Crossing The Floor Australian Parliament

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 australian parliament.

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. Only 12 per cent of divisions were affected by these floor crossings. A rebel liberal mp had no choice but to cross the floor over debate on a contentious mining bill in south australia s parliament leading to him being labelled as destructive and a bloody fool. So why did this senator cross the floor.

Senator reg wright from tasmania who served from 1950 to 1978 crossed the floor 150 times. 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. Political parties in australia expect loyalty from their parliamentary members and as a result parties usually vote as a team.

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.