Crossing The Floor Australian Parliament

This has led to speculation that members of the coalition might cross the floor over issues including industrial relations and voluntary student unionism.

Crossing the floor australian parliament.

Senator reg wright from tasmania who served from 1950 to 1978 crossed the floor 150 times. The australian senate like other parliaments based on the westminster system uses a divided chamber in politics a politician is said to cross the floor if they change their party allegiance. Crossing the floor may mean changing to a second party after being elected as a member of a first party or voting against the approved party lines. Political parties in australia expect loyalty from their parliamentary members and as a result parties usually vote as a team.

Only 12 per cent of divisions were affected by these floor crossings. From 1950 to 2004 245 members of parliament crossed the floor representing 24 per cent of all members of parliament who served in this period. Crossing the floor is rare. Crossing the floor the act of a member of parliament who refuses to vote with his or her own party in a particular division and crosses the floor of the parliamentary chamber to join the political opponents and vote with them.

Such actions are rare in australia due to the strong party discipline exercised on members of parliament.