Hi! I'm Shawn the Prawn. I live on - or in, actually - Australia's Parliament House (just inside the main doors on the first landing of the grand staircase leading from the Marble Hall up to the first floor to be exact).

I love living in Parliament House. Sharing a house with a democracy is awesome! There are thousands of fascinating humans who work here, from politicians to Hansard reporters to chefs to carpenters to security guards. (There's even one horologist, which is the fancy word for someone who fixes clocks.) Laws are made here.

Arguments are had here. Everyone has an opinion about the best way for our country to work. And every grown-up Australian has the right to vote and be part of those decisions. This is called a democracy, and Australia's democracy is totally unique, and it rocks. And I should know, as I'm encased in some pretty solid sedimentary rock.

Ever wondered why every three years or so, Australians come together on a Saturday to elect a government? We do this because having a government is the best way for large groups of people to live in peace and enjoy things like roads and airports and hospitals and delicious food without having to personally arrange all the boring stuff that comes along with those privileges, like personally building roads or airports (difficult!) or individually train as doctors, or make sure the food we eat is not poisoned or crazy overpriced.

But how do we elect a government? And how does the government make decisions? And what is so special about our system of democracy?

Join Annabel Crabb, political writer, commentator and broadcaster, as she explores, explains and examines Australia's amazing democracy from the smallest shrimp to Australia's largest coat hanger with humorous asides from Guardian Australia cartoonist, First Dog on the Moon.