Official Opposition (Australia)
Her Majesty's Official Australian Opposition is referred to simply as 'The Opposition'; the formal title is no longer officially used. It is in practice more common to refer to the Opposition simply by the party name.
The Opposition in Australia fulfils the same function as the official opposition in other Commonwealth of Nations monarchies. It is seen as the alternative government and the existing administration's main opponent at a general election. By convention, the Opposition Leader comes from the House of Representatives, as does his deputy, although it also has a leader in the Senate, as the government does.
The present Opposition is the Australian Labor Party led by Mark Latham since December 2003.
Present Opposition Front Bench
As of April 2004
- Leader of the Opposition Mark Latham
- Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Minister for Employment, Education and Training Jenny Macklin
- Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Shadow Special Minister of State and Shadow Minister for Public Administration and Accountability Senator John Faulkner
- Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate and Shadow Minister for Trade, Corporate Governance and Financial Services Senator Stephen Conroy
- Shadow Minister for Finance and Small Business Bob McMullan
- Shadow Minister for Workplace Relations and the Public Service Craig Emerson
- Shadow Minister for Defence Chris Evans
- Shadow Minister for Urban and Regional Development and Shadow Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Martin Ferguson
- Shadow Minister for Health and Manager of Opposition Business in the House Julia Gillard
- Shadow Treasurer and Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the House Simon Crean
- Shadow Minister for Homeland Security Robert McClelland
- Shadow Minister for Reconciliation and Indigenous Affairs and Shadow Minister for Tourism, Regional Services and Territories Senator Kerry O'Brien
- Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Security Kevin Rudd
- Shadow Minister for Immigration Stephen Smith
- Shadow Minister for Family and Community Services Wayne Swan
- Shadow Minister for Communications Lindsay Tanner
- Shadow Minister for Sustainability, the Environment and Heritage Kelvin Thomson
- Shadow Minister for Science and Research, Shadow Minister for Industry and Innovation Senator Kim Carr
- Shadow Minister for Employment Services and Training Anthony Albanese
- Shadow Minister for Housing, Urban Development and Local Government Daryl Melham
- Assistant Shadow Treasurer and Shadow Minister for Revenue David Cox
- Shadow Minister for Retirement Incomes and Savings Senator Nick Sherry
- Shadow Minister for Information Technology, Shadow Minister for Sport and Recreation and Shadow Minister for the Arts Senator Kate Lundy
- Shadow Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Shadow Minister for Customs Senator Mark Bishop
- Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Gavan O'Connor
- Shadow Minister for Population, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs Laurie Ferguson
- Shadow Minister for Mining, Energy and Forestry Joel Fitzgibbon
- Shadow Minister for Ageing and Seniors
- Shadow Minister Assisting the Minister for Family and Community Services on Disabilities Annette Ellis
- Shadow Attorney-General, Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader of the Opposition on the Status of Women Nicola Roxon
- Shadow Minister for Consumer Affairs and Shadow Minister Assisting the Shadow Minister for Health Alan Griffin
- Shadow Minister for Children and Youth Senator Jacinta Collins
The present opposition makes no distinction between the shadow cabinet and the shadow ministry