Australia parliament house

House of Representative is decorated in green in a reflection of House of Commons at Britain. However, the colour is muted to suggest the colour of eucalyptus leaves.

From the perspective of the image to the right, the press gallery is ahead, with public galleries to the left and right. Soundproofed galleries for school groups lie directly above these, as no talking is permitted when the House is sitting.

Frontbench (Cabinet) members approach the table with the ornate box, known as the dispatch box, to speak. Backbenchers have a microphone on their desk, and merely stand to speak (unless they cannot stand), in accordance with standing order sixty.

As is the custom with Westmister 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 side.