View source for Victorian Legislative Assembly

{{short description|Lower house of the Parliament of Victoria, Australia}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox legislature
 | background_color = #307159
 | name          = Legislative Assembly
 | legislature   = [[Members of the Victorian Legislative Assembly, 2022-2026|60th Parliament]]
 | coa_pic       = Coat_of_Arms_of_Victoria.svg
 | foundation    = {{Start date and age|21 November 1856}}
 | house_type    = Lower house
 | body          = Parliament of Victoria
 | leader1_type  = [[Speaker of the Victorian Legislative Assembly|Speaker]]
 | leader1       = [[Maree Edwards]]
 | party1        = [[Australian Labor Party (Victorian Branch)|Labor]]
 | election1     = 2 August 2022
 | leader2_type  = Deputy Speaker
 | leader2       = [[Matt Fregon]]
 | party2        = [[Australian Labor Party (Victorian Branch)|Labor]]
 | election2     = 20 December 2022
 | leader3_type  = Leader of the House
 | leader3       = [[Mary-Anne Thomas]]
 | party3        = [[Australian Labor Party (Victorian Branch)|Labor]]
 | election3     = 5 December 2022
 | leader4_type = Government Whip
 | leader4 = [[Pauline Richards]]
 | party4 = [[Australian Labor Party (Victorian Branch)|Labor]] 
 | election4 = 7 February 2023
 | leader5_type = Deputy Government Whip
 | leader5 = [[Belinda Wilson]]
 | party5 = [[Australian Labor Party (Victorian Branch)|Labor]]
 | election5 = 7 February 2023
 | leader6_type = Manager of Opposition Business
 | leader6 = [[James Newbury]]
 | party6 = [[Liberal Party of Australia (Victorian Division)|Liberal]]
 | election6 = December 2022
 | leader7_type = Opposition Whip
 | leader7 = [[Chris Crewther]]
 | party7 = [[Liberal Party of Australia (Victorian Division)|Liberal]]
 | election7 = December 2022
 | members       = 88
 | structure1    = File:Victoria Legislative Assembly Current Composition (22-26).png
 | structure1_res = 250px
 | political_groups1= '''[[Victoria State Government|Government]] (54)'''
*{{Color box|{{party color|Australian Labor Party}}|border=darkgray}} [[Australian Labor Party (Victorian Branch)|Labor]] (54)
'''[[Opposition (Australia)|Opposition]] (29)'''
*{{Color box|{{party color|Liberal Party of Australia}}|border=darkgray}} [[Liberal Party of Australia (Victorian Division)|Liberal]] (20)
*{{Color box|{{party color|National Party of Australia}}|border=darkgray}} [[National Party of Australia – Victoria|National]] (9)
'''[[Crossbencher|Crossbench]] (5)'''
*{{Color box|#51A802|border=darkgray}} [[Australian Greens Victoria|Greens]] (3)
*{{Color box|{{Australian politics/party colours|independent}}|border=darkgray}} {{nowrap|[[Independent politician|Independent]] ([[Will Fowles|1]])}} 
*{{Color box|#ff585e|border=darkgray}} {{nowrap|[[Independent Labor (Australia)|Independent Labor]] ([[Darren Cheeseman|1]])}}
 | session_room = Victorian Legislative Assembly.png
 | session_res = 
 | voting_system1 = [[Instant-runoff voting]]
 | term_length = 4 years 
 | last_election3 = [[2022 Victorian state election|26 November 2022]]
 | next_election3 = [[2026 Victorian state election|28 November 2026]]
 | meeting_place = Legislative Assembly Chamber,<br />[[Parliament House, Melbourne|Parliament House]], [[Melbourne]],<br />[[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], [[Australia]]
 | website       = {{url|https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/assembly|Vic Legislative Assembly}}
}}
The '''Victorian Legislative Assembly''' is the [[states and territories of Australia|state]] [[lower house]] of the [[bicameral]] [[Parliament of Victoria]] in [[Australia]]; the state [[upper house]] being the [[Victorian Legislative Council]]. Both houses sit at [[Parliament House, Melbourne|Parliament House]] in [[Spring Street, Melbourne|Spring Street]], [[Melbourne]]. The main colour used for the upholstery and carpets furnishing the Chamber of the Legislative Assembly is green.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Legislative Assembly Chamber {{!}} Parliament of Victoria |url=https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/about/history-and-heritage/building/assembly-chamber/ |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=www.parliament.vic.gov.au |language=en}}</ref>

The presiding officer of the Legislative Assembly is the [[Speaker of the Victorian Legislative Assembly|Speaker]]. There are presently 88 [[member of parliament|member]]s of the Legislative Assembly elected from single-member divisions.

==History==
[[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] was proclaimed a Colony on 1 July 1851 separating from the [[Colony of New South Wales]] by an act of the British Parliament. The Legislative Assembly was created on 13 March 1856 with the passing of the ''Victorian Electoral Bill'',<ref name=Sweetman>{{cite book  
 |title=Constitutional Development of Victoria, 1851–6
 |author=Edward Sweetman
 |year=1920
 |publisher=Whitcombe & Tombs Limited
 |page=[https://archive.org/details/constitutionalde00swee/page/67 67]
 |url=https://archive.org/details/constitutionalde00swee
 |access-date=16 November 2012
}}</ref> five years after the creation of the original [[Unicameralism|unicameral]] Legislative Council. The Assembly first met on 21 November 1856,<ref name=Sweetman/> and consisted of sixty members representing thirty-seven multi and single-member electorates.<ref name=elections>{{cite web 
 | title = Elections
 | work = Fact Sheet G3: Elections | publisher = Parliament of Victoria
 | url = http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/publications| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100621055158/http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/publications| url-status = dead| archive-date = 21 June 2010}}</ref> On the Federation of Australia on 1 January 1901, the Parliament of Victoria continued except that the colony was now called a state.

In 1917, the Nationalist government in Victoria introduced compulsory [[Instant-runoff voting|preferential voting]] before the [[1917 Victorian state election|1917 state election]]. This enabled the factions in the party to field competing candidates without splitting the vote by keeping preferences within the party.

== Procedure ==
Most legislation is initiated in the Legislative Assembly. The party or coalition with a majority of seats in the lower house is invited by the Governor to form government. The leader of that party subsequently becomes [[Premier of Victoria]], and their senior colleagues become ministers responsible for various portfolios. As Australian political parties traditionally vote along party lines, almost all legislation introduced by the governing party will pass through the legislative assembly.

===Committees===
Committees are formed of members from one house or both houses. Committees hold inquiries into particular issues and call for input from the wider community.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Committees {{!}} Parliament of Victoria |url=https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/committees |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=www.parliament.vic.gov.au |language=en}}</ref>
* Privileges Committee
* Standing Orders Committee
* Economy and Infrastructure Committee
* Environment and Planning Committee
* Legal and Social Issues Committee

==Officials==
===Speaker===
At the beginning of each new parliamentary term, the Legislative Assembly elects one of its members as a presiding officer, known as the Speaker. The House may re-elect the incumbent speaker merely by passing a motion; otherwise, a secret ballot is held. In practice, the Speaker is usually a member of the governing party or parties, who have the majority in the House. The Speaker continues to be a member of their political party, but it is left to their individual discretion as to whether or not they attend party meetings. The Speaker also continues to carry out their ordinary electorate duties as a member of Parliament and must take part in an election campaign to be re-elected as a member of Parliament.<ref>[http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/assembly/speaker/election-of-the-speakerl The Speaker]{{dead link|date=November 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

A Deputy Speaker is also elected by the Assembly, who supports and assists the Speaker in the execution of their duties.

===Non-member officials===
The Legislative Assembly is also supported by a department of civil servants who provide procedural and administrative advice on the running of the Assembly, and performs other functions. The head of the department is the Clerk of the Assembly, who is assisted by a deputy clerk, an assistant clerk committees and an assistant clerk procedure.<ref name=staff>[https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/about/departments/legislative-assembly/ Staff of the Legislative Assembly]</ref>

The Assembly is also assisted by a [[serjeant-at-arms]], who at present also holds the position of assistant clerk procedure.<ref name=staff/>

==Membership and elections==
The Legislative Assembly presently consists of 88 members, each elected in single-member [[Electoral districts of Victoria|electoral districts]], more commonly known as electorates or seats. This is done using preferential voting, which is the same voting system used for the federal lower house, the [[Australian House of Representatives]]. Members represent approximately the same population in each electorate.

Since 2006, members of the Legislative Assembly are elected for a fixed term of 4 years, with elections occurring on the last Saturday of November every 4 years.<ref>[https://content.legislation.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/6ddc3450-3533-3cb2-8667-bd91daded4f7_03-002a.pdf Constitution (Parliamentary Reform) Act 2003 (Vic)]</ref>{{efn|Between 1985 and 2006, the maximum term of the Assembly was four years, but could be dissolved earlier.<ref>[http://www8.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/hist_act/copa1984400.pdf Constitution (Duration of Parliament) Act 1984 (Vic)]</ref>}} There are no limits to the number of terms for which a member may seek election. [[Casual vacancy|Casual vacancies]] are filled at a by-election.

==Current distribution of seats==
{{for|current members|Members of the Victorian Legislative Assembly, 2022–2026}}
{{for|electorates|Electoral districts of Victoria}}
{| class="wikitable"
|- 
! rowspan=2 | Party
! colspan=2 | Seats held
|-
! 
!
|-
|| [[Australian Labor Party (Victorian Branch)|Labor]] || align=center | {{bartable|53||10||background-color:{{Australian politics/party colours|Labor}}}}
|-
|| [[Victorian Liberal Party|Liberal]] || align=center | {{bartable|19||10||background-color:{{Australian politics/party colours|Liberal}}}}
|-
|| [[Victorian National Party|National]] || align=center | {{bartable|9||10||background-color:{{Australian politics/party colours|Nationals}}}}
|-
|| [[Victorian Greens|Greens]] || align=center | {{bartable|3||10||background-color:{{Australian politics/party colours|Greens}}}}
|-
|| [[Independent politician|Independent]] || align=center | {{bartable|1||10||background-color:{{Australian politics/party colours|Independent}}}}
|-
|| [[Independent Labor (Australia)|Independent Labor]] || align=center | {{bartable|1||10||background-color:{{Australian politics/party colours|Independent Labor}}}}
|-
|| Total || 86
|}

* 44 votes as a majority are currently required to pass legislation.

==2022 election==
{{Main|2022 Victorian state election}}

===Results===
{{Australian elections/Title row
| table style = float:center;clear:center;margin-center:1em;
| title        = Victorian state election, 26 November 2022<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/results/state-election-results/2022-state-election-results|work=[[Victorian Electoral Commission]]|title=2022 State Election results|access-date=4 January 2023}}</ref>
| house        = Legislative Assembly
| series       = Victorian state election
| back         = 2018
| forward      = 2026
| enrolled     = 4,394,465
| total_votes  = 3,828,791
| turnout %    = 87.13
| turnout chg  = −3.03
| informal     = 211,791
| informal %   = 5.53
| informal chg = –0.30
}}
{{Australian elections/Party summary|
  |government = yes
  |party_id    = Labor VIC
  |votes       = 1,339,496
  |votes %     = 37.03
  |votes chg   = –5.83
  |seats       = 56
  |seats chg   = +1
}}
{{Australian elections/Party summary|
  |party_id    = Liberal VIC
  |votes       = 1,070,672
  |votes %     = 29.60
  |votes chg   = −0.83
  |seats       = 18
  |seats chg   = –3
}}
{{Australian elections/Party summary|
  |party_id    = Greens VIC
  |votes       = 416,069
  |votes %     = 11.50
  |votes chg   = +0.79
  |seats       = 4
  |seats chg   = +1
}}
{{Australian elections/Party summary|
  |party_id    = Nationals VIC
  |votes       = 172,687
  |votes %     = 4.77
  |votes chg   = +0.00
  |seats       = 9
  |seats chg   = +3
}}
{{Australian elections/Party summary|
  |party_id    = Family First 2021
  |votes       = 110,389
  |votes %     = 3.05
  |votes chg   = +3.05
  |seats       = 0
  |seats chg   = ±0
}}
{{Australian elections/Party summary|
  |party_id    = Animal Justice
  |votes       = 90,797
  |votes %     = 2.51
  |votes chg   = +0.69
  |seats       = 0
  |seats chg   = ±0
}}
{{Australian elections/Party summary|
  |party_id    = Freedom
  |votes       = 61,812
  |votes %     = 1.71
  |votes chg   = +1.71
  |seats       = 0
  |seats chg   = ±0
}}
{{Australian elections/Party summary|
  |party_id    = Victorian Socialists
  |votes       = 48,865
  |votes %     = 1.35
  |votes chg   = +0.91
  |seats       = 0
  |seats chg   = ±0
}}
{{Australian elections/Party summary|
  |party_id    = Democratic Labour
  |votes       = 42,385
  |votes %     = 1.17
  |votes chg   = +0.48
  |seats       = 0
  |seats chg   = ±0
}}
{{Australian elections/Party summary|
  |party_id    = Liberal Democrats
  |votes       = 12,791
  |votes %     = 0.35
  |votes chg   = +0.23
  |seats       = 0
  |seats chg   = ±0
}}
{{Australian elections/Party summary|
  |party_id    = Shooters, Fishers and Farmers
  |votes       = 11,588
  |votes %     = 0.32
  |votes chg   = –0.37
  |seats       = 0
  |seats chg   = ±0
}}
{{Australian elections/Party summary|
  |party_id    = Reason
  |votes       = 10,907
  |votes %     = 0.30
  |votes chg   = –0.06
  |seats       = 0
  |seats chg   = ±0
}}
{{Australian elections/Party summary|
  |party_id    = One Nation
  |votes       = 8,077
  |votes %     = 0.22
  |votes chg   = +0.22
  |seats       = 0
  |seats chg   = ±0
}}
{{Australian elections/Party summary|
  |party_id    = Derryn Hinch's Justice Party
  |votes       = 7,927
  |votes %     = 0.22
  |votes chg   = –0.04
  |seats       = 0
  |seats chg   = ±0
}}
{{Australian elections/Party summary|
  |party_id    = Legalise Cannabis
  |votes       = 5,838
  |votes %     = 0.16
  |votes chg   = +0.16
  |seats       = 0
  |seats chg   = ±0
}}
{{Australian elections/Party summary|
  |party_id    = New Democrats
  |votes       = 4,874
  |votes %     = 0.13
  |votes chg   = +0.13
  |seats       = 0
  |seats chg   = ±0
}}
{{Australian elections/Party summary|
  |party_id    = Angry Victorians
  |votes       = 3,037
  |votes %     = 0.08
  |votes chg   = +0.08
  |seats       = 0
  |seats chg   = ±0
}}
{{Australian elections/Party summary|
  |party_id    = Health Australia
  |votes       = 862
  |votes %     = 0.02
  |votes chg   = +0.02
  |seats       = 0
  |seats chg   = ±0
}}
{{Australian elections/Party summary|
  |party_id    = Transport Matters
  |votes       = 605
  |votes %     = 0.02
  |votes chg   = –0.27
  |seats       = 0
  |seats chg   = ±0
}}
{{Australian elections/Party summary|
  |party_id    = Companions and Pets
  |votes       = 526
  |votes %     = 0.01
  |votes chg   = +0.01
  |seats       = 0
  |seats chg   = ±0
}}
{{Australian elections/Party summary|
  |party_id    = Independent
  |votes       = 196,796
  |votes %     = 6.44
  |votes chg   = –0.63
  |seats       = 0
  |seats chg   = –3
}}
{{Australian elections/Total row |
  |total_votes = 3,617,000
  |total_seats = 87
}}
{{Australian elections/2PP summary |
  |party id 1  = Labor VIC
  |2pp votes 1 = 1,989,350
  |2pp % 1     = 55.00
  |2pp chg 1   = –2.30
  |party id 2  = Liberal VIC
  |party 2     = [[Liberal Party of Australia (Victorian Division)|Liberal]]/[[National Party of Australia – Victoria|National]]
  |2pp votes 2 = 1,627,650
  |2pp % 2     = 45.00
  |2pp chg 2   = +2.30
}}
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|Victoria}}
*[[2022 Victorian state election|2018 Victorian state election]]
*[[Members of the Victorian Legislative Assembly, 2022–2026|List of members of the Victorian Legislative Assembly]]
*[[List of elections in Victoria]]
*[[List of Victorian state by-elections]]
*[[Parliaments of the Australian states and territories]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[http://tex.parliament.vic.gov.au/bin/texhtmlt?form=VicHansard.adv VLA Hansard ]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100827033247/http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/members/assembly Assembly Members List]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100907003000/http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/about/the-history-of-parliament/elections-since-1856 Elections since 1856]
*[http://www.vic.gov.au/contactsandservices/directory/?ea0_lfz99_120.&organizationalUnit&d36b8970-490d-4b28-b507-f537e77c77c8|Parliamentary Roles]

{{Parliaments of Australia}}
{{Members of the Parliament of Victoria}}
{{Government of Victoria}}
{{Political parties in Victoria (Australia)}}

[[Category:Victorian Legislative Assembly| ]]
[[Category:Parliament of Victoria]]
[[Category:State lower houses in Australia|Victoria]]
[[Category:1856 establishments in Australia]]