National

The model

This diagram is an interactive model of your Senate chamber. It shows you where your Senators sit in the chamber. When you roll your pointer over seats, you'll see a photograph and brief details about each Senator. If you click on a Senator's seat, you will be taken to a page with more news and information about them, their record in the chamber, and an easy form for contacting them.

Role and history of the Senate

The Senate was set up as the States' House. The Senate was part of the 'deal' that allowed the formerly separate six colonies to federate into a single nation - the Commonwealth of Australia - in 1901. It eased the anxieties of smaller states about being overwhelmed in the Federation.

The constitution guarantees equal representation for each State, with at least six Senators per state. This means that unlike the House of Representatives, the Senate is not elected on a 'one-vote, one-value' basis. Depending on which State they're representing, and how big its population is, Senators may be elected by very different numbers of voters.

The number of Senators needs to be as close as possible to half the number of members of the house of Representatives. Conventionally, The Prime Minister comes from the House of Representatives, where Governments are formed, but Ministers are usually appointed from the Senate.

The Senate is elected using a system of 'proportional representation'. This means that the make-up of the Senate is closer to the 'first-preference' votes cast by the electorate. It also means that smaller parties and independent candidates have a better opportunity of entering the Senate than the House of Representatives.