At a Glance:

Official Country Page

Year became a federation: 1900

Current constitution in force since: 1901

Constituent units: 6 states, 1 capital territory, 1 mainland territory. 7 external territories

Association of Constituent Units

Association of Municipal Governments

Head of State: Governor General

Head of Government: Prime Minister

Legislature:
Upper House: Senate
Lower House: House of Representatives

Newspapers

Australia
Professor of politics comments on Australian elections Prof. Alan Fenna (left) speaks at a Forum luncheon address in Ottawa flanked by Forum European Programs Director Felix Knüpling and Forum Senior Director of Public Information and Education Rod Macdonell.
Prof. Alan Fenna (left) speaks at a Forum luncheon address in Ottawa flanked by Forum European Programs Director Felix Knüpling and Forum Senior Director of Public Information and Education Rod Macdonell.
Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd did not believe in federalism, said Prof. Alan Fenna at a recent Forum luncheon address, “rather, he believed in making federalism work.” The differe  More Information

 

AustraliaOur work in Australia:

With its local partners in Argentina, the Forum has been organizing events since 2001 - ranging from a comparative workshop on federalism in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Canada to a seminar on fiscal responsibility and the end of the economic crisis.

Federalism in Australia:

Australia’s six British colonies federated to become states in the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. The federal system and the constitutional framework were modeled on those of the United States.

In more than 100 years since federation, Commonwealth (central government) powers have tended to expand through usage and judicial interpretation. The Australian federation relies in part on an extensive network of ministerial councils and a diversity of co-operative schemes designed to co-ordinate legislation and policy. The Commonwealth can intervene in areas solely of state concern, the most sensitive of which include the environment and human rights. Inevitably, these procedures distract from the authority of individual parliaments and enhance the role of executive government.

In recent years, Australia’s main forum for federalism reform has been the Council of Australian Governments (CAG). Established in 1992, the CAG is comprised of the prime minister and all state premiers. The Council for the Federation, established in 2006, acts as a spokesperson for the state and territorial governments.

Issues that could change Australia’s federal system in the future are the management of water in the Murray-Darling River Basin, reorganization of Australia’s hospital funding and health care system and amendments to the Goods and Services Tax, among others.

 
  • Forum program director for Australia:
    Felix Knuepling

  • Forum Board Member for Australia: Roger Wilkins


Australia country profile by Cheryl Saunders