Training and Youth Affairs

Senator Ian Macdonald: Minister for Regional Services, Territories and Local Government. Representing: Minister for Transport and Regional Services

Parliamentary Secretaries

Senator Ian Campbell: Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts.
Senator Grant Tambling: Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Aged Care
Senator Judith Troeth: Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Senator Kay Patterson: Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs
Senator Eric Abetz: Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defense
Senator Bill Heffernan: Parliamentary Secretary to cabinet
Senator Ron Boswell: Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport and Regional Services

Officers of the Senate

Clerk of the Senate: Mr. Harry Evans
Deputy Clerk of the Senate: Miss Anne Lynch
Clerk Assistant (Committees): Mr. Cleaver Elliott
Clerk Assistant (Corporate Management): Mr. Peter O' Keeffe
Clerk Assistant ( Procedure): Dr Rosmary Laing
Clerk assistant (Table): Mr. John Vander Wyk
Usher of the Black Rod: Mr. Robert Alison

Where's the Senator that represents me?

The Senators of the State or Territory may not be in the Senate Chamber at the one time while the chamber is in session. They could be in there offices listening to debates or working. They will definitely be in there at Question Time.

What is Question Time?

One of the main purposes of Question Time is to find out more about what the Government is doing and to make sure that the Ministers are doing the best job they can. Question time is very important and all the Senators MUST be there.

Question Time allows Members to ask Ministers questions 'without notice' about policy and administration issues in their portfolios. The idea of asking questions without prior notice puts pressure on the Ministers to be up to date regarding the work of departments and agencies that they represent and are responsible for.

Questions differ between Members of government and non-government. There is almost always conflict between the Government and the Opposition during this hour of the day.

Opposition Members are tempted to ask hard questions that will stress out and embarrass the Government.

Senate Office holders

President: Senator M E Reid
Deputy President and Chair of Committees: Senator S West
Temporary Chairs of Committees: Senators Bartlett, Calvert, G Campell, Chapman, Crowly, Ferguson, Hogg, Knowls, Lightfoot, McKiernan, Murphy, Sherry and Watson
Leader of the Government in the Senate: Senator R Hill
Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate: Senator R K R Alston
Manager of the Government Business in the Senate: Senator I Campell
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate: Senator J Faulkner
Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate: Senator P Cook
Manager of the Opposition Business in the Senate: Senator K Carr

Senate Party Leaders

Leader of the Australian Labor Party: Senator J Faulkner
Deputy Leader of the Australian Labor Party: Senator P Cook
Leader of the Australian Liberal Party: Senator R Hill
Deputy Leader of Australian Liberal Party: Senator R K R Alston
Leader of the National Party of Australia: Senator R L D Boswell
Deputy Leader of the National Party of Australia: Senator D Brownhill
Leader of the Australian Democrats: Senator M Lees
Deputy Leader of the Australian Democrats: Senator N Stott Despoja

Whips

Government: Senator P H Calvert
Deputy Government: Senator H Coonan
Opposition: Senator K O'Brian
Deputy Opposition: Senators K Denman and J Quirke
National Party of Australia: J J McGauren
Australian Democrats: Senator V Bourne

The Senate Maze

Positions In The Senate

No.1: Liberal Party of Australia and there's 31 Senators.
No.2: National party and country Liberal party and there's 4 Senators.
No.3: Independent 1 Senator
No.4: The One Nation Party and There is 1 Senator.
No.5: Australian Democrats and there is 9 Senators.
No.6: Australian Greens Party and There is 1 Senator
No.7: Australian labor party and there is 29 Senators.f