Opposition (Australia)

In Australian parliamentary practice, the Opposition or the Official Opposition consists of the second largest party or coalition of parties in the Australian House of Representatives, with its leader being given the title Leader of the Opposition. The Opposition serves the same function as the official opposition in other Commonwealth of Nations monarchies that follow the Westminster conventions and practices. It is seen as the alternative government and the existing administration's main opponent in the Australian Parliament and at a general election. By convention, the Opposition Leader in the federal Parliament comes from the House of Representatives, as does the deputy, although the Government and Opposition may also both have leaders in the Senate. The Opposition is sometimes styled as His Majesty's Loyal Opposition to show that, although the group may be against the sitting government, it remains loyal to the Crown (the embodiment of the Australian state), and thus to Australia.

The current Opposition at a federal level is the centre-right Liberal Party/National Party Coalition, led by Peter Dutton.

State and territory opposition

The opposition parties and leaders in the Australian states and territories are:

State/territory	Opposition party/coalition		Leader of the Opposition	Opposition
Australian Capital Territory		Liberal	Leanne Castley	Australian Capital Territory Opposition
New South Wales		Liberal (Coalition)	Mark Speakman	New South Wales Opposition
		National (Coalition)
Northern Territory		Labor	Selena Uibo	Northern Territory Opposition
Queensland		Labor	Steven Miles	Queensland Opposition
South Australia		Liberal	Vincent Tarzia	South Australian Opposition
Tasmania		Labor	Dean Winter	Tasmanian Opposition
Victoria		Liberal (Coalition)	Brad Battin	Victorian Opposition
		National (Coalition)
Western Australia		National	Shane Love	Western Australian Opposition
		Liberal

See also

• List of federal Opposition Leaders
• Shadow Ministry of Australia