The executive

Question 1

Types/who is the executive

Answer 1

Formal/constitutional- Governor General, Real/political- PM and Cabinet, Administrative- Public Service

Question 2

Examples of cabinet ministers

Answer 2

Penny Wong, Tony Burke, Linda B

Question 3

Role of the Prime Minister (6)

Answer 3

Being leader of the majority party in the HOR, Being chairperson of Cabinet meetings, Access to information (has big department of public service), Patronage- power over appointments (‘hire and fire’), Determining election date
Public face of government

Question 4

Limitations on the power of the Prime Minister (11)

Answer 4

Not having a personal mandate, Lack of cabinet unity, Rivals withing Cabinet or Parliamentary party (Malcolm Turnbull, Tony Abbot), Constraints imposed by their own party (constrained by factions), Constraints imposed by a coalition party (Scomo’s deputy PM had to be from the Nationals), Federalism (premiers banning together during COVID), Size and nature of the HOR (Scomo had 76 seats, Albo has 77), The opposition, Negative media attention (Scomo- bushfires, Grace Tame) and polling, Minority government, The senate (Labor needing Greens support + 2 other votes)

Question 5

Internal contemporary issues relating to political power

Answer 5

Reliance on nationals by liberals as coalition partner- policy differences on climate change and energy (coal), Party loyalty- members crossing the floor on Religious Discrimination Bill, text messages scandal by Barnaby Joyce speaking against Scomo, Ministerial issues- Bridget McKenzie, Christian Porter, Michelle Rowland

Question 6

External contemporary issues relating to political power

Answer 6

Senate crossbench- Jacqui Lambie and Pauline Hanson (46th Parliament), Greens and Pocock (47th Parliament), Media- 2019 bushfires and Hawaii trip, Grace Tame and Brittany Higgins 2021