Damon Mcknight
Australia is a democracy with three levels of government: federal, state, and local. Australians aged 18 and over elect representatives to federal, state, and territory parliaments, and local councils. Elections in Australia are held periodically to elect the legislature of the Commonwealth of Australia, as well as for each Australian state and territory. The federal government is led by the Prime Minister, while the leader of a state government is called the Premier. The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) is responsible for organising, conducting, and supervising federal elections, while State and Territory Electoral Commissions perform an equivalent role for state and territory elections.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of government levels | 3 |
| Federal government leader | Prime Minister |
| Federal government responsibilities | Foreign affairs, social security, industrial relations, trade, immigration, currency, defence, Medicare, foreign policy |
| State government leader | Premier |
| State government responsibilities | Justice, consumer affairs, health, education, forestry, public transport, main roads |
| Territory government leader | Chief Minister |
| Territory government responsibilities | Similar to state government |
| Local government bodies | Over 500 |
| Local government leader | Mayor or president |
| Local government responsibilities | Local roads, footpaths, cycle ways, street signage and lighting, waste management, traffic lights, dog and cat registration |
| Election organiser | Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) |
| Electoral roll enrolment | Mandatory for citizens aged 18+ |
| Voting day | Saturday |
| Voting methods | In person, early, postal, absentee |
| Public funding threshold | Queensland (6%), Victoria, Western Australia, Australian Capital Territory (4%), South Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory (0%) |
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What You'll Learn
Federal, state and territory elections
Australia is a democracy with a federal, state, and territorial system of government. The country has three levels of government, each with its own responsibilities, though some are shared. Australians aged 18 and over vote to elect representatives to federal, state, and territory parliaments, and local councils.
The federal government is led by the Prime Minister, who is the head of the party that has won the majority of members elected to the House of Representatives. The House of Representatives and territory senators are issued writs by the Governor-General, who is the King's representative and exercises executive power. The Senate, or the 'state's house', plays a joint role with the House of Representatives in reviewing, debating, and voting on proposed laws. Senators represent an entire state or territory, with 12 senators for each state and two for each territory. Federal elections are organised by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC), which also sets electoral boundaries and maintains the Commonwealth electoral roll.
State governments are led by a Premier, who advises the King on the appointment of the state governor. 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). State and territory elections are organised by their respective electoral commissions, which also use the Australian electoral roll, except in Western Australia, which maintains its own.
Territory parliaments have one house, the Legislative Assembly, and are led by a Chief Minister. Local government bodies, often called councils, municipalities, or shires, are established by state governments to look after the needs of a city or local community. Councillors or aldermen represent the people on these councils, which are chaired by a mayor or president.
Voting in Australia: Guide to Registering as a Voter
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Who can vote
To elect the state government in Australia, citizens who meet the eligibility criteria can vote. Here is a detailed overview of who can vote in Australian state elections:
Australian Citizenship
Only Australian citizens are eligible to enrol and vote in state elections. This requirement ensures that those participating in the democratic process and choosing the state's representatives are Australian citizens.
Age Requirement
In most Australian states, individuals must be at least 18 years old to vote. This age requirement ensures that voters have a basic level of maturity and understanding of the political process.
You may want to see also Elections in Australia are held periodically to elect members to the legislature of the Commonwealth of Australia, as well as for each Australian state and territory, and for local government councils. Australians aged 18 and over are able to vote in elections for representatives to federal, state and territory parliaments, and local councils. The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) is the federal government agency responsible for organising, conducting and supervising federal elections, by-elections and referendums. State and Territory Electoral Commissions perform an equivalent role for State and Territory elections. The Australian electoral roll is also used by the state and territory Electoral Commissions to conduct State, Territory and local government elections, except in Western Australia, which maintains its own electoral roll. There are over 500 local government bodies across Australia, which are often called councils, municipalities or shires. Local governments consist of two groups: elected members, who normally have 4-year terms, and staff who work for the council. On average, each council has 9 elected members, who are usually called councillors or aldermen, while the chair or head of the council is usually called the mayor or president. The federal electoral system is uniform throughout the country, while elections for state and territory parliaments are held under the electoral system of each state and territory. An election day is always a Saturday, but early voting is allowed in the lead-up to it. Voting can take place by a person attending in person at any polling place in their state on the election day or at early voting locations, or by applying for and mailing in a postal vote. Absentee voting is also available. Election campaigns and associated political advertisements are subject to some regulation. You may want to see also Australia is a democracy that holds elections periodically to elect the legislature of the Commonwealth of Australia, as well as for each Australian state and territory and for local government councils. The country has three levels of government, each with its own responsibilities, though in some cases, these responsibilities are shared. Australians aged 18 and over can vote to elect representatives to federal, state, and territory parliaments, and local councils to make decisions on their behalf. The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) is the federal government agency responsible for organising, conducting, and supervising federal elections, by-elections, and referendums. The AEC also sets electoral boundaries and redistributions and maintains the Commonwealth electoral roll. State and Territory Electoral Commissions perform similar roles for state and territory elections. The Australian electoral roll is also used by the state and territory Electoral Commissions to conduct State, Territory, and local government elections, except in Western Australia, which maintains its own electoral roll. Enrolment on the electoral roll is compulsory for all Australian citizens aged 18 and over. Voting is also compulsory for all persons on the electoral roll. Voting can take place in person at any polling place in the voter's state on the election day or early voting locations, or by applying for and mailing in a postal vote. Absentee voting is also available, but not proxy voting. The federal government is led by the Prime Minister, who is the head of government. The leader of a state government is called the Premier. The Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory have a different arrangement, with the leader of each territory government called the Chief Minister. The Governor-General exercises executive power as the King's representative and is appointed by the King on the advice of the Prime Minister. Each state has a governor, who is appointed by the King on the advice of the Premier of that state. You may want to see also Australia has three levels of government: federal, state and territory, and local. Elections in Australia are organised by their respective electoral commissions. The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) is responsible for federal elections, while State and Territory Electoral Commissions oversee State, Territory, and local government elections, except in Western Australia, which maintains its own electoral roll. The federal government is led by the Prime Minister, who is the head of government. The federal parliament consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Representatives in the House of Representatives are elected to represent separate divisions or electorates in Australia. Senators, on the other hand, represent an entire state or territory, with 12 senators for each state and two for each territory. State and territory governments have a significant degree of autonomy, with their own responsibilities and powers that are distinct from those of the federal government. The leader of a state government is called the Premier, while the leader of a territory government is called the Chief Minister. Representatives elected to state parliaments are generally known as Members, with specific titles depending on the state: Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), Members of the House of Assembly (MHA), or Members of the Legislative Council (MLC). Each state has its own local government Act, which outlines the rules for the creation and operation of councils. These councils, also known as municipalities or shires, consist of elected members and staff. On average, each council has nine elected members, typically serving four-year terms, and is led by a mayor or president. While there are some uniformities across the country, there are also state and territory variations in the electoral systems and thresholds for public funding. For example, Queensland has a 6% threshold for public funding, while Victoria, Western Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory have a 4% threshold. South Australia, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory do not provide public funding for parties and candidates during elections. You may want to see also Elections in Australia take place periodically to elect the legislature of the Commonwealth of Australia, as well as for each Australian state and territory. Australians aged 18 and over vote to elect representatives to federal, state and territory parliaments, and local councils. Voting is compulsory for all Australian citizens aged 18 and over who are enrolled on the electoral roll. 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 leader of a state government is called the Premier.Plastic Bag Bans: Australia's Progress
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Frequently asked questions
