Legislative Assembly

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Legislative Assembly

Australian politics

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June 30, 2026

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In Australian politics, a Legislative Assembly is typically the lower house of a bicameral legislature, or a unicameral legislature itself. For instance, Australia's federal government operates with a Senate and a House of Representatives. In states like Western Australia, the parliament is bicameral, consisting of a Legislative Council (upper house) and a Legislative Assembly (lower house). The Australian Capital Territory has a unicameral 17-member Legislative Assembly elected by proportional preferential voting. Historically, settlers in the Port Phillip District felt inadequately represented in the New South Wales Legislative Council, leading to the establishment of Victoria as a separate colony with its own Legislative Council. Legislatures are the lawmaking branches of government, with powers that can include passing laws and establishing budgets.123456

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Australian Capital Territory
Government
The 17-member Legislative Assembly is elected by proportional preferential voting in three electorates for a three-year term. Although major national political parties (Labor and Liberal) have contested each election, representatives of other local groups usually have held the balance of power in each assembly. The executive branch…
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The 17-member Legislative Assembly is elected by proportional preferential voting in three electorates for a three-year term. Although major national political parties (Labor and Liberal) have contested each election, representatives of other local groups usually have held the balance of power in each assembly. The executive branch…
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New South Wales
Constitutional framework
The lower house, or Legislative Assembly, has 93 members elected to four-year terms from single-member constituencies by optional preferential voting. The upper house, or Legislative Council, has 42 members who (since 1978) are directly elected at large by preferential voting and proportional representation. The members are elected to serve…
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The lower house, or Legislative Assembly, has 93 members elected to four-year terms from single-member constituencies by optional preferential voting. The upper house, or Legislative Council, has 42 members who (since 1978) are directly elected at large by preferential voting and proportional representation. The members are elected to serve…
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Northern Territory
Administrative framework
The Legislative Assembly serves as the Northern Territory’s parliament; its members are elected for four-year terms. A speaker is elected by the members of the Assembly, as are six ministers to serve on the Executive Council. A number of territorial departments and authorities operate within the…
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The Legislative Assembly serves as the Northern Territory’s parliament; its members are elected for four-year terms. A speaker is elected by the members of the Assembly, as are six ministers to serve on the Executive Council. A number of territorial departments and authorities operate within the…
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Queensland
Constitutional framework
…cabinet and the governor), the Legislative Assembly, and the judiciary. The governor is entrenched in Queensland’s constitutional framework, under the Constitution (Office of Governor) Act (1987). Although judges are appointed by the government of the day, the tradition of an independent judiciary is embedded in the constitution.
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…cabinet and the governor), the Legislative Assembly, and the judiciary. The governor is entrenched in Queensland’s constitutional framework, under the Constitution (Office of Governor) Act (1987). Although judges are appointed by the government of the day, the tradition of an independent judiciary is embedded in the constitution.
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Western Australia
Constitutional framework
…its upper house and a Legislative Assembly as its lower house, constitutes the legislature of the state. Executive government is based on the cabinet system, led by a premier who represents the majority party (or coalition) in the legislature. A third tier, that of local government, functions through some 140…
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…its upper house and a Legislative Assembly as its lower house, constitutes the legislature of the state. Executive government is based on the cabinet system, led by a premier who represents the majority party (or coalition) in the legislature. A third tier, that of local government, functions through some 140…
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