Leader of the House (Australia)
Encyclopedia
The office of Leader of the House in the House of Representatives
of the Parliament of Australia
exists in order for the management of government
business, involving such matters as the following:
As the Parliament is bicameral, the Leader of the House must also be aware of developments in the Senate
, for example, in order to anticipate whether a bill may be returned to the House with amendments.
Although the work of the Leader is always in a parliamentary context, the office is not in the control of the House of Representatives in the way that the Speaker
is, for example. The Leader of the House is appointed by the Prime Minister
and it is always an additional office held by a Minister, never by a backbencher
.
The office was instituted in 1951 by Robert Menzies
. The inaugural Leader was Eric Harrison
. The current Leader is Anthony Albanese
.
Due to the greater demands placed on the office, the Leader of the House is paid more than a regular Member of Parliament.
There is an equivalent office in the upper house: the Manager of Government Business in the Senate.
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
of the Parliament of Australia
Parliament of Australia
The Parliament of Australia, also known as the Commonwealth Parliament or Federal Parliament, is the legislative branch of the government of Australia. It is bicameral, largely modelled in the Westminster tradition, but with some influences from the United States Congress...
exists in order for the management of government
Government of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a federal constitutional monarchy under a parliamentary democracy. The Commonwealth of Australia was formed in 1901 as a result of an agreement among six self-governing British colonies, which became the six states...
business, involving such matters as the following:
- the order in which Government issues are to be dealt with
- tactical matters in reaction to impediments to such management
- negotiation with the Opposition's counterpart (the Manager of Opposition BusinessManager of Opposition Business in the House (Australia)The Manager of Opposition Business in the House is the member of the Australian Official Opposition Shadow Minister responsible for negotiating with the Leader of the House regarding the proceedings House of Representatives, including the following:...
) about the order in which bills are to be debated, and - time allotted for debate.
As the Parliament is bicameral, the Leader of the House must also be aware of developments in the Senate
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
, for example, in order to anticipate whether a bill may be returned to the House with amendments.
Although the work of the Leader is always in a parliamentary context, the office is not in the control of the House of Representatives in the way that the Speaker
Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives
The Speaker of the House of Representatives is the presiding officer of the House of Representatives, the lower house of the Parliament of Australia. The presiding officer in the upper house is the President of the Senate....
is, for example. The Leader of the House is appointed by the Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Australia
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
and it is always an additional office held by a Minister, never by a backbencher
Backbencher
In Westminster parliamentary systems, a backbencher is a Member of Parliament or a legislator who does not hold governmental office and is not a Front Bench spokesperson in the Opposition...
.
The office was instituted in 1951 by Robert Menzies
Robert Menzies
Sir Robert Gordon Menzies, , Australian politician, was the 12th and longest-serving Prime Minister of Australia....
. The inaugural Leader was Eric Harrison
Eric Harrison
Sir Eric John Harrison KCMG KCVO was an Australian politician who became the first Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party of Australia....
. The current Leader is Anthony Albanese
Anthony Albanese
Anthony Norman Albanese , Australian politician, who serves as Leader of the House of Representatives and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport in the Gillard Ministry...
.
Due to the greater demands placed on the office, the Leader of the House is paid more than a regular Member of Parliament.
There is an equivalent office in the upper house: the Manager of Government Business in the Senate.