The Australian Senate
The Australian Senate has 76 members of whom 40 will face election on 3 May. Sometimes referred to as the upper house. the Senate serves as a ‘house of review’.
The six states have equal representation with 12 Senators each serving fixed but staggered six-year terms. Every three years, half of all state Senators face an election. Those facing election in 2025 were last elected in 2019. There are also four Territory Senators, two each for the Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory. Territory Senators serve a maximum three-year term and face election with every House election. The Senate is elected by proportional representation.
Proportional representation – how it works
Proportional representation voting, as used in the Senate, is designed to secure the election of several candidates in each state (twelve in the case of a double dissolution, six in the case of a regular half-Senate election) each of whom has obtained a number of votes equal to or exceeding a required quota (or proportion of votes) necessary for election. The quota is obtained by dividing the total number of formal votes by one more than the number of candidates to be elected, and adding one to the result.
Candidates receiving votes in excess of the quota, which is a proportion rather than a majority of the total vote, have their surplus votes distributed according to their electors’ ranking of preferences. If all the positions have not then been filled by candidates obtaining quotas by this means, then the next preferences of the voters for the least successful candidates are distributed, until all vacancies are filled by candidates obtaining quotas.
Number of candidates standing
According to the ballot draw created by the AEC, the total 65 candidates for the six Senate positions in Victoria will be spread over 21 groups, including one group comprising 8 ungrouped candidates.
We have not approached any of the Senate Candidates seeking statements on their claims for election. We suggest you search for personal and party websites that may give you more information.
Listed below are the Victorian candidates who have nominated for the Senate for the 2025 Federal Election. They are listed in the order as shown on the Senate Ballot paper.
We acknowledge the work of the Australian Electoral Commission and thank them for allowing us to use information and images from their website. To find out more about how to vote, please go to the AEC website here: https://www.aec.gov.au/Voting/How_to_vote/Voting_Senate.htm
