Political Parties
Year 9 CIVICS 1
NAME:
Our TASK is to investigate the role of political parties, and independent
representatives in Australia's system of government (Federal Government), including the
formation of governments. We will identify similarities and differences between the two major
political parties focusing on beliefs and policies.
Activity 1a: Australia is considered a Liberal Democracy because we value people’s freedom.
For example, freedom of speech is one such value. What other freedoms does Australia have?
(Thinking Question: Can you think of any limits to these freedoms?)
What is a Liberal
Democracy?
Activity 1b: Australia is also a Representative Democracy! What is a Representative
Democracy? Mind Map time!
WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tkrJ3Tj8Ho&ab_channel=ABCNewsIn-depth
What is a Representative
Democracy?
Activity 2: Read and highlight key points about the Roles of the House of Representatives
(Lower House) and the Senate (Upper House). In boxes below, create a Venn Diagram about the
similarities and differences between the two (2) houses of representative democracy.
The Senate
Main Similarities
Main differences
(Similarities)
Activity 3: Research how many Members of Parliament there are and how many belong to
each of the main parties.
Go to: https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Members
Click “All Members”
Labor Members:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________
______________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________
Total Members of Parliament:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_________
______________________________________
Independent Members:
__
______________________________________
______________________________________
__________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
_________
______________________________________
Coalition Members:
Greens Members:
______________________________________
______________________________________
__________________________
__________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
_________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
Activity 4: Using the Resource Sheet 1, summarise the following terms.
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
_________
_________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Define:
Political Party
Define: Minor Party
________________________________________
________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
_
____________________
Define: Prime Minister
Define: Coalition
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
__
___
Define: Independents
Define: Opposition
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
Activity 5: Using the resource sheet 1, identify & explain the roles of key members in Australia’s
House of Representatives. Annotate the diagram below with where the person sits (with a straight ruled line)
and what they are responsible for.
https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/House_of_Representatives/House_of_Representatives_Seating_Plan
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________
Activity 6: STOP! What is the difference between Parliament & Government? Go to:
https://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/WebCMS/Multimedia.nsf/MultimediaShow
and click on ‘Difference between parliament and Government’.
Please note this video explains State Parliament and State Government
in Western Australia. The same applies to Federal Parliament and Federal
Government (the responsibilities of Federal Government are different).
Parliament
Composition of Parliament:
Government
Government is formed by…
Main roles of Parliament
Responsibilities of Government
Activity 7: You will be randomly allocated to a group of 4. The group will be divided into pairs and each pair will be allocated either ALP Beliefs
OR Liberal Party Beliefs. Your task is to:
(a)
(b)
work cooperatively with your partner to identify the main ‘beliefs’ of your allocated political party. You will share your investigation results.
Once sharing has taken place, collectively your group will identify the main similarities and differences between each party.
Main Similarities
Main differences
RESOURCE SHEET 1:
a. Cut & Paste the Minsters into their cabinet
b. Write their portfolio in the lines
c. Search the roles of the ministers below
RESOURCE SHEET 1:
Using https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members
Richard Marles
Jim Chalmers
Prime Minister
Opposition
The Prime Minister is the leader of
the Australian Government. The
Prime Minister is a member of
the House of Representatives and
leads the parliamentary party,
or coalition of parties, with the
support of the majority of members
in the House.
The opposition is formed by the largest
party or coalition of parties that does
not have the support of the majority of
members in the House of
Representatives. The opposition is
sometimes called the alternative
government because it could form
government if it was to win the
support of the majority of members.
The Prime Minister is chosen by a
vote of the members of
the government.
Anthony
Albanese
Coalition
Sussan Ley
Peter Dutton
David
Littleproud
A coalition is formed when 2 or
more political parties combine. In
any parliament, parties may form a
coalition to create a bigger group
and gain more power.
In the Australian Parliament, parties
that form a coalition sit next to each
other and generally vote the same
way, although they may have
different ideas on particular bills.
Minor Parties
Angus Taylor
Mark Dreyfus
Zali Steggall
Minor parties only have a small
number of members elected to
Parliament. They may form part of
the government or
the opposition through a coalition or
agreement with another party. If this
is not the case, they sit with
the independents on the seats that
curve around at the end of the
Senate and House. These seats are
often called the crossbenches.
Independents
An independent is a member of the
Australian Parliament who does not
belong to a political party. This fact
sheet explores their role, how they
can vote in the Parliament and
where they sit.
Political Party
A political party is an organisation
that represents a particular group of
people or set of ideas. It aims to
have members elected to
Parliament so their ideas can affect
the way Australia is governed.
Examples of political parties include,
Labor, Liberal, Nationals, One Nation,
the Katter Party.
RESOURCE SHEET 2: ALP Beliefs
RESOURCE SHEET 2: Liberal Party Beliefs
We Believe:
1. Redistribution of political and economic power so that all members of society have the opportunity
to participate in the shaping and control of the institutions which determine their lives.
In the inalienable (absolute) rights and freedoms of all peoples; and we work towards a
2. Maintenance of and support for a competitive non monopolistic private sector (i.e. one company
controlling sale of goods and services), including small business and farming, controlled and owned
by Australians, operating within clear social guidelines and objectives.
lean (small) government that minimises interference in our daily lives; and maximises
3. The right to own private property.
In government that nurtures and encourages its citizens through incentive, rather than
4. The abolition of poverty, and the achievement of greater equality in the distribution of income,
wealth and opportunity.
individual and private sector initiative
putting limits on people through the punishing disincentives of burdensome taxes and the
stifling structures of Labor's corporate state and bureaucratic red tape.
5. Social justice and equality for individuals
In those most basic freedoms of parliamentary democracy - the freedom of thought,
6. Equal access and rights to employment, education, information, technology, housing
7. Recognition and protection of fundamental political and civil rights, including freedom of expression,
the press, assembly, association, conscience and religion; the right to privacy; the protection of the
individual from oppression by the State
8. Elimination of discrimination and exploitation on the grounds of class, race, sex, sexuality, religion,
political affiliation, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, regional location, or economic or
household status.
worship, speech and association.
In a just and humane society in which the importance of the family and the role of law and
justice is maintained.
In equal opportunity for all Australians; and the encouragement and facilitation of wealth
so that all may enjoy the highest possible standards of living, health, education and social
9. Recognition of the prior ownership of Australian land by Aborigines and Islanders, recognition of
their special and essential relationship with the land as the basis of their culture, and a commitment to
the return of established traditional lands to the ownership of Aboriginal and Islander communities.
10. Recognition and encouragement of diversity of cultural expression and lifestyle within the
Australian community.
11. The proper management of Australian resources and protection of the environment, whether
created by people or nature, to safeguard the rights of present and future generations.
12. Maintenance of world peace; an independent Australian position in world affairs; the recognition of
the right of all nations to self-determination and independence; regional and international agreement
for arms control and disarmament; the provision of economic and social aid to developing nations; a
commitment to resolve international conflicts through the United Nations; and a recognition of the
inalienable right of all people to liberty, equality, democracy and social justice.
justice.
That, wherever possible, government should not compete with an efficient private sector;
and that businesses and individuals - not government - are the true creators of wealth and
employment.
In preserving Australia's natural beauty and the environment for future generations.
That our nation has a constructive role to play in maintaining world peace and democracy
through alliance with other free nations.
In short, we simply believe in individual freedom and free enterprise
Reminder! A Group requires:
1. Positive Interdependence: this means your group
needs you! They can’t be successful without your
input!
Team flag! - What’s your goal?
2. Individual Accountability: this means you need to
complete your allocated task as your group is
relying on you!
3. Face-to-face interaction: you need to form a
group where you are all in close proximity with each
other.
4. Social Skills: for your group to work effectively and
successfully you need to take turns, encourage
others, listen and offer help!
5. Processing: collectively, assess your
collaborative efforts - did you all achieve the goal?