Australian Senate

Also known as Senate, Senate of Australia

Upper house of the Parliament of Australia

Key facts

Type: Upper house of the Parliament of Australia
President: Sue Lines , Labor , since 26 July 2022
Leader of the government: Penny Wong , Labor , since 1 June 2022
Manager of government business: Katy Gallagher , Labor , since 1 June 2022
Leader of the opposition: Michaelia Cash , Liberal , since 25 January 2025
Manager of opposition business: Jonathon Duniam , Liberal , since 25 January 2025
Political groups: Government (30) , Labor (30), Opposition (27) , Coalition , Liberal (23) , National (4) , Crossbench (19) , Greens (10), One Nation (4), Lambie Network ( 1 ), United Australia ( 1 ), Australia's Voice ( 1 ) Independent (2)
Length of term: 6 years (state senators), 3 years (territory senators)
Voting system: Proportional representation ( single transferable vote )
Last election: 3 May 2025 , ( Half Senate election )

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Article

The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives.

The powers, role and composition of the Senate are set out in Chapter I of the federal constitution as well as federal legislation and constitutional convention. There are a total of 76 senators: 12 are elected from each of the six Australian states, regardless of population, and 2 each representing the Australian Capital Territory (including the Jervis Bay Territory and Norfolk Island) and the Northern Territory (including the Australian Indian Ocean Territories). Senators are popularly elected under the single transferable vote system of proportional representation in state-wide and territory-wide districts.