What is a backbencher in Parliament?

A backbencher in the Australian Parliament is a member of Parliament (in either House) who is not a minister, shadow minister, or presiding officer. The name comes from the seating arrangement: ministers and shadow ministers sit on the front benches of the House and Senate, while backbenchers sit behind them on the back benches.

Backbenchers make up the majority of the Parliament. In the federal Parliament, about 90 of 151 House of Representatives members and about 60 of 76 senators are backbenchers at any given time, since front-bench positions (ministers, shadow ministers, Speaker, President, Deputy Speaker, Deputy President, and assistant ministers) total about 60 to 70 positions across the two Houses.

Backbenchers play several important roles. They represent their constituents through electorate offices, attending local events, responding to constituent inquiries, and raising local issues in Parliament. They participate in parliamentary debate, vote on legislation, serve on parliamentary committees that inquire into legislation and policy, and deliver speeches on matters of public concern. Backbench committees of each party (Coalition or Labor backbench committees on each portfolio) develop policy and provide feedback to ministers from the wider party.

Backbenchers also serve as a check on government. Government backbenchers can voice concerns in party room meetings, ultimately challenging policy direction or even leadership. Major recent examples include the 2018 Coalition leadership challenge that replaced Malcolm Turnbull with Scott Morrison, driven by backbench concerns about energy policy and polling, and the 2010 Labor leadership challenge that replaced Kevin Rudd with Julia Gillard. The party room (separate meetings of all government MPs and senators) is the primary forum for backbench influence on government policy. Opposition backbenchers similarly hold their leadership accountable through party room discussions and occasional leadership challenges. Backbenchers earn the base parliamentary salary (about 233,000 dollars in 2024 to 2025) with additional allowances for committee work and constituency-related expenses.