Seating Plan House Of Representatives Chamber Forty Fourth Parliament

Seating Plan of the House of Representatives Chamber: Forty-Fourth Parliament

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Introduction

The House of Representatives Chamber is the primary venue where members of the Australian House of Representatives, the lower house of the Parliament of Australia, meet to debate and vote on legislation and other matters of national importance. The chamber has a seating plan that is designed to facilitate the efficient conduct of business and to reflect the political composition of the House. ###

Layout of the Chamber

The House of Representatives Chamber is a large, rectangular room with a raised platform at one end. The Speaker of the House presides over proceedings from the Speaker's Chair, which is located in the center of the platform. The table of the House, where members of parliament sit to speak and debate, is situated in front of the Speaker's Chair. The chamber is divided into two halves by a central aisle. The government benches are located to the Speaker's right, while the opposition benches are located to the Speaker's left. The independent members of parliament sit on crossbenches, which are located in front of the government and opposition benches. ###

Seating Arrangements

The seating arrangements in the House of Representatives Chamber are determined by the results of the most recent federal election. The government party or coalition is allocated the seats to the Speaker's right, while the opposition party or coalition is allocated the seats to the Speaker's left. The independent members of parliament are allocated the crossbenches. Within each block of seats, members of parliament are typically seated according to their seniority. The most senior members of the government and opposition parties sit closest to the Speaker, while the less senior members sit further away. This arrangement is designed to ensure that experienced members of parliament have the opportunity to speak and participate in debates more frequently. ###

Number of Seats

The number of seats in the House of Representatives Chamber has varied over time. The current number of seats is 151. This number was set by the Commonwealth Electoral Amendment Act 1983, which increased the size of the House from 125 to 150. The additional seat was created to accommodate the growing population of Australia. ###

Changes to the Seating Plan

The seating plan of the House of Representatives Chamber is not fixed. It can be changed at any time by a resolution of the House. This can occur, for example, when there is a change of government or when the composition of the House changes due to a by-election. ###

Conclusion

The seating plan of the House of Representatives Chamber is a reflection of the political composition of the House and is designed to facilitate the efficient conduct of business. The arrangement of seats is determined by the results of the most recent federal election and can be changed at any time by a resolution of the House.