ACCESSORY DECOR

A view from the public balcony of the Australian House of Representatives. Australia has a two-tier parliamentary system with the House of Representatives being the lower house and the Senate the upper house. The 150 Representatives are elected for up to three years. In a reflection of the colour scheme of the British House of Commons, the House of Representatives is decorated in green. However, the colour is muted to suggest the colour of eucalyptus leaves. From the perspective above, the press gallery is ahead, with public galleries to the left and right. Sound-proofed galleries for school groups lie directly above these, as no talking is permitted when the House is sitting. Front-bench (Cabinet) members approach the table with the dispatch box, to speak. Back-benchers have a microphone on their desk, and merely stand to speak (unless they cannot stand). As is the custom with Westminster parliaments, members of the governing party sit to the Speaker's right, and the Opposition sits to the Speaker's left. Independents and minor parties sit on the cross-benches. The long benches (the front benches) closest to the despatch boxes are reserved for the Cabinet on the government's side and the Shadow Cabinet on the Opposition's.

I should have gotten the taller cabinets, but it's too late now. I can decorate above them I guess...