Opposition (Australia)

Australia

This article is part of a series about the Politics and government of Australia

Federal Government Executive • Queen (Elizabeth II) • Governor-General (Michael Jeffery) • Prime Minister (Kevin Rudd) • Cabinet • Federal Executive Council Legislative • Parliament    • Senate    • House of Representatives    • Opposition Leader (Brendan Nelson) • Elections    • Federal electoral system    • Electoral divisions    • Election of 1901 · 1972 · 1974 ·      1975 · 1977 · 1980 · 1983 · 1984 ·      1987 · 1990 · 1993 · 1996 · 1998 ·      2001 · 2004 · 2007 · next Judicial • High Court • Lower Courts • Constitution

State and territory governments Executive • Governors and Administrators • Premiers and Chief Ministers Legislative • Parliaments and Assemblies • State electoral systems    • ACT · NSW · NT · Qld · SA · Tas ·      Vic · WA

Local government

Major political parties Greens · Labor · Country Liberal · Family First · Liberal · National

Foreign relations

Other countries · Atlas  Politics Portal view • talk • edit

Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition, commonly known as The Opposition, in Australia fulfils the same function as the official opposition in other Commonwealth of Nations monarchies. It is seen as the alternative government and the existing administration's main opponent at a general election. By convention, the Opposition Leader comes from the House of Representatives, as does the deputy, although the Government and Opposition will also both have leaders in the Senate.

The present Opposition at a Federal level is the centre-right Coalition, which is led by Brendan Nelson of the Liberal Party.

The Opposition at the level of the States and Territories are:

• Australian Capital Territory: Liberal Party, led by Zed Seselja.
• New South Wales: Liberal/National Coalition, led by Barry O'Farrell.
• Northern Territory: Country Liberal Party, led by Terry Mills.
• Queensland: National/Liberal Coalition, led by Lawrence Springborg.
• South Australia: Liberal Party, led by Martin Hamilton-Smith.
• Tasmania: Liberal Party, led by Will Hodgman.
• Victoria: Liberal Party, led by Ted Baillieu.
• Western Australia: Liberal, led by Troy Buswell.

[edit] See also

• Shadow Cabinet (Australia)
• List of Australian Opposition Leaders