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Australia has a total of six state parliaments and two territory parliaments, which are located in the country's eight capital cities. The six states include New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, and Queensland. The two territories are the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory. While most state and territory parliaments are bicameral with two houses, the parliaments of Queensland, the Australian Capital Territory, and the Northern Territory are unicameral with a single house called the Legislative Assembly.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of state and territory parliaments | 8 (6 state parliaments and 2 territory parliaments) |
| Number of houses in each parliament | Most are bicameral (2 houses) except QLD, ACT and NT, which are unicameral (1 house) |
| Number of members in the upper house (Senate) | 76 (12 for each state and 2 for each mainland territory) |
| Number of members in the lower house (House of Representatives) | 150 |
| Term of the upper house (Senate) | Fixed terms with half of the state senators' terms expiring every three years |
| Term of the lower house (House of Representatives) | Maximum of three years |
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What You'll Learn
- Australia has 6 state parliaments and 2 territory parliaments
- The Federal Parliament can override territory laws
- State parliaments have powers independent of the federal government
- The Parliament of Australia is also known as the Federal Parliament
- Queensland and the two territories have unicameral parliaments
Australia has 6 state parliaments and 2 territory parliaments
Australia has six state parliaments and two territory parliaments. The Federal Parliament is located in Canberra, the nation's capital. The six state parliaments and two territory parliaments are located in the capital cities of each state and territory. The Federal Parliament makes laws for the whole of Australia, while the state and territory parliaments make laws for their respective states or territories.
The six state parliaments consist of two houses, with the exception of Queensland, which has a unicameral parliament with a single house called the Legislative Assembly. The two territory parliaments, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory, also have unicameral parliaments, each with a single house called the Legislative Assembly.
The Federal Parliament, also known as the Commonwealth Parliament, is the legislative branch of the Australian government. 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 Senate has 76 members: twelve for each state and two for each mainland territory. Senators are elected using a form of proportional voting. The House of Representatives currently consists of 150 members, who represent electoral divisions.
The state and territory parliaments are legislative bodies within the federal framework of the Commonwealth of Australia. They are based on the Westminster system and are regulated by their own constitutions. The parliaments of the states and territories with two houses include a lower house called the Legislative Assembly or House of Assembly, and an upper house called the Legislative Council.
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The Federal Parliament can override territory laws
Australia has a total of eight state and territory parliaments, including six state parliaments and two territory parliaments. The Federal Parliament, also known as the Commonwealth Parliament, is the legislative branch of the Australian government. It is bicameral, consisting of the Senate (upper house) and the House of Representatives (lower house). The Federal Parliament makes laws for the entire country, while the state and territory parliaments create laws for their respective states or territories.
The Australian Constitution, specifically Section 122, grants the Federal Parliament the authority to override territory laws at any time. This means that the Federal Parliament can overrule legislation passed by the territory parliaments of the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory. This power has been exercised sparingly and only in instances where the territory law has sparked significant debate or controversy within the Australian community.
The Federal Parliament and the state parliaments occasionally pass conflicting laws on the same topic. In such cases, Section 109 of the Constitution stipulates that the federal law takes precedence and overrides the state law or the conflicting portion of the state law. This highlights the hierarchical relationship between the Federal Parliament and the state and territory parliaments in Australia's legislative system.
The Federal Parliament has exclusive powers outlined in various sections of the Constitution, including Sections 51, 52, 86, 90, 114, and 115, and 122. These powers enable the Federal Parliament to make laws in specific areas, and in the event of a conflict with state or territory laws, the federal laws prevail.
The Australian Capital Territory is unique in that its parliament combines the responsibilities of both a local and state government. The Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory were administered by the federal government until they were granted self-government through the respective Self-Government Acts passed in 1978 and 1988. This shift empowered these territories with greater legislative autonomy, while still recognising the Federal Parliament's authority to override their laws when necessary.
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State parliaments have powers independent of the federal government
Australia has a federal system of government, with three levels of government working together to provide services to the country. The country has a federal Parliament located in Canberra, the nation's capital, six state parliaments, and two territory parliaments. The state parliaments have powers independent of the federal government, and these are known as residual powers.
The Australian Constitution, which sets out the legal framework by which Australia is governed, gives power to both the federal government and state governments. The Constitution defines federal powers, and leaves most other law-making powers to the states. These powers that are left to the states are called residual powers. As a rule, if it is not listed in sections 51 and 52 of the Constitution, it is an area of state responsibility.
State laws relate to matters that are primarily of state interest, such as education, health, and water management. Sections 51 and 52 of the Constitution describe the law-making powers of the federal Parliament. Section 51 lists 39 areas over which the federal Parliament has legislative power. Under section 51, state parliaments can refer matters to the federal Parliament. That is, they can ask the federal Parliament to make laws about an issue that is otherwise a state responsibility. However, any federal law made about the issue will only apply in the state or states that referred the matter.
Some powers are exclusive to the federal Parliament, and these are listed in sections 52, 86, 90, 114, 115, and 122. There are also concurrent powers, which are shared between the federal and state parliaments. These include education, health, and water management. In the case of conflicting laws passed by the federal and state parliaments on the same subject, section 109 of the Constitution states that federal law overrides state law.
The six state parliaments are located in the capital cities of each state, with the exception of Queensland, which has a unicameral parliament. The two territory parliaments are also unicameral and are located in the capital cities of the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory.
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The Parliament of Australia is also known as the Federal Parliament
Australia has a total of eight state and territory parliaments, including six state parliaments and two territory parliaments. The Parliament of Australia, also known as the Federal Parliament or 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 Federal Parliament is located in Canberra, the nation's capital. The Senate, or the upper house, consists of 76 members, with twelve representatives from each state and two from each mainland territory. Senators are elected using a form of proportional voting, resulting in a diverse range of parties within the chamber. The Senate has fixed terms, with half of the state senators' terms expiring every three years. On the other hand, territory senators face re-election every three years as they do not have staggered terms.
The House of Representatives, or the lower house, currently consists of 150 members who represent electoral divisions. The number of members is not fixed and can vary due to boundary changes resulting from electoral redistributions. The House of Representatives has a maximum term of three years but can be dissolved earlier.
The two houses of Parliament meet in separate chambers of Parliament House on Capital Hill in Canberra, except during rare joint sittings. The Federal Parliament creates laws, debating and revising them until a final copy is agreed upon and sent to the Governor-General for assent. It also has exclusive powers to make laws in specific areas, as outlined in sections 51, 52, 86, 90, 114, 115, and 122 of the Constitution.
The Federal Parliament works in conjunction with the state and territory parliaments, with some powers shared between them. The state and territory parliaments make laws enforced within their respective jurisdictions, and the Federal Parliament can override territory laws in certain situations as per Section 122 of the Constitution.
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Queensland and the two territories have unicameral parliaments
Australia has a total of six state parliaments and two territory parliaments. The six states with their own parliaments are New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania. The two territories with their own parliaments are the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory.
The Commonwealth Parliament, also known as the Federal Parliament, is the legislative branch of the government of Australia. It is bicameral, meaning it has two houses: the upper house, or Senate, and the lower house, or House of Representatives. The Senate consists of 76 members: twelve for each state and two for each mainland territory. Senators are elected using a form of proportional voting. The House of Representatives currently consists of 150 members, who represent districts known as electoral divisions.
The unicameral nature of the Queensland Parliament is a result of the abolition of the Legislative Council in 1922. This chamber was the least democratic of the states, with members appointed by the Governor rather than being subject to a popular vote. The Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory parliaments are also unicameral, with a single house called the Legislative Assembly. The Australian Capital Territory is unique in that its parliament combines the responsibilities of both a local and state government.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia has six state parliaments and two territory parliaments.
The six state parliaments are New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, and Queensland. The two territory parliaments are the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory.
Most of the state and territory parliaments are bicameral, meaning they have two houses. The exceptions are Queensland, the Australian Capital Territory, and the Northern Territory, which are unicameral and have only one house, called the Legislative Assembly.
