Notes on Australian Government, Political Parties, and Voting Processes

Parliament:
- Comprised of two houses:
- House of Representatives (Lower House): 151 members from electoral divisions.
- Senate (Upper House): 76 senators (12 from each state, 2 from each territory).

Parliament:
- Makes and passes laws.
- Represents people, debates policies, and scrutinizes government actions.
Government:
- Formed by the majority political party/coalition in the House of Representatives.
- Role: Executes and enforces laws, runs the country, and implements policies.
- Members: Includes the Prime Minister and ministers from elected MPs.

Members are elected every three years using a:
- House of Representatives: Preferential voting.
- Senate: Proportional representation (every six years with half elected every three).

Australia as a federation: multiple states unite to form one country.
Federal government handles national matters, state governments manage local issues.

Australian Constitution divides power among:
- Legislative (Parliament): Makes laws.
- Executive: Executes laws.
- Judiciary: Interprets laws, ensures justice is impartial.

Australian Labor Party (ALP): Center-left, social justice focus.
Liberal Party of Australia: Center-right, advocates free-market policies.
National Party of Australia: Represents rural interests.
Australian Greens: Emphasizes environmental sustainability and social justice.
One Nation: Right-wing populist, nationalist, anti-immigration policies.

Representation: Members aim to represent constituents in Parliament.
Policy Development: Cultivating policies reflected in election campaigns.
Government Formation: Majority party (or coalition) forms the government.
Opposition: Second-largest party scrutinizes government actions, proposes alternatives.

Media highlights issues, shows party actions, airs political advertisements, etc.

Print Media: Newspapers and magazines providing in-depth analysis.
Broadcast Media: Television and radio reaching broad audiences.
Digital Media: Includes online news, social media, blogs, significant for real-time updates.
- Social Media: Platforms for interaction and campaigning.
- Alternative Media: Non-mainstream outlets offering different political perspectives.
- Public Broadcasting: Unbiased coverage by organizations like ABC.

Right-Wing Bias: Supports business-friendly policies; exemplified by Liberal and National Parties.
Left-Wing Bias: Advocates for social justice and environmental focus; seen in Labor Party and Greens.

Compulsory Voting: Mandatory for all eligible citizens in federal, state, and local elections.