Senate composition at 1 July 1983 Government (30) Labor (30) - (3 seat minority)
[1] It consisted of ten senators for each of the six states of Australia and two senators representing each of the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory.
In accordance with section 13 of the Constitution, following a double dissolution of Parliament, the terms for senators commence on 1 July preceding the election – i.e., on 1 July 1982.
The first five senators elected in each state were allocated the full six-year terms ending on 30 June 1988 while the other half were allocated three-year terms ending on 30 June 1985.
The four territory senators were elected in March 1983 and their terms ended at the dissolution of the House of Representatives, which was December 1984.