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Ch3 Elections and the electoral system / NUMBER OF MEMBERS



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House of Representatives                                Ch 3                                                 p 83

 

Elections and the electoral system

 

Number of Members

The Constitution determines the composition of the House of Representatives and provides that it shall consist of Members directly chosen by the people of the Commonwealth and that the number of Members representing the States shall be, as nearly as practicable, twice the number of Senators representing the States. The number of Members in each State shall be proportionate to the populations of the respective States. The manner in which the number is determined, although set down in the Constitution, was a matter in respect of which the Parliament could legislate, and it has subsequently done so. 1

Following the 2004 general election representation of the States and Territories was:

 

New South Wales

50

 

Victoria

37

 

Queensland

28

 

Western Australia

15

 

South Australia

11

 

Tasmania

5

 

Australian Capital Territory

2

 

Northern Territory

2

   

150

A list showing the number of Members of the House of Representatives in each Parliament since 1901 is shown at Appendix 11.



Constitution, s. 24; Representation Act 1905 (repealed). The provisions are now in the Electoral Act— see ‘Determination of divisions’ at p. 85.