FULL NAME OF THE COUNTRY|

Commonwealth of Australia

TYPE OF GOVERNMENT

Parliamentary Democracy

HEAD OF STATE

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Rev. Peter HOLLINGWORTH (since 29 June 2001)  

HEAD OF GOVERNMENT

PRIME MINISTER
John Winston HOWARD (since 11 March 1996; 

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER
John ANDERSON (since 20 July 1999)

POLITICAL INSTITUTION

Australian political institutions and practices follow the Western democratic tradition, reflecting British and North American experience.

A PARLIMENTARY DEMOCRACY

Australia is a robust democracy that pioneered votes for women and the secret ballot.

Australia's system of government reflects the British and North American models of liberal democracy, but has uniquely Australian features.

The Federal Government is based on a popularly elected Parliament with two chambers, the House of Representatives and the Senate. The party (or parties) with a majority in the House of Representatives becomes the government, with ministers appointed from both chambers.

Australia's administrative tradition originated in the British administration of the colonies. Its Federal, State and Territory public services are all career services, in the sense that they recruit permanent officers willing to serve the government of the day, whatever its political complexion.

Although Australia is an independent nation, Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain is also formally Queen of Australia. The Queen appoints a Governor-General of Australia (on the advice of the elected Australian Government) to represent her.

The Governor-general appoints ministers on the advice of the Prime Minister and / by convention, acts only on the advice of ministers on virtually all matters. This resembles the Canadian system of government.

Like the United States but unlike Britain, Australia has a written Constitution. It sets out the functions of the Federal Government such as foreign relations and trade, defense and immigration. States and Territories are responsible for matters not assigned to the Federal Government. In practice the two levels of government cooperate in many areas.

States and Territories create local government bodies. These do not have the law enforcement or public education functions vested in local bodies in other English speaking countries.

Australia has regular elections and voting is compulsory

The maximum term for Australian governments is three years from the first meeting of a new Federal Parliament. However, a Prime Minister can ask the Governor-general for a general election earlier than this. Only one parliament has run the full term of three years. The average, since the Federation in 1901, is two-and-a-half years.

Voting is compulsory in Australia. Although the fine for failing to vote is small, more than 90 per cent of voters cast a ballot. In single-seat electorates for the House of representatives, Australians must put a number against each candidate's name in order of preference. Preferences are also used in the statewide, multiple-seat electorates of the Senate.

To help their supporters get it right, political parties hand out 'how to vote' cards at polling booths. The preferences that flow from less popular candidates often decide who wins. Distributing preferences can take days or even weeks.

THE AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION

The Australian Federation has a three-tier system of government: Federal, State, and Local.  The Australian Parliament or legislature and the Government deal with all matters of national interest.  The six State Governments and their legislatures, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory complement the activities of the national government.  Local government  comprises about 900 bodies at the city, town, municipal and shire level.

With the Federal elections in 1902, Australia became one of the first countries where all women gained the right to vote.  Before the formation of the Federation, however, in 1894 the then Colony of South Australia became the first jurisdiction in Australia to accord women the right to vote.

THE CONSTITUTION

The powers of the Australian Parliament are defined in a written Constitution which came into force on January 1, 1901.  The Constitution can be changed only by referendum and then only if a majority of voters in each of at least four States, as well as an overall majority, favour it.  Of the 42 proposals submitted to referendums since the formation of the Federation, eight have been approved.

A REPUBLIC

Queen Elizabeth II as Queen of Australia is represented by a Governor-general and six State Governors.  However, the question whether Australia should become a republic with an Australian head of State is being debated currently in Australia.  The Republic Advisory Committee, established by the Australian Government, delivered a report on the issues involved and changes necessary to establish a republican government.  A group of senior ministers have developed a paper for Cabinet consideration.  A change to a republic would require the assent of the Australian people at a referendum.   

AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENT

Australian citizens elect their Members of parliament.  The party or coalition of parties with a majority in the House of Representatives forms the government; it provides the ministry and elects a Prime Minister.Elections for the House of 
Representatives and the Senate are conducted using a full preferential system.  This ensures that a majority of voters has a say in the election of the successful candidate.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The Constitution requires that the number of Members of Parliament (MPs) in the House of Representatives is as close as practicable to twice the number of MPs in the Senate.  Elections for the House of Representatives are held at least once in every three years.  Its 147 seats are divided among the States on a population basis: 50 from New South Wales, 38 from Victoria, 25 from Queensland, 14 from Western Australia, 12 from South Australia, five from Tasmania, two from the Australian Capital Territory and one from the Northern Territory.

SENATE

The Senate has 12 senators from each State and two each from the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory.  Senators from the States normally serve a six-year term, half of them retiring every three years.  Senators representing the Territories serve a maximum of three years, which coincides with the same terms of members of the House of Representatives.

The proportional representation electoral system for the Senate gives independent or smaller-party candidates a better chance than in elections for the House of Representatives.

STATE PARLIAMENTS

All State parliaments except  Queensland's have two chambers. The Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory have one chamber.  Queensland abolished its Upper House in 1922. In New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia, the Lower House is known as the Legislative Assembly; in Southern Australia and Tasmania it is called the House of Assembly. Each of the five Upper Houses is known as the Legislative Council. The States administer education, transport, law enforcement, health services and agriculture.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

The powers and responsibilities of local government vary from State to State.  Broadly they encompass town planning, parks, recreation grounds, swimming pools, public libraries and community centers; construction and maintenance of roads, streets and bridges; water, sewerage and drainage systems; public health and sanitary services; the supervision of building construction and the administration of weights and measures and related regulations.

EXECUTIVE

The Cabinet is the major policy-making agency of government and is presided over by the prime Minister; it is made up of about half the full ministry.  The Cabinet meets informally and in private.The Executive Council, a formal body presided over by the Governor-general, gives legal effect to Cabinet decisions.  Although all ministers are members, two or three ministers usually attend.

ELECTIONS

Voting by secret ballot in Federal and State elections is compulsory for all Australians aged 18 and over.  Those eligible who fail to vote without good reason may be fined.  At local government elections, voting is not always compulsory.

POLITICAL PARTIES

The Australian parliament represents four main political parties; the Australian labor Party, the Australian Democrats, the Liberal party and the National Party of Australia.  All have similar structures: they are Federal in character, have State divisions or branches, and each has a Federal executive and conference.  All support the rule of law, the maintenance of parliamentary democracy and liberty of the individual, which includes freedom of speech, religion and association.

TERRITORIAL DIVISIONS

European settlement of Australia began in 1788 when a British penal colony was established on the east of the continent.  Six British colonies were eventually established.  In 1901 these colonies joined together as a Federation.  The years following saw Australia grow increasingly independent of Britain.

Australia's six States are New South Wales, Victoria, Queens-land, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania.  The mainland territories are the Northern Territory (NT) and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), where the national capital, Canberra, is located.  The ACT also includes Jervis Bay on the south coast. Australia is also responsible for administering seven external  territories: Norfolk Island, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Christmas Island, the uninhabited Ashmore and Cartier Islands Territory, the Territory of Heard Island, the uninhabited Coral Sea Islands Territory, the McDonald Islands in the sub-Antarctic and the Australian Antarctic Territory.