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ISSN 2203-5249
RESEARCH PAPER SERIES, 2022-23 UPDATED 23 JANUARY 2023
Gender composition of Australian parliaments by party: a quick guide Anna Hough Politics & Public Administration Section
This Quick Guide provides an update to tables showing the composition of Australian parliaments by party and gender (see Tables 1 and 2 below) since the last version was published on 1 July 2022.
Commonwealth
House of Representatives On 23 December 2022, Andrew Gee (Calare, NSW) announced that he was resigning from The Nationals (NATS) to sit as an independent.
New South Wales
Legislative Assembly On 20 October 2022, Tania Mihailuk (Bankstown) announced that she was resigning from the Australian Labor Party (ALP) to sit as an independent.
On 12 December 2022, two members of the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party—Roy Butler (Barwon) and Philip Donato (Orange)—announced that they were resigning from the party to sit as independents.
Victoria After the general election on 26 November 2022, women now comprise:
⢠55% of members of the Legislative Council
⢠46% of members of the Legislative Assembly
⢠49% of members of the Victorian Parliament as a whole.
The Victorian Legislative Council is the first mainland state chamber to have a female majority, following the Australian Capital Territory and Tasmania.
Gender composition of Australian parliaments by party: a quick guide 2
Legislative Assembly The figures for the Legislative Assembly include a vacancy in Narracan District following the death of a candidate during the election campaign period. A supplementary election in Narracan District will be held on 28 January 2023.
Western Australia
Legislative Assembly Following the resignation of Vincent Catania (NATS, North West Central) on 10 June 2022, a by-election was held on 17 September 2022 at which Merome Beard (NATS) was elected.
South Australia
House of Assembly Following the resignation of Vickie Chapman (LIB, Bragg) on 31 May 2022, a by-election was held on 2 July 2022 at which Jack Batty (LIB) was elected.
Tasmania
House of Assembly Following the resignation of Jacquie Petrusma (LIB, Franklin) on 25 July 2022 a recount was held on 15 August 2022 at which Dean Young (LIB) was elected.
Legislative Council Following the resignation of Jo Siejka (ALP, Pembroke) on 2 August 2022, a by-election was held on 10 September 2022 at which Luke Edmunds (ALP) was elected.
Northern Territory Following the resignation of former Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner (ALP, Fannie Bay) from the Legislative Assembly on 27 July 2022, a by-election was held on 20 August 2022 at which Brent Potter (ALP) was elected.
The figures for the Northern Territory include a vacancy in the seat of Arafura following the death of Lawrence Costa (ALP) on 17 December 2022.
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Note and legend
M F %F M F %F M F %F M F %F M F %F M F %F M F %F M F %F M F %F M F %F
ALP 41 36 46.8 21 15 41.7 26 30 53.6 31 21 40.4 27 26 49.1 13 14 51.9 3 6 66.7 4 6 60.0 7 7 50.0 173 161 48.2
LIB 33 9 21.4 23 10 30.3 14 4 22.2 1 1 50.0 14 2 12.5 10 3 23.1 5 4 44.4 100 33 24.8
NATS 13 2 13.3 9 3 25.0 5 4 44.4 2 2 50.0 29 11 27.5
CLP 4 3 42.9 4 3 42.9
LNP 28 6 17.6 28 6 17.6
GRN 3 1 25.0 1 2 66.7 2 2 50.0 1 1 50.0 2 100.0 3 3 50.0 10 11 52.4
CA 1 100.0 0 1 100.0
KAP 1 0.0 3 0.0 4 0 0.0
PHON 1 0.0 1 0 0.0
IND 2 9 81.8 7 2 22.2 1 100.0 4 0.0 1 100.0 1 2 66.7 14 15 51.7
Total 93 58 38.4 61 32 34.4 47 40 46.0 64 29 31.2 30 29 49.2 31 16 34.0 13 12 48.0 12 13 52.0 12 12 50.0 363 241 39.9
ALP 8 18 69.2 10 4 28.6 7 8 53.3 9 13 59.1 6 3 33.3 3 1 25.0 43 47 52.2
LIB 16 10 38.5 8 3 27.3 6 6 50.0 6 1 14.3 3 5 62.5 1 3 75.0 40 28 41.2
NATS 2 4 66.7 4 2 33.3 2 100.0 2 0.0 8 8 50.0
GRN 4 8 66.7 3 100.0 1 3 75.0 1 0.0 1 1 50.0 7 15 68.2
AJP 1 1 50.0 1 100.0 1 2 66.7
DLP 1 0.0 1 0 0.0
DSP 1 0.0 1 0 0.0
JLN 2 100.0 0 2 100.0
LCV 1 1 50.0 1 1 50.0
LCWA 1 1 50.0 1 1 50.0
LD 1 0.0 1 0 0.0
PHON 1 1 50.0 2 0.0 1 100.0 1 100.0 3 3 50.0
SAB 1 1 50.0 1 1 50.0
SFF 2 0.0 1 0.0 3 0 0.0
UAP 1 0.0 1 0 0.0
IND 1 0.0 2 0.0 1 0.0 3 4 57.1 7 4 36.4
Total 33 43 56.6 29 13 31.0 18 22 55.0 21 15 41.7 11 11 50.0 7 8 53.3 119 112 48.5
Politics and Public Administration Section, Commonwealth Parliamentary Library. Compiled using data from state and territory parliament and electoral commission websites.
Total
Lower House
Upper House
Gender composition in Australian parliaments by party and chamber, as at 1 January 2023
Cth (21.5.22) NSW (23.3.19) Vic (26.11.22) Qld (31.10.20) WA (13.3.21) SA (19.3.22) Tas (1.5.21) ACT (17.10.20) NT (22.8.20)
Note and legend
M F %F M F %F M F %F M F %F M F %F M F %F M F %F M F %F M F %F M F %F
ALP 49 54 52.4 31 19 38.0 33 38 53.5 31 21 40.4 36 39 52.0 19 17 47.2 6 7 53.8 4 6 60.0 7 7 50.0 216 208 49.1
LIB 49 19 27.9 31 13 29.5 20 10 33.3 7 2 22.2 17 7 29.2 11 6 35.3 5 4 44.4 140 61 30.3
NATS 15 6 28.6 13 5 27.8 5 6 54.5 4 2 33.3 37 19 33.9
CLP 4 3 42.9 4 3 42.9
LNP 28 6 17.6 28 6 17.6
GRN 7 9 56.3 1 5 83.3 3 5 62.5 1 1 50.0 1 0.0 1 1 50.0 2 100.0 3 3 50.0 17 26 60.5
AJP 1 1 50.0 1 100.0 1 2 66.7
CA 1 100.0 0 1 100.0
DLP 1 1 0 0.0
DSP 1 0.0 1 0 0.0
JLN 2 100.0 0 2 100.0
KAP 1 0.0 3 0.0 4 0 0.0
LCV 1 1 50.0 1 1 50.0
LCWA 1 1 50.0 1 1 50.0
LD 1 0.0 1 0 0.0
PHON 1 1 50.0 2 0.0 1 100.0 1 0.0 1 100.0 4 3 42.9
SAB 1 1 50.0 1 1 50.0
SFF 2 0.0 1 0.0 3 0 0.0
UAP 1 0.0 1 0 0.0
IND 3 9 75.0 9 2 18.2 1 100.0 1 0.0 4 0.0 3 5 62.5 1 2 66.7 21 19 47.5
Total 126 101 44.5 90 45 33.3 65 62 48.8 64 29 31.2 51 44 46.3 42 27 39.1 20 20 50.0 12 13 52.0 12 12 50.0 482 353 42.3
Politics and Public Administration Section, Commonwealth Parliamentary Library.
Compiled using data from state and territory parliament and electoral commission websites.
Gender composition in Australian parliaments by party, as at 1 January 2023
Total Parliament
Cth (21.5.22) NSW (23.3.19) Vic (26.11.22) Qld (31.10.20) WA (13.3.21) SA (19.3.22) Tas (1.5.21) ACT (17.10.20) NT (22.8.20) Total
Compiled by Politics and Public Administration Section, Commonwealth Parliamentary Library. Source: data from state and territory parliament and electoral commission websites.
1. Date shown beside each jurisdiction is for the latest general election.
3. Queensland, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory have unicameral parliaments. 4. Federal parliamentarians from the LNP and CLP are listed under the Coalition party room they sit in (LIB or NATS) 5. Figures for the Victorian Legislative Assembly include one vacancy in the seat of Narracan District following the death of a candidate during the election campaign. A supplementary election will be held in Narracan District on 28 January 2023. 6. Figures for the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly include a vacancy in the Arafura electorate following the death of the sitting member on 17 December 2022.
LEGEND AJP Animal Justice Party ALP Australian Labor Party CA Centre Alliance
CLP Country Liberal Party (NT) DLP Democratic Labour Party DSP Daylight Saving Party GRN Greens
IND Independent
JLN Jacqui Lambie Network KAP Katter's Australian Party LCV Legalise Cannabis Victoria LCWA Legalise Cannabis Western Australia Party LD Liberal Democrats
LIB Liberal Party of Australia LNP Liberal National Party of Queensland NATS Nationals PHON Pauline Hanson's One Nation SAB SA-Best
SFF Shooters, Fishers and Farmers UAP United Australia Party
Composition of Parliament
2. Includes any by-election results and any casual vacancies filled since the most recent general election in each jurisdiction