Who typically initiates a bill in Australia?

• A. A bill is initiated by the Governor-General only.
• B. A bill is initiated by the government or a member of parliament.
• C. A bill is initiated by the courts.
• D. A bill is initiated by the Prime Minister after referendum.

Answer: (B)

In Australia, a bill is usually started by someone inside Parliament, most often the government. The government drafts and introduces bills to push through its policy agenda, but a member of Parliament can also introduce a bill (private member’s bill), though these are less common and depend on support. The Governor-General does not initiate bills—their role is to grant Royal Assent after a bill has passed both Houses. Courts don’t initiate legislation, and referendums are used to change the constitution, not to initiate ordinary laws. So the typical initiator is the government or a member of Parliament.