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Australia has three levels of government: federal, state/territory, and local. The federal government, also referred to as the Australian Government or Commonwealth government, is led by the Prime Minister, who is elected by their fellow party members. The Prime Minister and their sworn ministers form the cabinet, which makes policies and decides the government agenda. The Senate and the House of Representatives are responsible for reviewing, debating, and voting on proposed laws. Members of the House of Representatives are elected for a term of three years using the preferential voting system. Senators are elected for a term of six years on a rotational basis using proportional representation. Local governments consist of elected members, normally with 4-year terms, and staff who work for the council. The head of the council is the Mayor or Shire President.
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What You'll Learn
Federal, state and local governments
Australia has three levels of government: federal, state, and local. The federal government, also referred to as the Australian Government or the Commonwealth government, is located in Canberra, the nation's capital. The leader of the federal government is the Prime Minister, who is elected by their fellow party members as the leader of the party that has won the majority of members elected to the House of Representatives. The Prime Minister and their sworn ministers form the cabinet, which makes policies and decides the government agenda. The Senate, or the "state's house," works with the House of Representatives to review, debate, and vote on proposed laws. Representatives elected to the Senate are called senators and represent an entire state or territory. Federal government responsibilities include foreign affairs, social security, industrial relations, trade, immigration, currency, and defence.
State governments, also known as state parliaments, are led by a Premier, who is the head of government in their respective state. Representatives elected to state parliaments are generally referred to as Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), Members of the House of Assembly (MHA), or Members of the Legislative Council (MLC). State and territory government responsibilities include justice, consumer affairs, health, education, forestry, public transport, and main roads.
Local governments, also called councils, municipalities, or shires, consist of elected members who typically serve four-year terms, and staff who work for the council. The council is headed by a Mayor or Shire President, and its responsibilities include local road maintenance, garbage collection, building regulations, land subdivisions, and public health and recreation facilities. Over 500 local councils make local laws (by-laws) for their region or district, and provide services such as traffic light management and animal registration.
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The role of the Prime Minister
The Australian government is elected by the people. Australians aged 18 and over vote to elect representatives to federal, state and territory parliaments, and local councils.
The Prime Minister is the leader of the Australian Government and the Cabinet of Australia. They are supported by the majority of the House of Representatives. The Prime Minister is appointed by the governor-general, who has the executive power to appoint ministers of state. The Prime Minister has the authority to make independent policy decisions and has significant influence over foreign policy. They are also responsible for setting the government's legislative timetable and priorities, and are in charge of matters of national security.
The Prime Minister must be able to command a continuous majority in the legislature to remain in office. They are usually the parliamentary leader of the party that has a majority in the House of Representatives. The Prime Minister does not have a fixed term and can call early elections.
The Prime Minister has two official residences. The primary residence is the Lodge in Canberra, which has been chosen by most Prime Ministers for its security facilities and proximity to Parliament House. The secondary residence is Kirribilli House in Sydney. As of 27 August 2023, the Prime Minister of Australia is paid a total salary of A$586,950.
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The Australian Electoral Commission
The AEC was established by the Australian Electoral Office Act 1973, with the Australian Electoral Office being reformed in 1984 through amendments to the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918. The AEC has a National Office in Canberra and an office in each state and territory: Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney.
The AEC's main role is to conduct federal elections, by-elections, and referendums, as well as to maintain up-to-date electoral rolls. It is also responsible for registering political parties intending to field candidates at federal elections, monitoring their activities, and receiving information on donations and expenditures.
The AEC provides information in a variety of languages and formats to help all eligible citizens understand enrolling and voting in Australia. This includes translated and accessible information in international and First Nations languages, as well as formats for people with low or no vision.
The AEC is accountable to the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters of the Parliament of Australia and must report on the conduct and success of elections. The Electoral Commissioner has the powers of a secretary of a department under the Public Service Act 1999 and the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1998.
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The three levels of government
In Australia, the three levels of government work together to provide services to the people. The three levels are federal, state and territory parliaments, and local councils. Each level of government has its own responsibilities, although sometimes these responsibilities are shared.
The federal government, located in Canberra, makes laws for the whole of Australia. The leader of the federal government is the Prime Minister, who is elected by their fellow party members as the leader of the party that has won the majority of members elected to the House of Representatives. The House of Representatives and the Senate review, debate, and vote on proposed laws. Senators represent a whole state or territory, with 12 senators for each state and two for each territory. Federal government responsibilities include foreign affairs, social security, industrial relations, trade, immigration, currency, and defence.
State and territory parliaments make laws that are enforced within their state or territory. The leader of a state government is called the Premier, except in the case of the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory, where the leader is called the Chief Minister. State and territory government responsibilities include justice, consumer affairs, health, education, forestry, public transport, and main roads.
Local governments, also known as councils, municipalities, or shires, consist of elected members and staff who work for the council. The head of the council is the Mayor or Shire President. Local governments make by-laws about local matters and provide services. Their responsibilities include local road maintenance, garbage collection, building regulations, land subdivisions, public health, and recreation facilities.
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The voting system
Australia has a three-tiered government structure, with federal, state, and local governments. Australians aged 18 and over can vote for representatives in all three tiers. The federal government is headquartered in Canberra, the nation's capital.
The federal government is led by the Prime Minister, who is elected by their fellow party members as the leader of the party that has won the majority of members elected to the House of Representatives. The House of Representatives uses the 'preferential' voting system, in which voters rank each candidate in order of preference. If one candidate receives more than half of the votes, they are elected. If there is no majority, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and those votes are redistributed based on the voter's preferences. The political party that wins the majority of seats in the House of Representatives forms the government, and the Prime Minister, along with their sworn ministers, forms the cabinet, which is the key decision-making organ of the government.
The Senate, on the other hand, uses a system of proportional representation, which allows for a more diverse range of politicians, including more women and younger people, as well as more independent and minor party candidates. The government is not required to hold a majority in the Senate to govern, and it is uncommon for the party in power to control both houses. Senators are elected for a term of six years on a rotational basis, with only half of the Senators up for re-election during a normal federal election.
At the state level, the leader is called the Premier, and representatives elected to state parliaments are generally known as 'Members' – Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), Members of the House of Assembly (MHA), or Members of the Legislative Council (MLC). The state governments have significant autonomy, as the federal government does not have the legal power to influence many of their decisions.
The local government, consisting of over 500 councils, is responsible for local matters such as road maintenance, garbage collection, and building regulations. The head of the Council is the Mayor or Shire President, and the elected members, known as councillors or aldermen, typically serve four-year terms.
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Frequently asked questions
There are three levels of government in Australia: federal, state/territory, and local councils. The federal government is located in Canberra, the nation's capital, and makes laws for the whole of Australia. State/territory parliaments are located in the capital cities of each of the 6 states and 2 territories. Local councils are located across Australia in each local council division.
Members of the government are appointed by the governor-general as ministers, formally known as the "King's Ministers of State". The governor-general is appointed by the King on the advice of the Prime Minister of Australia. The Prime Minister is elected by their fellow party members as the leader of the party that has won the majority of members elected to the House of Representatives.
Members of the House of Representatives are elected for a term of three years using the 'preferential' voting system. Voters rank each candidate in order of preference by placing numbers next to their names on the ballot paper. If one candidate receives more than half of the votes, they are elected. If there is no majority, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and those votes are redistributed based on the voter's preferences.
The Senate plays a joint role with the House of Representatives in reviewing, debating, and voting on proposed laws. Senators are elected for a term of six years on a rotational basis, with each state having 12 senators and each territory having two. The use of proportional representation in the Senate results in a more accurate representation of the Australian community, with a greater percentage of women and younger people than the House of Representatives.
