Name two major political parties in Australian federal government.
Answer
The Australian Labor Party and the Liberal Party of Australia (or National Party)
Explanation
Two major political parties dominate Australian federal government: the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and the Liberal Party of Australia. The Liberal Party typically forms a Coalition with the National Party of Australia at the federal level, with the Coalition treated as a single unit for the purposes of forming government. Together, the ALP, the Liberal Party, and the National Party have provided every Australian Prime Minister since 1944.
The Australian Labor Party was founded in 1891 in the aftermath of the 1890 Maritime Strike and the 1891 Shearers' Strike, making it one of the world's oldest continuously operating social democratic parties. Labor traditionally represents working-class interests, the trade union movement, and a generally progressive policy agenda. Labor has held government federally under Prime Ministers Bob Hawke (1983 to 1991), Paul Keating (1991 to 1996), Kevin Rudd (2007 to 2010 and 2013), Julia Gillard (2010 to 2013), and Anthony Albanese (from May 2022). The current Albanese government was re-elected in 2025 with a majority in the House of Representatives.
The Liberal Party of Australia was founded in 1944 by Robert Menzies, succeeding earlier non-Labor parties including the United Australia Party. The Liberal Party broadly represents business interests, individual freedom, and a generally conservative policy agenda, although it spans a range of views from classical liberal to social conservative. Liberal Prime Ministers have included Menzies (1949 to 1966), Malcolm Fraser (1975 to 1983), John Howard (1996 to 2007), Tony Abbott (2013 to 2015), Malcolm Turnbull (2015 to 2018), and Scott Morrison (2018 to 2022).
Several other parties operate at federal level. The National Party of Australia represents rural and regional interests and has been in Coalition with the Liberals federally since 1922. The Australian Greens, founded in 1992, represent environmental and progressive interests and hold the balance of power in the Senate. The Pauline Hanson's One Nation party, the Lambie Network, the United Australia Party, and various Centre Alliance and independent MPs hold smaller numbers of seats. The 2022 election produced six 'teal' independents in the House of Representatives, campaigning on climate, integrity, and gender equity.
Why this matters for your test
Knowing Labor and the Liberal-National Coalition as the two major federal political parties is essential background for engaging with Australian politics, and recognising the smaller parties helps new citizens understand the diversity in the Senate.
Source: Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond (2024)
