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Australia is divided into six states and two territories, each with its own unique mix of environments, cultures, and rhythms. These states are partially sovereign, administrative divisions that are self-governing, with their own constitutions, legislatures, executive governments, judiciaries, and law enforcement agencies. The six states are New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, and Tasmania. The two territories are the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory, which contains Canberra, the nation's capital. In addition to these, Australia also administers several external territories, including Norfolk Island, the Coral Sea Islands, and Christmas Island, among others.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of states | 6 |
| State names | New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania |
| Number of territories | 10 |
| Territory names | Northern Territory, Australian Capital Territory, Norfolk Island, Coral Sea Islands, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Christmas Island, Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Jervis Bay Territory, Australian Antarctic Territory |
| Territory legislatures | All territories and states (except Jervis Bay Territory) have their own legislatures |
| Territory autonomy | Autonomous in administering local policies and programs, but legally subordinate to the federal government |
| State autonomy | Partially sovereign, self-governing polities with their own constitutions, legislatures, executive governments, judiciaries, and law enforcement agencies |
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What You'll Learn
Australia has six states and two territories
Australia is divided into six states and two territories, each with its own unique blend of environments, cultures, and lifestyles. These states and territories serve as the country's second level of government and are partially sovereign, self-governing divisions. While all states have their own legislatures, executive governments, and judiciaries, the territories are legally subordinate to the federal government, with the exception of the self-governing Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and the Northern Territory.
The six states of Australia are New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, and Tasmania. Each state has its own governor, who is appointed by the monarch, and a premier, who leads the state government. New South Wales, the site of the nation's largest city, Sydney, offers a diverse range of attractions, from pristine seaside villages to mountain wilderness. Queensland, known as the "Sunshine State," boasts the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef, the ancient Daintree Rainforest, and the Whitsunday Islands. South Australia, often referred to as the "Festival State," is known for its thriving arts scene and hosts over 500 festivals annually.
Victoria, with its cultural hub in Melbourne, has been recognised as one of the world's most liveable cities. The state offers a diverse range of attractions, from renowned museums and galleries to the majestic Grampians National Park. Western Australia, the largest state, is situated on the west coast and features the dramatic Kimberley Region, the idyllic Rottnest Island, and the premium wine and surf region of Margaret River. Its capital, Perth, is known for its serene beaches and fresh seafood.
In addition to the six states, Australia comprises two internal territories: the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and the Northern Territory. The ACT, home to the nation's capital, Canberra, blends nature and culture, boasting iconic institutions, a flourishing restaurant scene, and stunning wine regions. The Northern Territory, similar to a state in its administrative status, has its own parliament and can pass legislation.
While the focus is on the two internal territories, Australia also administers several external territories, including Norfolk Island, the Coral Sea Islands, and the Australian Antarctic Territory, covering 42% of the Antarctic continent. These external territories are governed by the federal government, with the exception of the Heard Island and McDonald Islands, which are administered by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
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The Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
Australia is divided into six states and two territories, each with its own unique mix of environments, cultures, and rhythms. One of the territories is the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), which is an internal territory of Australia. Canberra, the capital city of Australia, is situated within the territory and is the territory's primate city. The territory is located in southeastern Australia as an enclave surrounded by the state of New South Wales.
The Australian Capital Territory was known as the Federal Capital Territory until 1938. The territory was transferred to the federal government by New South Wales in 1911, two years prior to the capital city being founded and formally named as Canberra in 1913. The overwhelming majority of the territory's population resides in the city of Canberra in the territory's northeast, although the territory also includes towns such as Williamsdale, Oaks Estate, Uriarra, Tharwa, and Hall. The territory also includes the Namadgi National Park, which comprises the majority of the land area of the territory.
The Australian Capital Territory is home to some of Australia's most important national institutions, including the Parliament of Australia, the High Court of Australia, the National Gallery of Australia, and the National Museum of Australia. The territory has a flourishing restaurant scene, a stunning wine region, and an impressive array of parks and gardens.
The Australian Capital Territory has a unicameral legislature, the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly, which is unique among Australian states and self-governing territories as it has no vice-regal post exercising authority as the representative of the monarch. The Legislative Assembly has 25 members, elected from five electorates—Brindabella, Ginninderra, Kurrajong, Murrumbidgee, and Yerrabi—each having five members. Members are elected for four-year terms by the Hare-Clark system, a variation of the Single Transferable Vote form of proportional representation. The executive power of the territory rests with the ACT government, headed by the Chief Minister, who is currently Andrew Barr of the Labor Party. The Chief Minister is the equivalent of a State Premier and sits on the National Cabinet.
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The Northern Territory
Australia is divided into six states and two territories, each with its own unique mix of environments, cultures, and rhythms. One of the two territories is the Northern Territory, which is an internal territory in the central and central-northern regions of Australia. It shares its borders with Western Australia to the west, South Australia to the south, and Queensland to the east. To the north, the Northern Territory is bordered by the Timor Sea, the Arafura Sea, and the Gulf of Carpentaria, and includes various islands of the Indonesian archipelago.
The economy of the Northern Territory is largely based on mining and petroleum, which contributed 23% of the gross state product in 2018-2019. The region also has a significant cattle-raising industry, with Victoria River Downs Station once being the largest cattle station in the world.
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External territories
Australia has six federated states and two internal territories. In addition, it administers several external territories.
The external territories of Australia include the Ashmore and Cartier Islands, the Australian Antarctic Territory, Christmas Island, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, the Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, and Norfolk Island.
The Ashmore and Cartier Islands were accepted by Australia in 1934 and were annexed to the Northern Territory before the adoption of the Statute of Westminster in 1942, which came into effect in 1939. Thus, they became a part of Australia. The Coral Sea Islands are situated in an area of approximately 780,000 square kilometres of the Coral Sea, extending from the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef. Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands are located in the Indian Ocean, with the former known for its unique natural attractions, including some of the world's best diving and an annual crab migration. The Cocos (Keeling) Islands, on the other hand, offer a remote outpost with relaxing beaches, vibrant coral reefs, and a fascinating Cocos Malay culture.
Heard Island and McDonald Islands are uninhabited but are treated as constitutionally part of Australia by the central government. Norfolk Island's status is more controversial, with the Australian government taking measures to integrate the territory into Australia, including representation in parliament and compulsory voting. However, the Norfolk Islanders have not formally consented to this change and assert that they are not Australian.
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State legislatures and the Federal Parliament
Australia is divided into six states and two territories, each with its own unique mix of environments, cultures, and rhythms. These states and territories are the second level of government of Australia, with their own constitutions, legislatures, executive governments, judiciaries, and law enforcement agencies.
Each state has a governor, appointed by the monarch, who is currently King Charles III. The Australian Capital Territory (ACT), however, does not have a governor. Instead, the functions of the head of the Executive are carried out by the Assembly itself and the chief minister. The Northern Territory also does not have a governor but an Administrator, who is appointed by the governor-general.
The Federal Parliament, officially the Parliament of the Commonwealth, is the federal legislature of Australia. It consists of three elements: the monarch of Australia (represented by the governor-general), the Senate (the upper house), and the House of Representatives (the lower house). The Parliament combines elements from the British Westminster system and the United States Congress. The upper house, the Senate, consists of 76 members: twelve for each state, and two for each of the self-governing territories. Senators are elected using the proportional system, and the chamber features a multitude of parties. The House of Representatives has a maximum term of three years, although it can be dissolved early.
The State legislatures, on the other hand, are located in the capital cities of each of the six states and two territories. Each state, except Queensland, has a parliament that consists of two houses. The Queensland Parliament, the Northern Territory Parliament, and the Australian Capital Territory Parliament are unicameral, with only one house called the Legislative Assembly.
While the Federal Parliament makes laws for the whole of Australia, the State legislatures make laws for their respective states or territories. The Federal Parliament can override territorial legislation, and the federal High Court of Australia acts as the final court of appeal for all matters, with the authority to override any state judiciary.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia is divided into six states and ten territories.
The six states in Australia are New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, and Tasmania.
The ten territories of Australia are the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory, and eight external territories: Norfolk Island, Coral Sea Islands, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Christmas Island, Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, the Jervis Bay Territory, and the Australian Antarctic Territory.
The states are partially sovereign, self-governing polities that have their own constitutions, legislatures, executive governments, judiciaries, and law enforcement agencies. Territories are legally subordinate to the federal government but can still be autonomous and administer local policies and programs.
Yes, the capital of Australia is Canberra, located in the Australian Capital Territory.
