House and Senate in Commonwealth.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 302, 21 December 1931, Page 6

House and Senate in Commonwealth.

Dual Systems.

Individuals and States are Both Represented. (United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph —Copyright.) SYDNEY, December 20. 'jpHE Federal electoral system has a dual basis, the two houses being selected by differing means. The Senate is designed to represent the States as equal partners of the Commonwealth, and the House of Representatives represents the individual electors. For both Houses preferential ’voting is used. The House of Representatives is based on the principle of equality of electors, members being allotted to each State in proportion to its population. The quota (number of electors whom each member should, approximately, represent) is obtained by dividing the total population of the Commonwealth by twice the number of members of the Senate. This itself is divided into the State population to ascertain the number of representatives for the respective States. Nevertheless, as no State must be represented by fewer than five members, and Western Australia would by mathematical calculation be entitled to only four and Tasmania three, the total strength of the House is seventy-five, or somewhat more than twice the strength of the Senate. The Senate. The Federal Senate is nominally the States’ House, in that the principle of the equality of the six States is recognised in the election of members. Each State, irrespective of its population, elects six representatives, the object being to guard the interests of the smaller States. The thirtysix members are elected for a term of six years, one half of their number retiring every three years—an attempt to secure continuity of policy and provide against sudden radical changes. For elections to the Senate each State forms a single constituency. The latest available figures show that the state of parties in the Senate is as follows, Lab. indicating Labour; Nat., Nationalists; C.P., Country Party; and Ind., Independents:—

Voting as well as enrolment is compulsory in Australian Federal elections. Failure to vote is almost certain to lead to a “ please explain” communication, and absence of a good explanation means a fine. Voting in the Commonwealth is on the preferential system, which does away with split vote victories. A vote is informal unless the order of preference is marked against the name of every candidate for the constituency or Senate. As every elector has to vote for the Senate as well as the House of Representatives, the votes of the minority in safe Labour or anti-Labour Lower House constituencies are important. Hotels throughout the Commonwealth are not allowed to open on Federal election day.

New South Wales . Lab. 3 Nat. 1 C.P. 0 Ind 2 Victoria 1 4 1 0 Queensland 0 5 1 0 South Australia ... 3 2 1 0 Western Australia . 0 5 1 0 Tasmania 0 6 0 0 7 23 Compulsory Voting. 4 2