Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition in Australia fulfils the same function as the official opposition in other Commonwealth of Nations monarchies. It is seen as the alternative government and the existing administration's main opponent at a general election. By convention, the Opposition Leader comes from the House of Representatives, as does the deputy, although the Government and Opposition will also both have leaders in the Senate.
It is styled as "Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition" to show that, although the group may be against the sitting government, it remains loyal to the Crown (the embodiment of the Australian state), and thus to Australia. The Leader of the Opposition is styled The Leader of Her Majesty's Opposition.
The present Opposition at a Federal level is the centre-right Coalition, which is led by Tony Abbott of the Liberal Party of Australia.
The Opposition at the level of the States and Territories are:
- Australian Capital Territory: Liberal Party of Australia, led by Zed Seselja.
- New South Wales: Australian Labor Party, led by John Robertson.
- Northern Territory: Australian Labor Party, led by Delia Lawrie.
- Queensland: Australian Labor Party, led by Annastacia Palaszczuk
- South Australia: Liberal Party, led by Isobel Redmond.
- Tasmania: Liberal Party, led by Will Hodgman.
- Victoria: Australian Labor Party, led by Daniel Andrews.
- Western Australia: Australian Labor Party, led by Mark McGowan.
Famous quotes containing the word opposition:
“The opposition is indispensable. A good statesman, like any other sensible human being, always learns more from his opponents than from his fervent supporters. For his supporters will push him to disaster unless his opponents show him where the dangers are. So if he is wise he will often pray to be delivered from his friends, because they will ruin him. But though it hurts, he ought also to pray never to be left without opponents; for they keep him on the path of reason and good sense.”
—Walter Lippmann (1889–1974)