272:
452:, One Nation, the Liberal Democratic Party, and Derryn Hinch) sit on the same side of the crossbench as the Coalition benches, while those more aligned with Labor, such as the Greens, sit on the same side of the crossbench as the Labor benches. This tends not to be the case in the House of Representatives, both due to the different electoral system, which means fewer crossbenchers are elected, and the fact that the official government and opposition
507:
597:'s decision to appoint more non-partisan Senators. Similar to crossbenchers in the UK, the ISG chooses its own leader and does not use a whipping system. In December 2016, the Senate began to officially recognise the ISG and provide it with funding. Two additional groups were established in 2019: the
154:
has nominated a total of 67 non-party-political life peers who joined the House of Lords as crossbenchers. As of 10 September 2024, there are 184 crossbenchers, making up approximately 23 per cent of the sitting members in the House of Lords. The
Crossbench is typically the
445:. The number of crossbenchers increased by two to a record 20 (all but the ones of the LPA/NPA coalition and the ALP: 9+4+3+4). The Liberal/National Coalition government required at least nine additional votes to reach a Senate majority.
303:
members of the parliaments. More precisely, a crossbencher is any member who are not part of the governing party or parties, nor the party or parties forming what is known in some other
Commonwealth countries as the
609:). The Canadian Senate in 2022 generally aspires towards non-partisanship. Non-affiliated members outnumber members affiliated with a political party, and the Liberal Caucus in the Senate was dissolved in 2019.
476:
agreements are regarded as part of the government and sit on the government benches, and often receive official roles as ministers outside the cabinet or as parliamentary under-secretaries. From 2008 to 2017,
894:
308:". Unlike the United Kingdom, the term is used by both the lower and upper houses of each parliament (where applicable), who sit on the crossbenches between the government and opposition benches.
564:
177:
in the 2017–2019 Parliament, are not considered crossbenchers. Instead, along with all other non-governing parties, they are considered part of the opposition and sit on the opposition benches.
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third-largest peerage group after the
Conservative and Labour benches. From April 2007 to 2009, the number of crossbenchers was higher than the number of Conservative peers for the first time.
1319:
1218:
288:
189:; however, they do elect from among themselves a convenor for administrative purposes, and to keep them up to date with the business of the House. The current convenor is
166:) also have no party affiliation, they are not considered crossbenchers and do not sit on the crossbenches, their seats being on the Government side of the Lords Chamber.
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to elect its 76-seat chamber, frequently has enough
Senators on the crossbench that the governing party has to negotiate with it to get legislation passed. The
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withdrawn. Although non-affiliated members, and members of small parties, sometimes physically sit on the crossbenches, they are not members of the crossbench
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who are not part of the crossbencher group; this includes some officers, such as the Lord
Speaker, and others who are associated with a party but have had the
578:). Opposition parties other than the official opposition are typically called third parties. Third parties that hold a certain threshold of seats are granted
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government. As such, these MPs were not considered to be crossbenchers or part of the opposition, as they were represented within the government.
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An "increasing number" of crossbenchers have been created peers for non-political reasons. Since its establishment in May 2000, the
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The last few federal elections have seen an increase in the size and power of the crossbench in both houses of
Parliament. The
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197:" (i.e. the party whips who decide the business of the House), they have been included in their discussions in recent years.
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582:. In 2022 the "official opposition" is the Conservatives; the bloc Québecois, the NDP, and the Greens are the opposition.
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340:
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567:. Instead, any party that is not the governing party is an "opposition party", with the largest of these designated the
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242:
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declared their support for the
Coalition on confidence and supply. The resulting 76–74 margin entitled Labor to form a
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Beginning in 2016, multiple non-partisan caucuses which fulfill a similar purpose as crossbenchers were formed in the
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from 2011 to 2017) are sometimes referred to as crossbenchers, but those who support the government in
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135:), who by convention are not aligned with any party, also sit as crossbenchers. There are also some
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Generally speaking, Senators broadly aligned with the
Coalition (such as those affiliated with the
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895:"Australian federal election 2016: the crossbenchers likely to swing a hung Parliament"
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The crossbenchers do not take a collective position on issues, and so have no
1042:"New Zealand prepares to vote after 'strangest, dirtiest' election campaign"
100:
193:, who took the office in April 2023. While convenors are not part of the "
17:
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are not aligned to any particular party. Until 2009, these included the
531: in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
921:"Election 2016: Where do the crossbenchers stand on the major issues?"
1106:"Senate of Canada – Special Senate Committee on Senate Modernization"
270:
1200:
1131:"Justin Trudeau names nine non-partisan senators – Macleans.ca"
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winning 72 seats each of 150 total. Six crossbenchers held the
1083:"6 senators to form 'independent, non-partisan' working group"
559:
The term "crossbencher" is generally not used for the federal
500:
750:"Days of Conservative domination in the Lords come to an end"
200:
The following have served as
Convenor of the Crossbenchers:
797:"Constitutional renewal starts at home – Lords of the Blog"
593:(ISG), was created partly as a response to Prime Minister
279:. Crossbenchers sit in the seats between the two sides.
1192:
UK Parliamentary
Archives, Records of Crossbench Peers
601:(which primarily focuses on regional issues) and the
456:
extend across the inner rim of the entire hemicycle.
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parliaments of the Australian states and territories
923:. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 10 July 2016
79:
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949:. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 3 July 2016
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27:Independent or minor party member of a legislature
1063:"John Armstrong: Winston becoming NZ's Churchill"
429:with 3 seats. The other 4 seats were each won by
60:benches, where crossbenchers sit in the chamber.
173:agreement in the House of Commons, such as the
169:Parties supporting a minority government in a
1320:Organizational structure of political parties
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402:, for example resulted in a chamber with the
8:
724:"Lords by party, type of peerage and gender"
137:non-affiliated members of the House of Lords
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67:
688:"A Brief History of the Crossbench Peers"
682:
680:
547:Learn how and when to remove this message
690:. Crossbenchpeers.org.uk. Archived from
1016:"House of Representatives Seating plan"
943:"Federal Election 2016: Senate Results"
645:
400:2 July 2016 double dissolution election
162:(archbishops and senior bishops of the
705:House of Lords Appointments Commission
565:provincial or territorial legislatures
390:The Australian Senate, which uses the
152:House of Lords Appointments Commission
799:. Lordsoftheblog.net. 31 January 2010
653:
651:
649:
7:
529:adding citations to reliable sources
466:New Zealand House of Representatives
367:declared their support for Labor on
1085:. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
1040:Manhire, Toby (18 September 2014).
971:. Blogs.crikey.com.au. 12 July 2016
819:"Convenors of the Crossbench Peers"
377:National Party of Western Australia
605:(formed by members of the defunct
95:Crossbench members of the British
25:
1159:. Hilltimes.com. 12 December 2016
1061:Armstrong, John (8 August 2015).
1182:Crossbench Peers – official site
574:(and their leader is designated
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1187:BBC Politics – Crossbench Peers
516:needs additional citations for
127:of the House of Lords (such as
105:Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876
220:(Alternate Convenor 1993–1995)
1:
663:BBC News | UK | UK Politics |
231:The Lord Williamson of Horton
489:MPs supported the minority
396:proportional representation
1336:
591:Independent Senators Group
497:Similar concepts in Canada
249:The Lord Hope of Craighead
212:The Baroness Hylton-Foster
1264:Lord Williamson of Horton
1239:
899:The Sydney Morning Herald
629:Category:Crossbench peers
175:Democratic Unionist Party
117:Lord Martin of Springburn
845:"Lord Hope of Craighead"
603:Progressive Senate Group
576:Leader of the Opposition
450:Australian Conservatives
435:Liberal Democratic Party
392:single transferable vote
325:House of Representatives
225:The Lord Craig of Radley
1020:Parliament of Australia
995:Parliament of Australia
969:"Senate photo finishes"
599:Canadian Senators Group
285:Parliament of Australia
54:Parliament of Australia
1279:Lord Hope of Craighead
1249:Baroness Hylton-Foster
1068:The New Zealand Herald
415:Australian Labor Party
333:Australian Labor Party
295:refers to any and all
280:
107:. In addition, former
48:, such as the British
991:"Senate Seating Plan"
710:18 April 2015 at the
607:Senate Liberal Caucus
580:official party status
474:confidence and supply
425:with 4 seats and the
413:having 30 seats, the
369:confidence and supply
313:Australian Parliament
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171:confidence and supply
1259:Lord Craig of Radley
561:Parliament of Canada
525:improve this article
261:The Earl of Kinnoull
237:The Baroness D'Souza
191:The Earl of Kinnoull
103:appointed under the
1104:Canada, Senate of.
694:on 18 October 2010.
417:with 26 seats, the
385:minority government
306:official opposition
218:The Lord Weatherill
145:parliamentary group
772:"Earl of Kinnoull"
427:Nick Xenophon Team
315:as elected at the
281:
121:Baroness Boothroyd
1315:Australian Senate
1297:
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1227:Convenors of the
1137:. 27 October 2016
589:. The first, the
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470:New Zealand First
371:, Independent MP
277:Australian Senate
164:Church of England
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16:(Redirected from
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1269:Baroness D'Souza
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129:Baroness Hayman
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877:. Retrieved
870:"Lord Judge"
864:
852:. Retrieved
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827:. Retrieved
823:the original
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801:. Retrieved
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779:. Retrieved
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692:the original
667:. Retrieved
662:
624:Frontbencher
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523:Please help
518:verification
515:
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447:
439:Family First
431:Derryn Hinch
389:
365:Tony Windsor
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46:legislatures
34:crossbencher
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1274:Lord Laming
1244:Lord Strang
634:Third party
619:Backbencher
537:August 2016
460:New Zealand
353:Independent
331:, with the
301:independent
297:minor party
291:, the term
253:2019–2023:
247:2015–2019:
241:2011–2015:
235:2007–2011:
229:2004–2007:
223:1999–2004:
216:1995–1999:
210:1974–1995:
204:1968–1974:
42:independent
38:minor party
1304:Categories
1284:Lord Judge
1163:13 October
1141:13 October
1115:13 October
1089:13 October
927:5 February
905:5 February
803:13 October
733:13 October
640:References
572:opposition
423:One Nation
381:Tony Crook
373:Bob Katter
349:Adam Bandt
327:since the
73:Crossbench
58:opposition
18:Crossbench
1135:Maclean's
879:9 October
854:9 October
755:The Times
411:Coalition
337:Coalition
267:Australia
115:(such as
101:Law Lords
87:184 / 805
829:23 April
781:28 April
708:Archived
669:22 April
613:See also
570:official
408:National
394:form of
335:and the
181:Convenor
109:Speakers
52:and the
1231:in the
975:30 July
464:In the
404:Liberal
323:in the
111:of the
953:4 July
441:, and
433:, the
419:Greens
345:Greens
1025:7 May
1000:7 May
187:whips
36:is a
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783:2023
735:2017
671:2020
485:and
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275:The
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