The Parliament of Western Australia
in Basic English
Produced by the
Parliamentary Education Office
Parliament of Western Australia.
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Every country has its own government.
There are many ways to govern a country and make
laws.
AUSTRALIA
ENGLAND
In Australia we have a government system that is like the one in the United Kingdom.
It is called a Westminster Parliament.
In Western Australia laws are made in Parliament
House. Parliament has a special job to do.
Laws that are made in the Western Australian
Parliament are only for the people in Western
Australia. Laws should keep us safe and be fair
for everyone.
Let’s find out more about our Parliament.
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AUSTRALIA
Australia has three levels of government.
Each level of government has a different job to do.
CANBERRA
Australian Capital
Territory (ACT)
Federal or Commonwealth
Government
Western Australia (WA)
State (or territory)
Government
(there are 6 state and 2 territory
governments).
Shire of
Exmouth
Western Australia (WA)
PERTH
PERTH
Local Government
(there are 137 local government areas
in Western Australia).
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What does the Federal Government do?
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•
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Telecommunications
Postage and currency
Welfare
Airports
Defence
Tax collection
Federal Parliament meets in Canberra
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Federal Parliament
The Monarch
(Queen)
or Governor-General
(Queen’s Representative)
The Prime Minister
Head of Federal Government
The House of Representatives
The Senate
• Also called the Lower House
• Also called the Upper House
• There are 150 elected members
• Known as the “States’ House”
• The Speaker keeps control
• There are 76 elected members
• The Prime Minister is in this Chamber
• The President keeps control
• Members are elected for 3 years
• Members are elected for 6 years
• Eligible Australian citizens must vote
• Eligible Australian citizens must vote
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What are some of the things
a State Government does?
Police
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Police
Schools
Law and order
Agriculture and food
Emergency services
Hospitals
Energy
Water
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State Parliament
The Monarch (Queen)
or Governor
(Queen’s Representative)
The Premier
Head of State Government
The Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Council
• Also called the Lower House
• Also called the Upper House
• Usually green in colour – ours is blue
• Red in colour
• There are 59 members
• There are 36 members
• The Premier is in this house
• There are 6 regions around WA
each represented by 6 members
• The Speaker is in charge
• Members are elected for 4 years
• Eligible Australian citizens must vote
• The President is in charge
• Members are elected for 4 years
• Eligible Australian citizens must vote
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What are some of the things
Local Government does?
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Parks and recreation areas
Rubbish disposal
Pet registration
Swimming pools
Approvals for new homes,
sheds and pergolas
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Local Government
The Mayor or Shire President
Head of a Local Government
• Elected members of Local Government are called Councillors
• Each Local Government area has a different number of
Councillors
• Instead of electorates Councillors represent ‘Wards’ or part of
the council/city area
• Councillors are elected for 4 years
• Eligible Australians have the option to vote
• All voting is done by postal vote
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The Western Australian
Parliament – What is it?
Parliament House in Perth is where our State Parliament meets.
The Parliament is a group of elected people called Members of Parliament.
Members of Parliament usually belong to a political party. A political party is a
group of people who have ideas about the best way to govern. Each party thinks
they have the best ideas.
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The Premier is the person who leads the party that wins the most
seats (electorates) in the Lower House.
The Leader of the Opposition is the person who leads the party with second most seats
(electorates) in the Lower House.
A Parliament is a group of people who meet together. They have special jobs to do.
Members of Parliament make laws.
Laws are rules for everyone in Western Australia.
Members of Parliament tell the Government what people in
their area (electorate) are thinking about important issues.
Members of Parliament meet with people from their
electorate.
Members of Parliament connect people with services
that can help them.
Members of Parliament tell the Government about things
that are a problem in their area.
Members of Parliament have a say in how the Government
spends money.
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Voting
A person becomes a Member of Parliament by being voted for, or chosen,
at an election.
State elections are held every four years. To win, or become the
Member of Parliament, a person needs more votes than anyone else in their
area (electorate).
In Western Australia voting is compulsory. This means everyone who can
vote must go to vote.
Since 1984, you must vote if you are
•
an Australian citizen
•
over 18 years of age
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How the Western Australian
Parliament Works
Australia belongs to the Commonwealth of Nations.
This means the Queen of the British Commonwealth is our
Queen. Queen Elizabeth II is the head of our Parliament.
The Governor does the work of the Queen in Western Australia.
The Governor lives in Government House.
Government House is in St Georges Terrace.
Government House, Perth
Our Parliament is called a Westminster Parliament.
It is based on the British Parliament.
Houses of Parliament, London
The Western Australian Parliament has two special rooms, called
Chambers, where members meet. These two Chambers are the
Legislative Council (Upper House) and the Legislative
Assembly (Lower House).
Parliament of Western Australia
Chambers
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Making a Law in
Western Australia
Stage 1
A new law starts as an idea (an idea is called a Bill when
it is introduced into a Parliament with the hope
that it becomes
a
)
law .
EDUC
AT
Amen ION
dmen
BILL 20 t
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When this idea is talked about in Parliament it is called a Bill.
In the Lower House the Bill gets talked about,or debated
(most Bills start in the Lower House).
Members from the Government and Opposition get a
chance to say what they think about the Bill.
When the debate has finished there is a vote.
If most members say yes, or agree, the Bill now goes to the
Upper House. Members of the Upper House are a different
group of people who are also elected.
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Making a Law in
Western Australia
Stage 2
EDUC
AT
Amen ION
dmen
BILL 20 t
17
The Bill is read out in the Upper House.
The members of the Upper House now debate the Bill.
After the debate is finished there is a vote.
If most members vote yes the bill is almost a law. ALMOST.
Stage 3
Now the Bill goes to the Governor.
(Remember, the Governor does the Queen’s work
in Western Australia.)
Government House, Perth
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Making a Law in
Western Australia
The Governor signs the Bill. It is called Royal Assent.
EDUC
AT
This is giving the Royal ‘Yes’ to this new law.
Amen ION
dmen
BILL 20 t
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Assented
The
Bill now becomes a law for all Western Australians.
to
Not all laws are this easy to make.
Sometimes not all the members agree.
Parliament has ways to work out these differences.
Students from Cyril Jackson SHS on tour at the Parliament of Western Australia
The goal is to make good laws for all Western Australians.
Good laws are safe and fair for everyone.
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Come for a Tour of Parliament
House if you would like to
find out more.
Contact the Parliamentary Education Office on 9222 7259 or access the
Parliament of Western Australia website www.parliament.wa.gov.au
(Education tab) to make a booking online.
Produced by the
Parliamentary Education Office
Parliament of Western Australia
(08) 9222 7259
[email protected]
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