Opposition (Australia)

In Australian parliamentary practice, the Opposition or Official Opposition is usually the official title 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 Her 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-left Australian Labor Party, led by Anthony Albanese, Shadow Cabinet of Australia.

State and territory opposition

The Opposition parties and leaders of Australian States and Territories are:

State/territory	Opposition party/coalition		Leader of the Opposition	Shadow cabinet
Australian Capital Territory		Liberal Party	Elizabeth Lee	Australian Capital Territory Shadow Cabinet
New South Wales		Labor Party	Jodi McKay	New South Wales Shadow Cabinet
Northern Territory		Country Liberal Party	Lia Finocchiaro	Northern Territory Shadow Cabinet
Queensland		Liberal National Party	David Crisafulli	Queensland Shadow Cabinet
South Australia		Labor Party	Peter Malinauskas	South Australia Shadow Cabinet
Tasmania		Labor Party	Rebecca White	Tasmania Shadow Cabinet
Victoria		Liberal Party (coalition)	Michael O'Brien	Victoria Shadow Cabinet
		National Party (coalition)
Western Australia		Liberal Party	Zak Kirkup	Western Australia Shadow Cabinet

See also

• List of federal Opposition Leaders
• Shadow Ministry of Australia