RESEARCH PAPER SERIES, 2017–18              22 February 2018

Composition of Australian parliaments by party and gender: a quick guide

Anna Hough

Politics and Public Administration Section

This quick guide contains the most recent tables showing the composition of Australian parliaments by party and gender (see Table 1 and Table 2). It takes into account changes to the Commonwealth, state and territory parliaments since the last update was published on 19 December 2017.

Commonwealth

In the Senate:

•       Fraser Anning (IND, Qld) stated on 5 February 2018 that he would be sitting as an independent senator.

•       Lucy Gichuhi (IND, SA) stated on 5 February 2018 that she had become a member of the Liberal Party.

•       Jim Molan (LP, NSW) was declared elected on 22 December 2017 by the High Court sitting as the Court of Disputed Returns (‘the Court’). He replaced Fiona Nash (NATS, NSW)—whose election was declared void by the Court on 27 October 2017—following a countback of votes cast at the 2016 federal election.

•       Richard Colbeck (LP, Tas.) filled the vacancy created by the resignation of Stephen Parry (LP, Tas.), following a countback of votes cast at the 2016 federal election. The Court declared him elected on 9 February 2018.

•       Steve Martin (IND, Tas.) filled the vacancy created by the resignation of Jacqui Lambie (JLN, Tas.), following a countback of votes cast at the 2016 federal election. The Court declared him elected on 9 February 2018. He stated on 13 February 2018 that he would be sitting as an independent senator.

•       Kristina Keneally (ALP, NSW) filled the vacancy created by the resignation of Sam Dastyari (ALP, NSW).

•       The figures include two vacancies in the Senate:

–      Following the resignation of Skye Kakoschke-Moore (NXT, SA) on 22 November 2017, the Court declared Tim Storer elected on 16 February 2018. He is expected to be sworn in when the Senate next sits in March.

–      The vacancy arising from the resignation of George Brandis (LP, Qld) on 7 February 2018 has not yet been filled.

In the House of Representatives:

•       The figures include one vacancy following the resignation of David Feeney (ALP, Batman, Vic.) on 1 February 2018. A by-election will be held in the seat of Batman on 17 March 2018.

Western Australia

•       In the Legislative Assembly, the figures include one vacancy following the resignation of Colin Barnett (LP, Cottesloe) on 5 February 2018. A by-election will be held in Cottesloe on 17 March 2018.

Australian Capital Territory

•       Following the death of Steve Doszpot (LP, Kurrajong) on 25 November 2017, the resulting vacancy was filled by Candice Burch (LP) as a result of a countback of votes cast at the 2016 ACT election.

© Commonwealth of Australia

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