Parliament of Victoria

Caulfield North

More Locations

VIC NSW OTHER CONTACTS

(03) 9527 3866

Suite 1 193 Balaclava Road, Caulfield North VIC 3161

www.parliament.vic.gov.au

Social Links

Show Map

Business Summary

The Parliament of Victoria is made up of the Crown (the Queen), the Legislative Council (Upper House) & the Legislative Assembly (Lower House).

About Us

The Parliament of Victoria is a bicameral legislature (two Houses) with representatives elected to either the Legislative Council (the Upper House) or the Legislative Assembly (the Lower House). The Assembly has 88 Members and the Council has 40 Members. The Governor of Victoria represents the Crown and is the third arm of Parliament.

Following the Westminster tradition, the party having the support of the majority of Members in the Lower House has the right to form Government. The Government is then answerable to Parliament. This is called ‘responsible government’ because the Government is responsible to Parliament and must present its policies for parliamentary scrutiny.

What We Do

The Parliamentary System

The Parliament of Victoria is made up of the Crown, the Legislative Council & the Legislative Assembly. The Crown means the Queen & in Victoria, the Queen is represented by the Governor of Victoria.

The Government is formed by the political party which holds the most number of seats in the Legislative Assembly & the leader of that party becomes the Premier of Victoria.

Parliament's Role

The parliament's role is to make laws & hold the Government to account for it's policies, actions & spending. The functions of the Parliament include:

forming a Government from among it's members
making new laws & updating old laws
representing the people
examining & approving Government taxes & spending

For more information on the services of the parliament, click here.

FAQs

How do I find which electorate I am in?

The State of Victoria is a representative democracy, meaning we elect representatives to make decisions on our behalf. Voters, once enrolled, elect representatives to each of the three levels of government: Federal, State and Local council. Use our interactive maps on our website, www.parliament.vic.gov.au/findelectorate, enter your address, suburb or postcode to find the name of your Federal , State & Local Government electorates & representatives.

How do I submit a petition?

Victorians can use petitions to raise issues & request action from Parliament. If you want to present a petition, you need to understand & follow all the necessary rules. The Legislative Assembly & the Legislative Council have different rules. You can submit an electronic petition (E-petition) using our website, www.parliament.vic.gov.au/council/petitions/electronic-petitions, or alternatively download a template from our website, www.parliament.vic.gov.au/submit-a-petition.

How do I organise a tour of Parliament House?

Parliament House is open to the public throughout the year excluding weekends & public holidays. Public tours of Parliament House are available on days when Parliament is not sitting. Public tours starts from 9.30am, 10.30am, 11.30am, 1.00pm (Express tour), 1.30pm, 2.30pm, 3.30pm & 4.00pm (Express tour) Mon-Fri from the Vestibule. Tours are limited to the first 25 people. Booking is essential for groups of 6 or more. For more information visit our website, www.parliament.vic.gov.au/visit

At A Glance

Parliament makes new laws & update old laws.

Holds the Government to account for its policies.

Parliament represents the people of Victoria.

The Governor of Victoria represents the Crown.

Parliament of Victoria is a State parliament.

Notable Achievements

99% of teachers satisfied with school group tours of Parliament.

95% of Members satisfied that advice given is responsive & clear.

100% of bills & amendments processed accurately & accordingly.