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Parliamentary Handbooks - Australia (Commonwealth)

The first edition of the Parliamentary Handbook, published in 1915, had the title Biographical Handbook and Record of Elections for the Parliament of the Commonwealth. It was published at the recommendation of the Joint Library Committee: in a two-page Report to Parliament in 1915, the Committee indicated it had “caused to be prepared in the library, a Commonwealth Parliamentary Handbook, giving a short political biography, whether in State or Commonwealth, of all Members of both Houses since the initiation of Federation, with portraits in most cases, particulars of every election in the same period, with other information likely to be useful” [Australia. Parliament. Joint Library Committee. Report. 1915: 2]. Since the first edition, a new Handbook has been issued for each Parliament, with only minor exceptions.

To 2002 there have been twenty-nine editions of the Parliamentary Handbook, which have documented the forty Parliaments up to and including the Parliament elected in 2001. The first six editions included biographies of all Members of Parliament since Federation, but by 1932 this had become impractical, and biographies were limited to the Parliament of the corresponding period. Over the years the Handbook has developed into a comprehensive reference work on many aspects of the Commonwealth Parliament and includes a considerable amount of information on the Australian political system, enhanced with additional maps and tables.

The Parliamentary Handbook online database, available on the Web, includes full biographies of all Members of Parliament elected since 1984.

Current Series of Parliamentary Handbooks - Australia (Commonwealth)

Previous Series of Parliamentary Handbooks - Australia (Commonwealth)

Further Reading of Parliamentary Handbooks - Australia (Commonwealth)



Current Series of Parliamentary Handbooks - Australia (Commonwealth):

List of Members
1967-

A regularly updated list of Members of the House of Representatives and their contact details. From 1999, current issue only available online.

Locate a copy of this publication:
Web Publications | NLA | NSW | QLD | SA | VIC

List of Senators
1959-

A regularly updated list of Senators and their contact details.

Locate a copy of this publication:
Web Publications | NLA | NSW | QLD | SA | VIC

Parliamentary handbook of the Commonwealth of Australia
1978-
Locate a copy of this publication:
Web Publications | ACT | NLA | NSW | NT | QLD | WA


Previous Series of Parliamentary Handbooks - Australia (Commonwealth):

Australian parliamentary handbook
1973-1976

A supplement was issued in 1976 to mark the election of a new Parliament unexpectedly early, due to the constitutional crisis of 1975.

Locate a copy of this publication:
NLA | NSW | NT | QLD | SA | TAS | VIC | WA

Biographical handbook and record of elections for the parliament of the Commonwealth
1901-1930

Seven editions of this handbook were published from 1915 to 1932, covering the period 1901-1930; each edition includes biographies of members of successive Parliaments as well as election results and other information.

Locate a copy of this publication:
NLA | NSW | QLD | SA | TAS | VIC | WA

Parliamentary handbook and record of elections for the Commonwealth of Australia
1931-1953

The 8th edition (1931-1935) of the Parliamentary Handbook was published in 1936, the 9th (1931-1938) in 1938, the 10th (1938-1945) in 1945, and the 11th (1945-1953) in 1953.

Locate a copy of this publication:
NLA | NSW | QLD | SA | TAS | VIC | WA

Parliamentary handbook of the Commonwealth of Australia
1951-1971

The 12th edition of the Parliamentary Handbook, published in 1957, covered the 20th-22nd Parliaments (1951-1956). From the 13th edition in 1959, one edition has been issued for each new Parliament.

Locate a copy of this publication:
NLA | NSW | NT | QLD | SA | TAS | VIC | WA


Further Reading of Parliamentary Handbooks - Australia (Commonwealth):

Biographical register of the Commonwealth Parliament, 1901-1972
Locate a copy of this publication:
ACT | NLA | NSW | NT | QLD | SA | TAS | VIC | WA

Historical Parliamentary Information
1901-

Parliamentary Library website including:

  • Governors-General since 1901
  • Vice-Presidents of the Executive Council
  • Chronology of Parliaments since 1901
  • Joint Sittings
  • Party Representation in Parliament
  • Senators and Members since 1901
  • Members of the Parliament who have served in both chambers
  • Longest serving members of the Parliament since 1901
  • Women in Parliament
  • Number of Women in Parliament
  • Prime Ministers since 1901
  • Leaders of the Opposition since 1901
  • Ministries since 1901
  • Cabinets Shadow
  • Ministries
  • Presidents/Deputy Presidents of the Senate since 1901
  • Speakers/Deputy Speakers of the House of Representatives since 1901
  • Permanent Heads of the Departments of the Parliament
Locate a copy of this publication:
Web Publications

Parliamentary Library Biographies Database
1984-

Full-text searchable database of biographies of Members and Senators who have been in Parliament since 1984.

Locate a copy of this publication:
Web Publications

 

 

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