Government and

Democracy in
Australia
Yr 8 Commerce Unit 2022
Prepared by Deb Wilkins
Australia is a Democracy
What does this mean?
What is a democracy?

• A democracy is where a
government is chosen by the
people at regular elections
• In Australia the voting age is
18
• All Australian citizens are
required to vote once they
turn 18 and have registered
to vote
How many Parliaments are there in
Australia?
Parliaments in
Australia
• Australia has one
Commonwealth parliament as
well as six state parliaments and
two parliaments for the
territories. (Northern Territory &
the Australian Capital Territory)
• All together = 9
Elections

1. How frequently are

elections held for the
Commonwealth or Federal
parliament?

2. How frequently are

elections held for the Victorian
State parliament?
Elections

• Elections for the Commonwealth

parliament are held every 3 years

• Elections for the Victorian State

parliament are held every 4 years on
the last Saturday in November
Political Parties

Can you identify these political parties?

What do you know about them?
Forming a Government

• After an election the government is formed

by the political party or coalition of parties
who wins the most seats in the lower
house of parliament.
• In Victoria the lower house is the
Legislative Assembly.
• In Australia the lower house is the House
of Representatives.
Victorian State Election –
Sat 26 November 2022
th
Which Political Party won the 2022 State Election?
Federal Election
•Which political party won the election?

May 2022 •Can you identify who the above leaders are?
Forming a Federal Government

• Australia is divided into 151

electorates (voting areas)
• This means that for a political
party to ’win’ the election
and form government, they
have to win 50% of the
electorates (seats) + one. This
gives it a majority.
• This means 76 seats