How is the government elected in parliament?

A graphic showing the groupings and people in the House of Representatives and where they sit.

People and groups in the House of Representatives.

Parliamentary Education Office (peo.gov.au)

People and groups in the House of Representatives.

A graphic showing the groupings and people in the House of Representatives and where they sit.

Parliamentary Education Office (peo.gov.au)

Description

This graphic shows the groupings and people in the House of Representatives:

Officers

  • Speaker of the House of Representatives
  • Clerk
  • Deputy Clerk
  • Hansard
  • Serjeant-at-Arms

Government

  • Prime Minister
  • Ministers
  • Government backbenchers

Opposition

  • Leader of the Opposition
  • Shadow ministers
  • Opposition backbenchers

Crossbench

  • Independents and minor parties

 

The Australian Government is part of the Australian Parliament. After a federal election, the party or coalition of parties with the support of the majority – more than half – of members elected to the House of Representatives becomes the government.

To remain in office the government must keep the support of the majority in the House of Representatives.

Although government is formed in the House of Representatives, there are also members of the government in the Senate. The government may or may not have the majority of seats in the Senate.