Voting in elections is compulsory in Australia if you are an Australian citizen and over the age of 18. This means you must vote. If you do not vote, you may have to pay a fine.
In Australia, elections are fair and independent.
You should vote:
Voting in elections is a key part of being a citizen. It is an opportunity for you to have a say about who makes decisions on your behalf and to influence which party will become the next Government.
The Government makes important decisions about issues that may affect you, your family, your neighbourhood and your community. They make decisions about a range of issues including social services, healthcare, education, employment and immigration.
In Australia, there are three levels of government elected regularly: Federal, State or Territory, and Local. Each level is responsive for different issues and can make laws about them. You need to vote in elections for each level of government.
You can find out more about when, where and how to vote here.
Federal Parliament
Prime Minister
House of Representatives
Senate
In order for a law to be made, it needs to be approved by both houses.
Federal government responsibilities include: immigration, most social services, pensions, defence, foreign affairs, and trade. The Federal Government is also involved in health, education, environmental issues and industrial relations.
State or Territory Parliament
Premier or Chief Minister
Legislative Assembly or House of Assembly
Legislative Council
Most state parliaments are divided into a lower and an upper house, like the federal parliament. However, Queensland, Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory are unicameral, which means they only have one house, the Legislative Assembly.
In order to create laws regarding state issues, the law needs to be passed through both houses. Or in unicameral parliaments, laws need to be passed through the one house.
State and Territory responsibilities include: schools, hospitals, environment, roads, railways and public transport, community services, police and emergency services.
City Councils/Shire Councils
Mayor/Shire President
Councils look after the needs of a city or local community. Council representatives are called aldermen or councillors. Council meetings are usually open to the public.
Local government responsibilities include: local road maintenance, garbage collection, building regulations, public health and community facilities such as swimming pools. The ACT does not have local councils, the functions of a local council fall under the Legislative Assembly.
Before voting, you should take the time to think about what issues matter the most to you and how you can best use your vote. Make sure you know what the different political parties and independents stand for and vote for the candidates that best represent your views. You can find out more about how to decide who to vote for here.
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