▁each ▁of ▁the ▁six ▁states ▁of ▁Australia ▁and ▁two ▁sen ators ▁representing ▁each ▁of ▁the ▁Northern ▁Territ ory ▁and ▁the ▁Australian ▁Capital ▁Territ ory . ▁All ▁members ▁were ▁elected ▁at ▁the ▁ 1 9 8 3 ▁election ▁following ▁a ▁double ▁dissol ution ▁of ▁both ▁houses ▁of ▁parliament , ▁rather ▁than ▁the ▁normal ▁case ▁of ▁only ▁half ▁of ▁the ▁state ▁sen ators ▁facing ▁election . ▁ ▁In ▁accord ance ▁with ▁section ▁ 1 3 ▁of ▁the ▁Constitution , ▁following ▁a ▁double ▁dissol ution ▁of ▁Parliament , ▁the ▁terms ▁for ▁Sen ators ▁commence ▁on ▁ 1 ▁July ▁preceding ▁the ▁election ▁– ▁i . e ., ▁on ▁ 1 ▁July ▁ 1 9 8 2 . ▁ ▁The ▁first ▁five ▁Sen ators ▁elected ▁in ▁each ▁State ▁were ▁allocated ▁the ▁full ▁six - year ▁terms ▁ending ▁on ▁ 3 0 ▁June ▁ 1 9 8 8 ▁while ▁the ▁other ▁half ▁were ▁allocated ▁three - year ▁terms ▁ending ▁on ▁ 3 0 ▁June ▁ 1 9 8 5 . ▁Sen ators ▁took ▁their ▁seats ▁immediately ▁following ▁the ▁election ▁on ▁ 5 ▁March ▁ 1 9 8 3 . ▁ ▁The ▁four ▁territory ▁sen ators ▁were ▁elected ▁in ▁March ▁ 1 9 8 3 ▁and ▁their ▁terms ▁ended ▁at ▁the ▁dissol ution ▁of ▁the ▁House ▁of ▁Representatives , ▁which ▁was ▁December ▁ 1 9 8 4 . ▁ ▁See ▁also ▁Australian ▁House ▁of ▁Representatives ▁Australian ▁elect oral ▁system ▁ ▁Notes ▁ ▁References ▁ ▁Category : M embers ▁of ▁Australian ▁parliament s ▁by ▁term ▁Category : 2 0 th -