by Nick Manning
Which party is the government?
The government is the party, or coalition (group) of parties, that has the support of a majority of members of the lower house - usually the largest party in the lower house.
If the largest party has a majority (more than half the seats) in the lower house, then that party forms a government. This is called a majority government.
If no party (or coalition) has a majority, then usually the largest party, or the largest two parties, will try to get the support of minor party members and/or independents. The party which has enough support to be able to get its laws passed by a majority of the lower house, forms a government. This is called a minority government, as the governing party comprises only a minority of members of the lower house.
Since the Second World War governments in NSW and the Australian Government have been formed by either of the two main political groups: the Australian Labor Party or the coalition of Liberal and National parties. Usually, but not always, these have been majority governments.
What is the opposition?
The Opposition is the party or group of parties with the second largest number of seats in the lower house. They criticise government policies and actions, and propose their own policies, to encourage people to vote for them at the next election.
Is there anyone else?
There are also usually some members of Parliament who are not part of either the government or the opposition. They belong to minor (smaller) parties, or they are independents, people who do not belong to any political party.
Because they sit on the cross benches, the seats between the government seats and the opposition seats, in the parliament, they are sometimes called cross-benchers.
Cross-benchers may vote with either the government or the opposition on any particular vote. Sometimes the government and the opposition vote the same way and some of the cross-benchers vote the other way.
In recent years the cross-benchers in the NSW and Australian parliaments included Australian Democrats, Greens, Family First, One Nation, other parties and independents.
Published: 2006
