Senate Composition
The Senate in the 45th Parliament contains its largest cross-bench of 20 senators (9 AG and 11 others), compared with 18 senators (10 AG and 8 others) at the end of the 44th Parliament. Previously, the highest number had been 13 senators, in 2002-2005.
State senators have been divided into two classes: short-term senators whose terms expire on 30 June 2019, and long-term senators whose terms expire on 30 June 2022. On 31 August the Senate decided to allocate senators according to the order of their election. Details of senators' terms of service are available on this page.
On 7 November under section 376 of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, the Senate referred two matters to the High Court. Both involved the qualification of senators under section 44 of the Constitution. The first involved a possible pecuniary interest relating to the lease for an electoral office for former Senator Day, who had resigned as a senator for South Australia on 1 November. The second matter related to Senator Culleton and involved a conviction for larceny which was subsequently annulled, but had stood throughout the election period.
On 18 December 2016, Senator Culleton resigned from Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party to sit as an independent senator. On 11 January 2017, the President of the Senate informed the Governor of Western Australia of a vacancy due to Senator Culleton being disqualified from the position due to a declaration of bankruptcy.
On 3 February 2017 the Court of Disputed Returns determined that Mr Culleton had not been validly elected in the 2016 election, and that the vacancy in the representation of Western Australia should be filled by a recount of ballots.
The question of how to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator Day remains a matter for the Court of Disputed Returns.
On 7 February 2017, Senator Bernardi announced his resignation from the Liberal Party.