<P> In the Australian Parliament, a motion of no - confidence requires a majority of the members present in the House of Representatives to agree to it . The House of Representatives currently consists of 150 members; requiring 76 votes in favour of the motion when all members of the House are present . A straight vote of no confidence in a Government, or a motion or amendment censuring a Government, has never been successful in the House of Representatives . Despite this, on eight occasions Governments have either resigned or advised a dissolution following their defeat on other questions before the House . The last time a government resigned after being defeated in the House came in October 1941, when the House rejected the budget of Arthur Fadden's minority government . </P> <P> Specific motions of no confidence or censure motions against the Prime Minister, ministers, the Leader of the Opposition, Senators and leaders of political parties have been moved and have been successful on some occasions . Motions of no confidence against the Government may be passed in the Senate, yet may have little or no impact in the House . </P> <P> On 7 August 2017, Speaker Baleka Mbete announced that she would permit a motion of no confidence in Jacob Zuma's government to proceed in the National Assembly via secret ballot . It was the eighth motion to be brought against Zuma in his presidency and the first to be held via secret ballot . After the vote was held the next day, the motion was defeated 198 - 177, with 25 abstentions . Around 20 ANC MPs voted in favor of the measure . </P> <P> In presidential systems, the legislature may occasionally pass motions of no confidence and may also have the procedure of impeachment by which an executive or judicial officer can be removed . </P>

No confidence motion against the union council of ministers can be initiated