Parliament of Australia

Notable People

Name	Position	Year Started
Kevin Andrews	Member for Menzies, VIC	1991
Christopher Pyne	Federal Member for Sturt, South Australia	1993
Eric Abetz	Senator for Tasmania	1994
Marise Payne	Senator for New South Wales	1997
Julie Bishop	Member for Curtin, Western Australia	1998
Steven Ciobo	Liberal National Member for Moncrieff, QLD	2001
Peter Dutton	Member for Dickson, QLD	2001
Luke Hartsuyker	Member for Cowper, NSW	2001
Greg Hunt	Member for Flinders, VIC	2001
Sussan Ley	Member for Farrer, NSW	2001
Nigel Scullion	Senator for the Northern Territory	2001
Mitch Fifield	Senator for Victoria	2004
Michael Keenan	Member for Stirling, Western Australia	2004
Rachel Siewert	Senator for Western Australia	2005
Glenn Sterle	Senator for Western Australia	2005
Concetta Fierravanti-Wells	Senator for New South Wales	2005
Steve Irons	Member for Swan, Western Australia	2007
Nola Marino	Member for Forrest, Western Australia	2007
Mathias Cormann	Senator for Western Australia	2007
Simon Birmingham	Senator for South Australia	2007
Stuart Robert	Member for Fadden, QLD	2007
Scott Morrison	Member for Cook, NSW	2007
Bill Shorten	Member for Maribyrnong, VIC	2007
Alex Hawke	Member for Mitchell, NSW	2007
Mark Coulton	Member for Parkes, NSW	2007
Michaelia Cash	Senator for Western Australia	2008
Darren Chester	Member for Gippsland, VIC	2008
Scott Ryan	Senator for Victoria	2008
Paul Fletcher	Federal Member for Bradfield, NSW	2009
Kelly O’Dwyer	Member for Higgins, VIC	2009
Ken Wyatt	Member for Hasluck, Western Australia	2010
Josh Frydenberg	Member for Kooyong, Victoria	2010
Michael McCormack	Federal Member for Riverina, NSW	2010
Alan Tudge	Member for Aston, Victoria	2010
Jane Prentice	Member for Ryan, Queensland	2010
Karen Andrews	Member for McPherson, Queensland	2010
Dan Tehan	Member for Wannon, VIC	2010
Scott Buchholz	Member for Wright, QLD	2010
Bridget McKenzie	Senator for Victoria	2011
David Fawcett	Senator for South Australia	2011
Arthur Sinodinos	Senator for New South Wales	2011
Dean Smith	Senator for Western Australia	2012
Anne Ruston	Senator for South Australia	2012
Ian Goodenough	Member for Moore, Western Australia	2013
Christian Porter	Member for Pearce, Western Australia	2013
Rick Wilson	Member for O'Connor, Western Australia	2013
Sue Lines	Senator for Western Australia	2013
Barnaby Joyce	Member for New England, NSW	2013
Nigel Scullion	Minister for Indigenous Affairs	2013
Keith Pitt	Member for Hinkler, QLD	2013
Michael Sukkar	Federal Member for Deakin, VIC	2013
Mathias Cormann	Minister for Finance	2013
David Gillespie	Member for Lyne, NSW	2013
Craig Laundy	Member for Reid, NSW	2013
Zed Seselja	Senator for Australian Capital Territory	2013
Melissa Price	Member for Durack, Western Australia	2013
Angus Taylor	Member for Hume, NSW	2013
David Coleman	Member for Banks, NSW	2013
Michelle Landry	Member for Capricornia, QLD	2013
Sarah Henderson	Member for Corangamite, VIC	2013
Andrew Broad	Member for Mallee, VIC	2013
Christopher Pyne	Leader of the House	2013
Mitch Fifield	Manager of Government Business in the Senate	2013
Linda Reynolds	Senator for Western Australia	2014
Matt Canavan	Senator for Queensland	2014
James McGrath	Senator for Queensland	2014
Mathias Cormann	Leader of Government in the Senate (since 2017); (Deputy Leader 2015-2017)	2015
Andrew Hastie	Member for Canning, Western Australia	2015
Nola Marino	Chief Government Whip	2015
Paul Fletcher	Minister for Urban Infrastructure	2016
Matt Canavan	Minister for Resources & Northern Australia	2016
Jane Prentice	Assistant Minister for Social Services & Disability Services	2016
Patrick Dodson	Senator of Western Australia	2016
Louise Pratt	Senator for Western Australia	2016
Anne Aly	Member for Cowan, Western Australia	2016
Matthew Keogh	Member for Burt, Western Australia	2016
Madeleine King	Member for Brand, Western Australia	2016
Ben Morton	Member for Tangney, Western Australia	2016
Josh Wilson	Member for Fremantle, Western Australia	2016
Kevin Andrews	Father of the Australian House of Representatives	2016
Sue Lines	Deputy President of the Senate	2016
David Littleproud	Member for Maranoa, QLD	2016
Greg Hunt	Minister for Health	2017
Ken Wyatt	Minister for Aged Care, Minister for Indigenous Health	2017
Bridget McKenzie	Minister for Sport, Rural Health & Regional Communications	2017
Michael Keenan	Minister for Human Services	2017
Michael Keenan	Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Digital Transformation	2017
Melissa Price	Minister for the Environment (since 2018); (Assistant Minister 2017-2018)	2017
Scott Ryan	President of the Senate	2017
Christian Porter	Attorney-General	2017
Craig Laundy	Minister for Small & Family Business, Workplace & Deregulation	2017
David Littleproud	Minister for Agriculture & Water Resources	2017
Richard Colbeck	Senator for Tasmania	2018
Mitch Fifield	Minister for Communications & Arts	2018
Scott Morrison	Prime Minister	2018
Josh Frydenberg	Treasurer	2018
Bridget McKenzie	Minister for Regional Services, Decentralisation & Local Government	2018
Marise Payne	Minister for Foreign Affairs	2018
Christopher Pyne	Minister for Defence	2018
Steven Ciobo	Minister for Defence Industry	2018
Simon Birmingham	Minister for Trade, Tourism & Foreign Investment.	2018
Kelly O’Dwyer	Minister for Jobs & Industrial Relations	2018
Michaelia Cash	Minister for Small & Family Business, Skills & Vocational Education	2018
Karen Andrews	Minister for Industry, Science & Technology	2018
Dan Tehan	Minister for Education & Training	2018
Paul Fletcher	Minister for Families & Social Services	2018
Angus Taylor	Minister for Energy	2018
Alex Hawke	Special Minister of State	2018
Alan Tudge	Minister for Cities, Urban Infrastructure & Population	2018
David Coleman	Minister for Immigration, Citizenship & Multicultural Affairs	2018
Sussan Ley	Assistant Minister for Regional Development & Territories	2018
Scott Buchholz	Assistant Minister for Roads & Transport	2018
Steve Irons	Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister	2018
Zed Seselja	Assistant Minister for Treasury & Finance	2018
Michelle Landry	Assistant Minister for Families & Children	2018
Sarah Henderson	Assistant Minister for Social Services, Housing, & Disability	2018
Linda Reynolds	Assistant Minister for Home Affairs	2018
Richard Colbeck	Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries & Water Resources	2018
Andrew Broad	Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister	2018
Stuart Robert	Assistant Minister to the Treasurer	2018
Peter Dutton	Minister for Home Affairs	2018
Simon Birmingham	Deputy Senate Government Leader	2018
Darren Chester	Minister for Veterans' Affairs	2018
Darren Chester	Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC	2018
Darren Chester	Minister for Defence Personnel	2018
Michael McCormack	Deputy Prime Minister	2018
Michael McCormack	Minister for Infrastructure & Transport	2018
Mathias Cormann	Vice President of the Executive Council	2018
Anne Ruston	Assistant Minister for International Development & the Pacific	2018
David Fawcett	Assistant Minister for Defence	2018
Mark Coulton	Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism & Investment	2018

Past Employees

Name	Position	Year Started	Year Ended
Scott Morrison	Treasurer	2015	2018
Malcolm Turnbull	Prime Minister	2015	2018
Christopher Pyne	Minister for Defence Industry	2016	2018
Kelly O’Dwyer	Minister for Revenue & Financial Services	2016	2018
James McGrath	Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister	2015	2018
Barnaby Joyce	Deputy Prime Minister	2016	2018
Anne Ruston	Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources	2015	2018
Steven Ciobo	Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment	2016	2018
Concetta Fierravanti-Wells	Minister for International Development & the Pacific	2016	2018
Michael Sukkar	Assistant Minister to the Treasurer	2017	2018
Marise Payne	Minister for Defence	2015	2018
Simon Birmingham	Minister for Education & Training	2015	2018
Karen Andrews	Assistant Minister for Vocational Education & Skills	2016	2018
Josh Frydenberg	Minister for the Environment & Energy	2016	2018
Julie Bishop	Minister for Foreign Affairs	2013	2018
Tim Hammond	Member for Perth, Western Australia	2016	2018
Kelly O’Dwyer	Minister for Women	2017	2018
Kelly O’Dwyer	Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service	2017	2018
Michaelia Cash	Minister for Jobs & Innovation	2017	2018
Dan Tehan	Minister for Social Services	2017	2018
Angus Taylor	Minister for Law Enforcement & Cybersecurity	2017	2018
Alex Hawke	Assistant Minister for Home Affairs	2017	2018
Alan Tudge	Minister for Citizenship & Multicultural Affairs	2017	2018
David Coleman	Assistant Minister for Finance	2017	2018
Zed Seselja	Assistant Minister for Science, Jobs & Innovation	2017	2018
David Gillespie	Assistant Minister for Families & Children	2017	2018
Keith Pitt	Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister	2016	2018
Luke Hartsuyker	Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism & Investment	2017	2018
Mitch Fifield	Deputy Senate Government Leader	2017	2018
Michael McCormack	Minister for Defence Personnel	2017	2018
Michael McCormack	Minister for Veterans' Affairs	2017	2018
Barnaby Joyce	Minister for Infrastructure & Transport	2017	2018
George Brandis	Senator for Queensland	2000	2018
Mark Coulton	Deputy Speaker of House	2016	2018
Michael Keenan	Minister for Justice	2013	2017
Chris Back	Senator for Western Australia	2009	2017
Scott Ludlam	Senator for Western Australia	2008	2017
Mitch Fifield	Assistant Minister for Social Services	2013	2017
Fiona Nash	Senator for New South Wales	2005	2017
Greg Hunt	Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science	2016	2017
Scott Ryan	Special Minister of State	2016	2017
Michael McCormack	Minister for Small Business	2016	2017
Michaelia Cash	Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service	2015	2017
Michael Keenan	Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Counter Terrorism	2015	2017
Dan Tehan	Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Cyber Security, Minister for Veterans' Affairs	2016	2017
Dan Tehan	Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC	2016	2017
Dan Tehan	Minister for Defence Personnel	2016	2017
Angus Taylor	Assistant Minister for Cities and Digital Transformation	2016	2017
Barnaby Joyce	Minister for Agriculture & Water Resources	2013	2017
Luke Hartsuyker	Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister	2016	2017
Keith Pitt	Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment	2016	2017
George Brandis	Attorney-General, Vice President of the Executive Council	2013	2017
George Brandis	Leader of the Government in the Senate	2015	2017
Fiona Nash	Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Regional Communications	2016	2017
Fiona Nash	Minister for Local Government & Territories	2016	2017
Darren Chester	Minister for Infrastructure & Transport	2016	2017
Peter Dutton	Minister for Immigration & Border Protection	2014	2017
Alex Hawke	Assistant Minister for Immigration & Border Protection	2016	2017
Ken Wyatt	Assistant Minister for Health	2015	2017
Ken Wyatt	Assistant Minister for Health & Aged Care	2015	2017
David Gillespie	Assistant Minister for Rural Health	2016	2017
David Gillespie	Assistant Minister for Health	2017	2017
Arthur Sinodinos	Minister for Industry, Innovation & Science	2017	2017
Arthur Sinodinos	Cabinet Secretary	2015	2017
Arthur Sinodinos	Acting Minister for Sport, Acting Minister for Health & Aged Care	2017	2017
Craig Laundy	Assistant Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science	2016	2017
Michaelia Cash	Minister for Employment	2015	2017
Christian Porter	Minister for Social Services	2015	2017
Alan Tudge	Minister for Human Services	2016	2017
Zed Seselja	Assistant Minister for Social Services & Multicultural Affairs	2016	2017
Michaelia Cash	Minister for Women	2013	2017
Sussan Ley	Minister for Health, Minister for Sport	2014	2017
Sussan Ley	Minister for Aged Care	2015	2017
Greg Hunt	Minister for Sport	2017	2017
Scott Ryan	Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Cabinet	2017	2017
Scott Ryan	Minister Assisting the Cabinet Secretary	2015	2017
Darren Chester	Minister for Regional Development	2017	2017
Darren Chester	Minister for Local Government & Territories	2017	2017
Barnaby Joyce	Minister for Resources & Northern Australia	2017	2017
Gary Gray	Member for Brand, Western Australia	2007	2016
Dennis Jensen	Member for Tangney, Western Australia	2004	2016
Alannah MacTiernan	Member for Perth, Western Australia	2013	2016
Melissa Parke	Member for Fremantle, Western Australia	2007	2016
Luke Simpkins	Member for Cowan, Western Australia	2007	2016
David Johnston	Senator for Western Australia	2002	2016
Warren Truss	Deputy Prime Minister; Minister for Infrastructure & Regional Development	2013	2016
Bruce Billson	Member for Dunkley, VIC	1996	2016
Jamie Briggs	Federal Member for Mayo, SA	2008	2016
Luke Hartsuyker	Assistant Minister for Employment, Deputy Leader of the House	2013	2016
Greg Hunt	Minister for the Environment	2013	2016
Ian Macfarlane	Member for Groom	1998	2016
Michael McCormack	Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance	2013	2016
Christopher Pyne	Minister for Industry, Innovation & Science	2015	2016
Andrew Robb	Member for Goldstein, VIC	2004	2016
Andrew Robb	Minister for Trade and Investment	2013	2016
Michael Ronaldson	Senator for Victoria	2005	2016
Scott Ryan	Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education and Training	2013	2016
Kelly O’Dwyer	Minister for Small Business, Assistant Treasurer	2015	2016
Wyatt Roy	Member for Longman		2016
Luke Hartsuyker	Minister for Vocational Education and Skills	2015	2016
Concetta Fierravanti-Wells	Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs	2015	2016
Michael McCormack	Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister	2015	2016
Michael McCormack	Assistant Minister for Defence	2016	2016
Mathias Cormann	Special Minister of State	2016	2016
Fiona Nash	Minister for Rural Health	2015	2016
Darren Chester	Assistant Minister for Defence	2015	2016
Paul Fletcher	Minister for Territories, Local Government and Major Projects	2015	2016
Alex Hawke	Assistant Minister to the Treasurer	2015	2016
Greg Hunt	Acting Minister for Cities and the Built Environment	2015	2016
Craig Laundy	Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs	2016	2016
Mitch Fifield	Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Digital Government	2015	2016
Alan Tudge	Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister	2015	2016
Alan Tudge	Assistant Minister for Social Services	2015	2016
Karen Andrews	Assistant Minister for Science	2014	2016
Josh Frydenberg	Minister for Resources, Energy and Northern Australia	2015	2016
Paul Kelly	Federal Parliament staff, Office of Senator Glenn Sterle	2016	2016
Dan Tehan	Minister for Defence Material	2016	2016
Richard Colbeck	Senator for Tasmania	2002	2016
Richard Colbeck	Minister for Tourism & International Education	2015	2016
Richard Colbeck	Minister Assisting the Minister for Trade & Investment	2015	2016
Bob Baldwin	Member for Paterson, NSW	2001	2016
Stuart Robert	Minister for Human Services	2015	2016
Stuart Robert	Minister for Veterans' Affairs	2015	2016
Stuart Robert	Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC	2015	2016
Scott Ryan	Minister for Vocational Education & Skills	2016	2016
Warren Truss	Member for Wide Bay, QLD	1990	2016
James McGrath	Assistant Minister to the Minister for Immigration & Border Protection	2016	2016
Don Randall	Member for Canning, Western Australia	2001	2015
Joe Hockey	Treasurer	2013	2015
Eric Abetz	Minister for Employment	2013	2015
George Brandis	Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate	2013	2015
Bruce Billson	Minister for Small Business	2013	2015
Jamie Briggs	Assistant Minister for Infrastructure & Regional Development	2013	2015
Darren Chester	Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence	2013	2015
Concetta Fierravanti-Wells	Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Services	2013	2015
Brett Mason	Senator for Queensland	1999	2015
Fiona Nash	Assistant Minister for Health	2013	2015
Marise Payne	Minister for Human Services	2013	2015
Stuart Robert	Assistant Minister for Defence	2013	2015
Alan Tudge	Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister	2013	2015
Steven Ciobo	Parliamentary Secretary to Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Trade & Investment	2014	2015
Concetta Fierravanti-Wells	Parliamentary Secretary to the Attorney-General	2015	2015
George Brandis	Minister for the Arts	2013	2015
Scott Morrison	Minister for Social Services	2014	2015
Kelly O’Dwyer	Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer	2014	2015
Paul Fletcher	Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communications	2013	2015
Christopher Pyne	Minister for Education and Training	2014	2015
Michaelia Cash	Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection	2013	2015
Michaelia Cash	Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women	2013	2015
Christian Porter	Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister	2014	2015
Simon Birmingham	Assistant Minister for Education & Training	2014	2015
Karen Andrews	Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry and Science	2014	2015
Josh Frydenberg	Assistant Treasurer	2014	2015
Scott Buchholz	Chief Government Whip, House of Representatives	2015	2015
Kevin Andrews	Minister for Defence	2014	2015
Bob Baldwin	Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment	2014	2015
Jamie Briggs	Minister for Cities & the Built Environment	2013	2015
Eric Abetz	Leader of the Senate	2013	2015
Mark Bishop	Senator for Western Australia	1996	2014
Alan Eggleston	Senator for Western Australia	1996	2014
David Johnston	Minister for Defence	2013	2014
Louise Pratt	Senator for Western Australia	2008	2014
Kevin Andrews	Minister for Social Services	2013	2014
Bob Baldwin	Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry	2013	2014
Simon Birmingham	Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment	2013	2014
Steven Ciobo	Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer	2013	2014
Peter Dutton	Minister for Health, Minister for Sport	2013	2014
Josh Frydenberg	Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister	2013	2014
Sussan Ley	Assistant Minister for Education	2013	2014
Brett Mason	Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs	2013	2014
Scott Morrison	Minister for Immigration & Border Protection	2013	2014
Christopher Pyne	Minister for Education	2013	2014
Arthur Sinodinos	Assistant Treasurer	2013	2014
Melissa Parke	Minister for International Development	2013	2013
Bill Shorten	Minister for Education	2013	2013
Bill Shorten	Minister for Workplace Relations	2011	2013
Bill Shorten	Minister for Financial Services & Superannuation	2010	2013
Eric Abetz	Leader of the Opposition	2010	2013
Barnaby Joyce	Senator for Queensland	2005	2013
Stephen Smith	Minister for Defence	2010	2013
Stephen Smith	Member for Perth	1993	2013
Tony Crook	Member for O'Connor, WA	2010	2013
Bill Shorten	Assistant Treasurer	2010	2011
Stephen Smith	Minister for Trade	2010	2010
Stephen Smith	Minister for Foreign Affairs	2007	2010
George Brandis	Minister for the Arts & Sport	2007	2007
Christopher Pyne	Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing	2004	2007
Christopher Pyne	Assistant Minister for Health and Ageing	2007	2007
Christopher Pyne	Minister for Ageing	2007	2007
Peter Dutton	Minister for Revenue, Assistant Treasurer	2006	2007
Greg Hunt	Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment and Heritage	2004	2007
Greg Hunt	Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs	2007	2007
Julie Bishop	Minister for Education, Science & Training	2006	2007
Julie Bishop	Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues	2006	2007
Chris Ellison	Minister for Justice and Customs	2001	2007
Chris Ellison	Minister for Human Services	2007	2007
Richard Colbeck	Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance & Administration	2006	2007
Kevin Andrews	Minister for Immigration & Citizenship	2007	2007
Kevin Andrews	Minister for Employment & Workplace Relations	2003	2007
Bob Baldwin	Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry, Tourism & Resources	2006	2007
Bruce Billson	Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence	2007	2007
Brett Mason	Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health & Ageing	2007	2007
David Johnston	Minister for Justice & Customs	2007	2007
Andrew Robb	Minister for Vocational & Further Education	2007	2007
Warren Truss	Minister for Trade	2006	2007
Eric Abetz	Minister for Fisheries, Forestry & Conservation	2006	2007
Nigel Scullion	Minister for Community Services	2003	2007
David Fawcett	Member for Wakefield, South Australia	2004	2007
Amanda Vanstone	Minister for Immigration, Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs	2003	2007
Amanda Vanstone	Senator for South Australia	1984	2007
Richard Colbeck	Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry	2004	2006
Peter Dutton	Minister for Workforce Participation	2004	2006
Julie Bishop	Minister for Ageing	2003	2006
Bruce Billson	Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs	2004	2006
Bruce Billson	Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Immigration, Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs	2005	2006
Warren Truss	Minister for Transport & Regional Services	2005	2006
Eric Abetz	Special Minister of State	2001	2006
Warren Truss	Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry	1999	2005
Christopher Pyne	Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Family and Community Services	2003	2004
Kevin Andrews	Minister for Ageing	2001	2003
Amanda Vanstone	Minister for Family & Community Services; Minister assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women	2001	2003
Christian Porter	Law Enforcement Advisor, Minister for Justice & Customs	2001	2002
Chris Ellison	Special Minister of State	1998	2001
Amanda Vanstone	Minister for Justice & Customs	1997	2001
Rachael Kelly	Parliamentary Officer	1991	2000
Bob Baldwin	Member for Paterson, NSW	1996	1998
Chris Ellison	Minister for Schools, Vocational Education and Training	1997	1998
Chris Ellison	Minister for Customs and Consumer Affairs; Minister Assisting the Attorney-General	1997	1997
Amanda Vanstone	Minister for Employment, Education, Training & Youth Affairs	1996	1997
Carmen Lawrence	Minister for Human Services & Health; Minister assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women	1994	1996

Biography

The Parliament consists of two Houses (the House of Representatives and the Senate) and the Queen, represented in Australia by the Governor General. Parliament makes laws, authorises the Government to spend public money, scrutinises government activities, and is a forum for debate on national issues.