Political

House of Assembly

Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Leon Bignell MP
Image Credit: Hon Leon Bignell MP

Speaker

The Speaker is elected by Members to preside over meetings of the House and to uphold the Standing Orders (the rules of the House of Assembly).

Premier of South Australia, Hon. Peter Malinauskas MP
Image Credit: Department of Premier and Cabinet

Premier

The Premier is the leader of the Government in South Australia, chosen by the party with the majority of seats in the House of Assembly.

SA ‘s Minsters – 2024
Image Credit: Facebook – Peter Malinauskas

Ministers

Ministers are chosen by the Premier and party in Government to administer portfolios such as health, education or treasury.

The Government seated on their side of the chamber
Image Credit: NCA Newswire/Brenton Edwards

Government

The Government sits to the right of the Speaker. The Government is the political party with the majority of the seats in the House of Assembly.

Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Vincent Tarzia MP
Image Credit: ABC News/Che Chorley

Leader of the Opposition

The Leader of the Opposition is the leader of the second largest party in the House of Assembly. The Leader of the Opposition and their party are the “alternative Government” and play an important role in keeping the Government accountable to the House.

Shadow Ministers – August, 2024
Image Credit: Facebook/Nicola Centofanti MLC

Shadow Ministers

Shadow Ministers “shadow” Government Ministers and are the Opposition spokespeople for different portfolios. Shadow Ministers sit along the frontbench on the Opposition side and they, along with other Members, are responsible for holding Ministers to account.

The Opposition seated on their side of the chamber
Image Credit: NCA Newswire/Brenton Edwards

Opposition

The Opposition sits to the left of the Speaker. The Opposition is the second largest party in the House of Assembly.

Government Whip Lee Odenwalder MP and Opposition Whip Hon. David Pisoni MP
Image Credit: Parliament of South Australia

Whips

The Government Whip is a Member chosen by the party in Government to coordinate Government business. The Leader of Government Business (a Minister) sets the agenda (what Bills are debated when) and the Whip (a backbencher) is responsible for implementing it. They make sure people are in the Chamber for important votes or activities.

The Opposition Whip is a Member chosen by the party in opposition to coordinate Opposition business. They make sure people are in the Chamber for important votes or activities.

Looking into the Government frontbench and backbench
Image Credit: Parliament of South Australia

Backbenchers

Backbenchers are Members that work for their constituents and political parties. They do not have a ministerial or shadow portfolio.

The curved crossbenches
Image Credit: Parliament of South Australia

Crossbench

Members on the crossbench do not belong to the two major parties. They belong to minor parties or are independent. They can vote the way they like depending on the issue.

Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Tony Piccolo MP
Image Credit: Parliament of South Australia

Chairman of the Committee

The Chairman presiders when the House is in the Committee stage of a Bill. Based on UK traditions, the Speaker leaves the chair when a Bill is being amended by the House, and the Chairman of the Committee takes over.

Legislative Council

President of the Legislative Council, Hon. Terry Stephens MLC
Image Credit: In Daily/Tony Lewis

President

The President is elected by Members to preside over meetings of the Legislative Council and to uphold the Standing Orders (the rules of the Legislative Council).

Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, Hon. Kyam Maher MLC
Image Credit: Parliament of South Australia

Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council

This position is the leader of the party in Government for the Legislative Council. The Premier is always in the lower house – the House of Assembly. The Government is determined by the majority party in the House of Assembly.

Hon. Kyam Maher MLC, Hon. Clare Scriven MLC – Ministers in the Legislative Council
Image Credit: Parliament of South Australia

Ministers

Ministers are chosen by the Premier and party in Government to administer portfolios such as health, education or treasury.

The Government seated on their side of the chamber
Image Credit: Parliament of South Australia

Government

The Government sits to the right of the President. The Government is the political party with the majority of the seats in the House of Assembly.

Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Hon. Nicola Centofanti MLC
Image Credit: Parliament of South Australia

Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council

This position is the leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council. The formal Leader of the Opposition is always in the lower house – the House of Assembly. The Opposition is determined by the second largest party in the House of Assembly.

Shadow Ministers in the Legislative Council
Image Credit: Parliament of South Australia

Shadow Ministers

Shadow Ministers “shadow” Government Ministers and are the Opposition spokespeople for different portfolios. Shadow Ministers sit along the frontbench on the Opposition side and they, along with other Members, are responsible for holding Ministers to account.

The Opposition seated on their side of the chamber
Image Credit: Parliament of South Australia

Opposition

The Opposition sits to the left of the President. The Opposition is the second largest party in the House of Assembly.

Government Whip Hon. Ian Hunter MLC and Opposition Whip Hon. Laura Henderson MLC
Image Credit: Parliament of South Australia

Whips

The Government Whip is a Member chosen by the party in government to coordinate Government business. The Leader of Government Business (a Minister) sets the agenda (what Bills are debated when) and the Whip (a backbencher) is responsible for implementing it. They make sure people are in the Chamber for important votes or activities.

The Opposition Whip is a Member chosen by the party in opposition to coordinate Opposition business. They make sure people are in the Chamber for important votes or activities.

View of the Opposition backbench
Image Credit: Parliament of South Australia

Backbenchers

Backbenchers are Members that work for their constituents and political parties. They do not have a ministerial or shadow portfolio.

The curved crossbenches
Image Credit: Parliament of South Australia

Crossbench

Members on the crossbench do not belong to the two major parties. They belong to minor parties or are independent. They can vote the way they like depending on the issue.

Non-Political

House of Assembly Staff

Clerk of the House of Assembly
Image Credit: Parliament of South Australia / Photo Jo

Clerk

An expert on the rules of the House of Assembly (the Standing Orders), the Clerk provides advice to the Speaker and Members.

Deputy Clerk of the House of Assembly
Image Credit: Parliament of South Australia / Photo Jo

Deputy Clerk

The Deputy Clerk assists the Speaker and Members with procedural advice.

Serjeant-at-Arms of the House of Assembly
Image Credit: Parliament of South Australia / Photo Jo

Serjeant-at-Arms

The Serjeant-at-Arms assists the Speaker and Members with procedural advice. The Serjeant-at-Arms has a ceremonial role and carries in the Mace at the start of the sitting day.

Legislative Council Staff

Clerk of the Legislative Council talking to the President
Image Credit: Parliament of South Australia

Clerk

An expert on the rules of the Legislative Council (the Standing Orders), the Clerk provides advice to the President and Members.

Usher of the Black Rod knocking on the door of the House of Assembly during the opening of Parliament
Image Credit: Parliament of South Australia

Deputy Clerk / Usher of the Black Rod

Also an expert on the rules of the Legislative Council (the Standing Orders), the Deputy Clerk provides advice to the President and Members.

The Deputy Clerk in the Legislative Council is also the Usher of the Black Rod. The Usher of the Black Rod was appointed to serve the Monarch in the British House of Lords and was originally an officer of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, a British order of Knighthood.

Both Houses

Hansard reporters in the Hansard gallery
Image Credit: Parliament of South Australia / Photo Jo

Hansard

Hansard is the name of the official reports of the debates of Parliament, and the name of the division responsible for collating them. Hansard capture everything that has been said in Parliament. You can find Hansard reports here.

Legislation folders
Image Credit: Parliament of South Australia

Office of Parliamentary Counsel

The Office of Parliamentary Counsel are specialist lawyers who draft legislation. They are on standby for when Bills are progressed in the Chamber.