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The Senate was originally constituted with the aim of protecting the rights and interests of the states. Today, its main function has become generally that of a house of review.

Since 1984 each state has been represented by 12 senators. In addition, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory have been represented by 2 senators each since the election of 13 December 1975.

SENATORS' TERMS

Each senator’s term is normally six years, with half the Senate seats coming up for election every three years. However, in the case of a double dissolution of both Houses, half the senators are elected for a six-year term (the first six elected in each state) and half for a three-year term.

Detailed information about Tasmania senators and senators for other states and territories can be found on the Parliament of Australia web site, http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/senators/index.htm


SENATE ELECTIONS

In Senate elections each state is an electorate. Electors are required to cast a vote for every candidate standing within the state in order of their preference or for a party or group. Election of members is carried out in accordance with the principles of proportional representation by the single transferable vote.

SENATE ELECTIONS, Tasmania(a) - October 2004
	Votes		Swing(b)	Quota(c)
Group	no.	%	%
Liberal Party	146,532	46.1	+7.3	3.2
Australian Labor Party	106,531	33.5	-3.3	2.3
Australian Greens	42,214	13.3	-0.5	0.9
Australian Democrats	2,614	0.8	-3.8	0.1
Christian Democrat Party (Fred Nile Group)	2,076	0.6	+0.6	0.0
Citizens Electoral Council	508	0.2	+0.2	0.0
Family First	7,563	2.4	+2.4	0.2
Other	9,629	3.0	-2.9	0.2
Formal vote	317,667	96.6	-0.1	. .
Informal vote	11,091	3.4	+0.1	. .
Total votes recorded	328,758	95.9		. .
. . not applicable (a) State first preferences. (b) The difference between the performance of a candidate or party at election in comparison with the previous election. (c) The number of votes needed by a candidate or party to be elected. Candidates for the Senate are elected using a proportional representation system. Source: Australian Electoral Commission. More information about elections in Australia can be found on the Australian Electoral Commission web site, http://www.aec.gov.au SENATE VACANCIES If a vacancy occurs in the Senate, the appropriate state government, usually by a joint sitting of parliament, nominates a replacement of the same political affiliation, who sits for the remainder of the term. Further information about the Senate is available on the Parliament of Australia web site, http://www.aph.gov.au/senate,