Opposition

• The Opposition in the Australian Federal Parliament

  The political party or coalition of political parties that have the second largest number of seats in the lower house of parliament
• Opposition


  Exists due to convention
• Current Opposition


  Liberal Party since 2022
• Leader of the Opposition

  Currently Peter Dutton (since post 2022 election)
• The Leader of the Opposition has more LoOps (Leaders of the Opposition) than PMs
• Prime Ministers and Leaders of the Opposition

  • 2022+ Albanese / Dutton
  • 2018-2022 Morrison / Dutton
  • 2015-2018 Turnbull / Albanese
  • 2013-2015 Abbott / Shorten
  • 2009-2013 Rudd, Gillard / Abbott
  • 2007-2008 Rudd / Turnbull, Nelson
  • 1996-2007 Howard / Beazley, Rudd, Latham, Crean
  • 1991-1996 Keating / Howard
• The Opposition includes

  • Shadow Ministry
  • Backbenchers
• Shadow Ministry (as of 5 March 2024)

  • Sussan Ley MP - Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Shadow Minister for Women / Industry, Skills & Training / Small and Family Business
  • Senator Simon Birmingham - Led' Op' in Senate / Foreign Affairs
  • Senator Michaelia Cash - Attorney General
  • Andrew Hastie - Shadow Minister for Defence
  • Angush Taylor MP - Treasurer
• Backbenchers


  Opposition members who do not have Shadow Ministry positions
• No specific powers are conferred on the opposition through constitution or convention
• The opposition are empowered through the constitutional and conventional powers of the parliament (and houses of parliament)
• Powers/Methods/Strategies of the Opposition

  • Question Time
  • Matters of Public Importance
  • Motions of censure
  • Motions of no confidence
  • Quorum
  • Divisions
  • Minority (or dissenting) reports in Committees
  • Introduce Private Members Bill(s) on behalf of opposition
  • Moving amendments
  • Blocking or deferring legislations in Senate in their own right or with crossbenchers
  • Negotiate with the Senate "balance of power" holders - other minor parties/independents
• The role of the opposition is to be an alternative government, formulate alternative policies, scrutinise government policy/legislation and government (in)action, and train future ministers and leaders
• The opposition can influence the lawmaking process, the scrutiny process of the government, and other functions of parliament