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Australian politics and government: print resources

Australian politics and government

The Library holds a large collection of material relating to Australian politics and government. This guide contains selected print works only.

For information on how to access Commonwealth and State electoral rolls at the Library, see Australian Electoral Rolls: Print Resources . For Acts, Hansards, Gazettes and Parliamentary Papers, see GovPubs: the Australian Government Publications Guide.

Catalogue search tips

To find general information on Australian politics first try a Browse subjects search such as:

To find information on Australian political parties, use Browse subjects options such as:

To find information about Australian federal elections, select the Browse subjects option and enter terms such as those found below, including the year of the election if known.

Items related to special interest groups in Australian society are found using Browse subjects searches such as:

Reference collection

Available on open access in the Main Reading Room, unless otherwise stated. Some of these publications have changed title over the years and each new title has its own record in the catalogue. See the Former Title section of the catalogue record.

Parliamentary handbook of the Commonwealth of Australia. 1901+
Information on the parliament, biographical details of parliamentarians, election information and historical statistics. RF 328.94 AUS
A Handbook of Australian Government and Politics 1890-1964, + 1965-1974, 1975-1984 and 1985-1999 supplements.
Contains cabinet and portfolio lists, summaries of election legislation for the Commonwealth since 1900 and State governments since the 19th century and election statistics (party votes received, seats contested, seats won). RF 320.994 H893
Australian Political Facts. 1997.
Facts related to government, parties, elections, public opinion polls, media, religion, defence & the armed forces, justice, the public service and international relations. RF 320.994 M114
The Biographical Dictionary of the Australian Senate. 2000+
Biographical account of senators and history of the Senate. Entries are arranged according to the state each senator represented. RF 328.94092 B615
House of Representatives Practice. 2005.
Explanation of the laws and practices of the House of Representatives including: roles of office holders, the parliamentary calendar, motions, legislation, Senate amendments, questions and committees etc. RF 328.9405 H842
Odgers’ Australian Senate Practice. 1953+
Explanation of the laws and practices of the Senate including: its constitutional role, parliamentary privilege, elections, officers, motions and amendments, debate, legislation, committees and relations with the Executive Government and the judiciary. NLq 328.9405 ODG
Federation: the Guide to Records. 1998.
List of the collections of over 60 archives, libraries, museums and galleries that hold Federation material. Includes chronology and select bibliography. RF 320.994032 F293
Commonwealth of Australia: 1901-1988 Electoral Redistributions. 1989.
First consolidated cartographic record of redistributions. Produced as a Bicentennial project by the Australian Electoral Commission and the Australian Surveying and Land Information Group. In the Main Reading Room maps cabinet. RFef 328.9407345 C734
Australian Opinion Polls 1941-1990: an Index. 1993.
Contains a subject list of polls and where they were published. RF 303.38 A938
Australian Federal Elections Campaign Ephemera
Materials issued by parties, candidates and lobby groups associated with all federal elections since 1901. Includes how-to-vote cards, constituent reports, press releases, policy speeches, advertising material, posters and voting forms. Some items have been digitised. Request through the catalogue. Ephemera Formed 13 [Federal elections] coll

Subject clippings files

From 1960 until 1992 the Library maintained subject clipping files containing articles from major Australian metropolitan newspapers. A printed subject index to the files is available at the Information Desks in the Main Reading Room and the Newspaper/Microform Reading Room. Request through the Newspaper/Microform Reading Room.

Subject headings for clippings files include:

  • Australian Labor Party Platforms
  • Liberal Party Platforms
  • National Party of Australia Platforms
  • Democratic Labor Party
  • Liberal National Country Party Coalition
  • Parliament Senate Elections
  • Parliament House of Representatives Elections

See also: