FAQ
Q: How do I enrol to vote?
A: Voting in Australia is compulsory for everyone who is over the age of eighteen. So, in the months before you turn eighteen, it is a good idea to start thinking about enrolling to vote. The Australian Electoral Commision only needs to register you on one form in order for you to be eligible to vote in local, state and federal elections. For more information, and an enrollment form, go to http://www.aec.gov.au/Enrolling_to_vote/.
Q: How do we know when the next election is going to be?
A: We don't. Members of the House of Representatives, or the Lower House, are elected for terms of three years, but when it comes to the date and month an election will fall on, it is ultimately the Prime Minister's decision.
Q. What are the earliest possible dates for the next Federal election?
A. The earliest possible date for a joint House/Senate election is Saturday, 7 August 2010. The earliest possible date for a House of Representatives election is any Saturday, 33 days after dissolution of House. The earliest possible date for a Senate election is Saturday, 7 August 2010.
Q. What are the latest possible dates for the next federal election
A. The latest possible date for a joint House/Senate election is Saturday, 16 April 2011. The latest possible date for a House of Representatives election is Saturday, 16 April 2011. The latest possible date for a Senate election is *Saturday, 21 May 2011.
The Constitution (section 13) requires the election to be completed by 30 June each third year. Following polling day, the Australian Electoral Commission needs five weeks to allow for the receipt of postal votes; then distribution of preferences; followed by return of Writs.
Q. What is a Double Dissolution
A. Double dissolutions of the parliament are provided for under the Constitution when the House of Representatives and the Senate cannot agree on a Bill. A summary of the steps is set out below:
- The House passes a bill and sends it to the Senate.
- The Senate rejects it, or fails to pass it, or passes it with amendments to which the House does not agree.
- Three months must pass, from the time the Senate acts (or fails to act).
- The House of Representatives passes the bill again (with or without Senate amendments).
- The Senate again rejects the bill, or fails to pass it, or passes it with amendments to which the House does not agree.
- The Prime Minister is able to approach the Governor-General to seek the dissolution of parliament.
- Both Houses are dissolved by the Governor-General in what is called a double dissolution and an election is held. This election is significant because it is the only occasion on which all the Senators face election at the same time.
- Following the election the bill may again be introduced. The House of Representatives again passes the bill (with or without Senate amendments).
- If the Senate again fails to pass the bill, or again passes it with amendments to which the House does not agree, the Governor-General can convene a joint sitting of the two Houses. This power also is exercised on government advice.
- The joint sitting votes on the bill or bills, and on any disputed amendments. An absolute majority is required to pass the bill(s) - ie more than 50% of the total number of the members of both Houses.
- If the bill(s) is/are passed, the Governor-General gives assent and the bill(s) become law.
- More than one Bill may provide the basis for a double dissolution. It is possible for a government to save up (or "stockpile") double dissolution bills as ‘triggers' during a term of Parliament, in order to get them all passed at the same time.
In exercising the power to dissolve both Houses, the Governor-General acts on government advice.
A double dissolution cannot take place if the term of the House of Representatives will expire within 6 months, ie after 11 August 2010.
Note that it is only the dissolution which may not occur after this date. The writs must be issued within 10 days of dissolution, and polling day follows between 33 and 58 days after that. Therefore, a double dissolution election could occur as late as 16 October 2010 (based on maximum timetables), but with the usual minimum timetables, the latest date would be 18 September 2010
Q: How big is the electorate of Farrer and how many electorate offices do you have?
A: The electorate of Farrer is one of the largest in the Federal Parliament, currently covering a vast area of 96,000 km. As well as her primary electorate office in Albury, Sussan also has an office in Broken Hill. For details about contacting her through either office, see here.