Omari Gates
Democracy in Australia has evolved since Federation in 1901, when six British colonies united to form a nation. The country has maintained a stable liberal democratic political system under its Constitution, which is the world's tenth oldest. Australia is a federation, where power is divided between the federal government and the states. The country operates as a two-party system with compulsory voting, and the Australian Electoral Commission oversees elections. While Australia has pioneered women's suffrage and public broadcasting of parliamentary proceedings, it has also faced challenges in ensuring equitable voting rights for all citizens. The country has experienced movements seeking to end the monarchy, and while it is viewed as a leading liberal democracy internationally, there are ongoing issues of division, low trust in government, and the need to address long-term challenges.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Democracy type | "Full democracy" by the Economist Intelligence Unit in 2023 |
| Democracy ranking | Sixth oldest continuous democracy in the world |
| Political system | Constitutional monarchy, governed via a parliamentary democracy in the Westminster tradition |
| Federation | Power is divided between the federal government and the states |
| Head of state | King Charles III |
| Governor-general | The King's representative in Australia |
| Head of government | Prime Minister Anthony Albanese |
| Voting system | Compulsory |
| Voting process | Voters rank candidates according to preference, and preferences are distributed to losing candidates until one has a majority |
| Voting oversight | Australian Electoral Commission |
| Constitution | Written |
| Constitution amendment | Requires a majority of citizens' votes in a referendum and a majority of the population of at least four states |
| Number of parliaments | Seven |
| Suffrage | Women, non-white people, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were historically not allowed to vote |
| Public broadcast | Pioneered the public broadcast of parliamentary proceedings |
| Bill of Rights | None |
| Public trust in government | Low |
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What You'll Learn
Australia's voting system
When Australia first held elections, they were modelled largely on those in the United Kingdom. The system in place was a simple 'first past the post' system, where the candidate with the most votes wins, regardless of whether they achieved a majority of votes. This was the way the House of Representatives was chosen until 1919, when the Hughes government introduced a preferential system.
In the preferential system, voters rank candidates according to preference, and preferences are distributed to losing candidates until one has a majority. This system has remained largely unchanged. Almost every Parliament in Australia elects its Lower House this way, except for Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory, which use a proportional system known as Hare-Clark. In New South Wales and Queensland, preferences are optional, while in other states and the Commonwealth, a vote is only valid if full preferences are allocated.
The Senate voting system has changed several times. In 1948, the most significant change to Australia's electoral system was made when the Commonwealth Electoral Act was amended to elect the Senate by a 'single transferable vote', or a proportional system. From 1949, all the votes for the Senate would be counted and seats allocated by proportion of the vote cast. This has resulted in government majorities in the Upper House being rare, and a significant minor party, or several, usually holding the balance of power.
Australia has a complex electoral system that combines elements of proportional and constituency systems. There are 150 seats in the House of Representatives, each representing an electorate of around 140,000 people. To vote for an MP, voters must fill out a ballot paper by numbering all the candidates in order of preference. There are 76 senators in the upper house: 12 from each of the six states, and two each from the two mainland territories. Senators from the states are elected for six years, while those from the territories are elected every three years along with the House of Representatives.
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Federation in 1901
The federation established a system of federalism in Australia, with the creation of a federal government that was responsible for matters concerning the whole nation. The new constitution, approved by a vote of the Australian people in referendums held in each colony between June 1899 and July 1900, established a bicameral Parliament, consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives. The Constitution also provided for the establishment of a High Court and divided the powers of government between the states and the new Commonwealth government. The states retained their own parliaments and the majority of their existing powers, but certain functions were now based on state initiatives, such as the Conciliation and Arbitration Court, which was established in 1904 and handed down the first federal basic wage in 1907.
The federation also entailed the creation of a customs and fiscal union, with tariffs abolished on interstate trade. The colonies adopted the Commonwealth's common external tariff schedule in October 1901, and Australian banknotes were issued in 1912. The federal government assumed defence powers, although the states continued to raise contingents for the war in South Africa until the formation of a Commonwealth Defence Department in 1903. The first federal troops embarked for South Africa as the Australian Commonwealth Horse from December 1901, and peace was signed on 31 May 1902.
The federation in 1901 was a significant step towards establishing a unified system of government in Australia, with the creation of a federal structure and the transfer of some law-making power from the states to the Australian Parliament. It also protected the Constitution from corruption or absolute power, as any changes to it require a majority vote in a referendum.
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The Australian Constitution
Australia's democracy has evolved since Federation in 1901, when six British colonies united to become a single federated nation. This union was the result of a series of conventions and negotiations between the colonies, culminating in the creation of the Australian Constitution, which forms the basis of the country's democratic system.
The Constitution was drafted between 1891 and 1898 at conventions attended by representatives of the six self-governing British colonies in Australia: New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, and Tasmania. The draft constitution was then approved by each state in a series of referendums from 1898 to 1900. With a final change ensuring the right of appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council from the High Court. The constitution also had to be agreed upon by the British Parliament, which occurred in 1900, and it came into effect on January 1, 1901.
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$71.97 $116
Public trust in key political institutions
Australia's democracy has been described as "generally in good shape" and the country is viewed internationally as a leading liberal democracy. However, there are pressing issues that need to be addressed, including low levels of public trust in key political institutions.
The 2024 Edelman Trust Barometer found that only 50% of people worldwide trust their governments, and this number is even lower in developed countries like the United States and the United Kingdom. This culture of discontentment has led to reduced civic engagement, increased political polarisation, and a rise in identity politics. Citizens believe that decisions are made to serve special interests rather than the common good, leading to a general sense of disillusionment with the political process.
In Australia, the situation is similar. While the country is assessed in most global rankings as one of the leading liberal democracies, with continuous economic growth, a strong federal system, and competitive elections, there are still issues with public trust in key political institutions. The 2024 World Values Survey showed that while support for democratic values in Australia remains strong, with Australians valuing free and fair elections, the rule of law, and representative democracy, there is low trust in the government.
Australia's democracy is unique in that it is a constitutional monarchy, governed via a parliamentary democracy in the Westminster tradition. The country has a written constitution, which is well protected from corruption or a ruler seeking absolute power. Any changes to the constitution must be approved by a majority of citizens in a referendum, as well as a majority of the population in at least four states. This makes it difficult to keep the constitution up-to-date, with only eight out of 44 referendums in Australia's history being successful.
Despite the challenges, Australian democracy remains strong and continues to evolve to meet contemporary needs and attitudes.
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The Australian Electoral Commission
The AEC is also responsible for registering political parties intending to field candidates at federal elections, monitoring their activities, and receiving returns from parties of donations and expenditures. It also plays a role in industrial voting and protected action ballots. The AEC is required to maintain a register of political parties.
The AEC was created in 1973 by the Australian Electoral Office Act 1973. In 1984, the Australian Electoral Office was reformed through amendments to the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 and is currently known as the Australian Electoral Commission. 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 is overseen by an Electoral Commissioner, who has the powers of a secretary of a department under the Public Service Act 1999 and the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1998. Each House of Representatives electorate has a Divisional Returning Officer responsible for the administration of elections within the division. Each state also has an Australian Electoral Officer responsible for the administration of Senate elections.
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Frequently asked questions
The defining moment for Australian democracy was the Federation in 1901, when six British colonies united to become a nation.
Australia operates as a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy in the Westminster tradition. It is a federation, with power divided between the federal government and the states. Australia has a written constitution, which is well-protected from corruption, and a strong federal system. Voting is compulsory, and elections are overseen by an independent body, the Australian Electoral Commission.
Australia's voting system has evolved over the years. Initially, elections were modelled on those in the United Kingdom, with a 'first-past-the-post' system. However, in 1919, a preferential system was introduced, where voters rank candidates according to preference. In 1948, another significant change was made with the introduction of the 'single transferable vote' for Senate elections, resulting in increased representation for minor parties.
Australian democracy faces challenges such as low trust in government institutions, a perception of division among the population, and a sense of discontentment with elected officials. There is also a lack of equitable representation, with certain groups still facing discrimination and limited voting rights. Additionally, maintaining an up-to-date constitution that protects the rights of all citizens has proven difficult.
Australia is viewed as a leading liberal democracy internationally and is the world's sixth oldest continuous democracy. It is known for its economic growth, strong federal system, and competitive elections. While democracies worldwide are facing legitimacy issues, Australia's democracy is generally considered to be in good shape, with strong support for democratic values among its citizens.
