Orientation
The Senate chamber has three rows of seating in a U-shaped arrangement. The inner most row holds 26 seats, and the middle and outer rows each hold 32 seats.
Each senator is assigned a seat in the Senate chamber. In practice seating arrangements are made by party whips, subject to the approval of the President.
Government senators sit to the right of the President. Opposition senators sit to the left of the President.
Seating plan
The seating position of each senator, including their name, political affiliation and state or territory is as follows.
In the President's chair
The President's chair is located at the open end of the U-shape.
Seat |
Senator |
Political party |
State or territory |
Government and opposition leaders
The Leader of the Government in the Senate and the leader of the Opposition in the Senate sit at a table in the centre of the U-shape.
Seat |
Senator |
Political party |
State or territory |
Government
Government senators sit to the right of the President.
Government senators in the inner row
Seat |
Senator |
Political party |
State or territory |
Government senators in the middle row
Seat |
Senator |
Political party |
State or territory |
Government senators in the outer row
Seat |
Senator |
Political party |
State or territory |
Opposition
Members of the Opposition sit to the left of the President.
Opposition senators in the inner row
Seat |
Senator |
Political party |
State or territory |
Opposition senators in the middle row
Seat |
Senator |
Political party |
State or territory |
Opposition senators in the outer row
Seat |
Senator |
Political party |
State or territory |
Crossbench
Minority parties and independent senators sit on the 'cross benches' between the government and opposition.
Crossbench senators in the inner row
Seat |
Senator |
Political party |
State or territory |
Crossbench senators in the middle row
Seat |
Senator |
Political party |
State or territory |
Crossbench senators in the outer row
Seat |
Senator |
Political party |
State or territory |