Division
A formal vote in Parliament. When a 'division' is called, the bells ring and MPs physically walk to either the right side (Ayes/Yes) or left side (Noes/No) of the room to be counted.
Education
Voter's Glossary
Australian politics is full of weird terms. Here is what they actually mean in plain English.
Cross-bench
Independent politicians or members of minor parties who don't belong to the Government (Labor) or the Opposition (Coalition). They sit on the 'benches' that 'cross' the floor.
Party-line
When a politician votes exactly how their party leader tells them to. A high 'party-line rate' means they almost never disagree with their party's official stance.
Electorate
The specific geographic area (often called a 'seat') that an MP represents. There are 151 electorates in Australia, each with roughly the same number of voters.
Financial Year (FY)
In Australia, the period from July 1st of one year to June 30th of the next. Most political donation records are reported once a year based on this period.
Remuneration Tribunal
An independent body that decides how much politicians and other high-level officials should be paid, so they don't have to vote on their own pay rises.
AEC
The Australian Electoral Commission. They run the elections and keep track of who is donating money to which parties.
Lobbyist
A professional hired to influence government decisions. Important: The official Federal Register only tracks 'third-party' firms. It is estimated that 80% of lobbying is done by 'in-house' teams (like those working directly for big banks or mining companies) who do not have to register.
Register of Lobbyists
An official list managed by the Attorney-General's Department that shows which firms are lobbying the government and which clients they represent.
Public Integrity
The alignment of public institutions with the broader public interest, ensuring they remain free from undue influence and corruption.
Hansard
The official word-for-word transcript of everything said during a session of Parliament.