This report discusses the roles, functions and procedures of the modern Australian shadow cabinet. It aims to redress the shortage of material on the Shadow Cabinet, and provide the reader with a better understanding of what the Shadow Cabinet does and how it operates.

Joel Bateman examines some of the issues arising from shadow cabinet’s role in the parliamentary system. He also considers factors that affect shadow cabinet’s primary roles of organising the opposition, providing an alternative government and serving as an arena for the training and testing of potential future cabinet ministers.