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How Australia Works

How Australia Works

How laws are made, and how they affect you

Sep 23, 2026 · 20 min · 10 segments

How are laws made in Australia? Through Wurundjeri Elder Uncle Dave Wandin’s story of the Birrarung, also known as the Yarra River, learn how an idea becomes a bill, passes through Victoria’s…

How are laws made in Australia? Through Wurundjeri Elder Uncle Dave Wandin’s story of the Birrarung, also known as the Yarra River, learn how an idea becomes a bill, passes through Victoria’s parliament and receives royal assent, the formal approval that makes it law. How Australia Works is an SBS podcast that uses real stories and clear explanations to help you understand how government work in Australia, how laws are made and changed, and how you can have a say. Listen to the series and find shorter versions in 60 languages on the How Australia Works main page.

How are laws made in Australia? Through Wurundjeri Elder Uncle Dave Wandin’s story of the Birrarung, also known as the Yarra River, learn how an idea becomes a bill, passes through Victoria’s…

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Show signals: SuitabilitySafeBiasCenter

Speakers: L-FRESH The LIONHostDave WandinGuestKyle FoxGuest

Top entities: Parliament×19 Australia×17 Yarra River×20 Cabinet×5 Woiwurrung×8

Why Parliament Matters1:35 – 3:19

L-FRESH The LIONHost

1:35

Every family has had this argument: "What are we eating for dinner?" Someone wants rice.

L-FRESH The LIONHost

1:41

Someone wants pasta.

L-FRESH The LIONHost

1:43

Someone wants takeaway.

L-FRESH The LIONHost

1:45

And someone says, "Well, hey, there's food at home." And suddenly we're no longer just talking about dinner.

L-FRESH The LIONHost

1:52

We're talking about priorities, budget, timing, who gets a say, and who has to clean up afterwards.

L-FRESH The LIONHost

1:59

Now, imagine that conversation with over 200 representatives.

L-FRESH The LIONHost

2:04

[crowd chatter] Add microphones, rules, a public gallery, and one very patient speaker trying to keep everyone in order.

L-FRESH The LIONHost

2:13

Order.

L-FRESH The LIONHost

2:14

That's Parliament, except instead of deciding dinner, they're deciding laws.

L-FRESH The LIONHost

2:20

[crowd chatter] Order.

L-FRESH The LIONHost

2:22

Parliament can be noisy.

L-FRESH The LIONHost

2:23

Order.

L-FRESH The LIONHost

2:24

Sometimes very noisy.

L-FRESH The LIONHost

2:27

Order.

S

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

2:27

On Saturday, earlier today, those opposite said that we should bring on legislation for a vote, and then when we did, they voted against it.

S

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

2:40

[crowd chatter] Then when we did, we voted against it.

L-FRESH The LIONHost

2:43

Order.

S

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

2:44

Sound familiar?

L-FRESH The LIONHost

2:45

Member for Reid.

S

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

2:46

Sound familiar?

L-FRESH The LIONHost

2:48

The member for Reid's actions weren't-

S

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

2:49

I'm certain that he didn't raise it with the Prime Minister.

S

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

2:51

He didn't raise it in our Parliament in our question time.

S

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

2:55

[crowd chatter]

L-FRESH The LIONHost

2:55

Underneath the noise, ideas are being tested.

ParliamentEntity
98%19 mentions
AustraliaCountryCountry in Oceania
93%17 mentions
Yarra RiverRiverRiver in Australia
89%20 mentions
CabinetEntity
84%5 mentions
WoiwurrungEntity
80%8 mentions
VictoriaAdministrative AreaAustralian State
75%4 mentions
GoFundMeWebsite
70%11 mentions
WurundjeriEntityPeople
66%2 mentions
Royal assentEntity
61%1 mention
Aboriginal AustraliansEntityPeople
57%2 mentions
Act of ParliamentBook
52%1 mention
Legislative assemblyOrganizationGoverning body
48%1 mention
Legislative councilEntity
43%1 mention
CammeraygalEntity
36%1 mention
EoraEntityPeople
36%1 mention
South Western SydneyPlace
30%1 mention
YarralumlaPlaceSuburb in Australia
25%1 mention
WiradjuriEntityAboriginal group
20%1 mention
Australian House of RepresentativesOrganization
16%1 mention
Creative CommonsCompanyNonprofit organization
11%1 mention
EnglishEntitySpoken language
7%1 mention
CanberraDefense EstablishmentCapital of Australia
2%1 mention

Environmental AdvocacySociety > Community Engagement > Indigenous Peoples
Society
Water ProtectionLaw > Legislation > Environmental Law
Cultural SignificanceLaw > Legislation > Environmental Law > Water Protection
Cultural HeritageSociety > Community Engagement > Indigenous Peoples > Environmental Advocacy
Bill PassagePolitics > Parliamentary Process
Legislative DebatePolitics > Parliamentary Process > Bill Passage
Public ParticipationPolitics > Parliamentary Process > Bill Passage > Legislative Debate
Conservation LawEnvironment > Water Resources > River Health
Cultural IdentityEnvironment > Water Resources > River Health > Conservation Law
PoliticsGovernment
Environmental LawGovernment > Politics > Legislation
LegislationGovernment > Politics
Parliamentary ProcessPolitics
River HealthEnvironment > Water Resources
Indigenous RightsGovernment > Politics > Legislation > Environmental Law
Water ResourcesEnvironment
Community EngagementSociety
Environmental LawLaw > Legislation
Law
Politics
Environment
Government
LegislationLaw
Indigenous PeoplesSociety > Community Engagement

Why Parliament Matters1:35 – 3:19

L-FRESH The LIONHost

1:35

Every family has had this argument: "What are we eating for dinner?" Someone wants rice.

L-FRESH The LIONHost

1:41

Someone wants pasta.

L-FRESH The LIONHost

1:43

Someone wants takeaway.

L-FRESH The LIONHost

1:45

And someone says, "Well, hey, there's food at home." And suddenly we're no longer just talking about dinner.

L-FRESH The LIONHost

1:52

We're talking about priorities, budget, timing, who gets a say, and who has to clean up afterwards.

L-FRESH The LIONHost

1:59

Now, imagine that conversation with over 200 representatives.

L-FRESH The LIONHost

2:04

[crowd chatter] Add microphones, rules, a public gallery, and one very patient speaker trying to keep everyone in order.

L-FRESH The LIONHost

2:13

Order.

L-FRESH The LIONHost

2:14

That's Parliament, except instead of deciding dinner, they're deciding laws.

L-FRESH The LIONHost

2:20

[crowd chatter] Order.

L-FRESH The LIONHost

2:22

Parliament can be noisy.

L-FRESH The LIONHost

2:23

Order.

L-FRESH The LIONHost

2:24

Sometimes very noisy.

L-FRESH The LIONHost

2:27

Order.

S

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

2:27

On Saturday, earlier today, those opposite said that we should bring on legislation for a vote, and then when we did, they voted against it.

S

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

2:40

[crowd chatter] Then when we did, we voted against it.

L-FRESH The LIONHost

2:43

Order.

S

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

2:44

Sound familiar?

L-FRESH The LIONHost

2:45

Member for Reid.

S

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

2:46

Sound familiar?

L-FRESH The LIONHost

2:48

The member for Reid's actions weren't-

S

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

2:49

I'm certain that he didn't raise it with the Prime Minister.

S

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

2:51

He didn't raise it in our Parliament in our question time.

S

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

2:55

[crowd chatter]

L-FRESH The LIONHost

2:55

Underneath the noise, ideas are being tested.

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