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Australia is divided into six federated states and ten federal territories, with the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) being one of the three internal territories. The ACT is a self-governing territory that operates indistinguishably from the states, with representation in the Parliament and Senate. Canberra, Australia's capital city, is located within the territory and is home to the Parliament House, High Court of Australia, and various government agencies. While the ACT does not have a constitution like the states, it is governed by the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988, which provides for a democratically elected Legislative Assembly and a Chief Minister. The territory is located within the state of New South Wales and has a population of approximately 453,324 residents, making it the second smallest mainland state or territory by population.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Status | Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is a territory, not a state |
| Location | Southeast region of Australia, inside the state of New South Wales |
| Capital of Australia | Yes |
| Capital City | Canberra |
| Population | 453,324 residents (2016) |
| Self-Governing | Yes |
| Governor | No |
| Administrator | No |
| Legislative Assembly | Yes |
| Senators | Yes |
| Constitution | Governed under the Commonwealth statute, the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 |
| Judiciary | Yes |
| Income | Median weekly income for people over 15 was $998 (2016) |
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What You'll Learn
Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is a territory, not a state
Australia is divided into six federated states: New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia. However, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is not one of these states.
The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is a territory, not a state. It is an internal territory of Australia, located in the southeast region of the country. The territory includes Canberra, the capital city of Australia, and the surrounding land. Most of the Australian Capital Territory lies within the Southern Tablelands district of New South Wales, with a small area on the Tasman Sea coast at Jervis Bay.
The Australian Capital Territory was established in 1909 and is governed by a locally elected legislative assembly, which has been in place since 1988. The territory does not have a governor or an administrator, and the functions of the head of the Executive are exercised by the Assembly itself and by the Chief Minister. The territory has representation in the Parliament and the Senate, but it does not have constitutional status as a state.
While the Australian Capital Territory operates indistinguishably from the states in many respects, it is governed under a Commonwealth statute—the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988. This Act constitutes a democratic government for the territory, with the executive power resting with the ACT government, headed by the Chief Minister. The Commonwealth maintains authority over the territory and can overturn local laws.
In summary, while the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) may function similarly to a state in some ways, it is legally distinct and governed as a territory under the Commonwealth of Australia.
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ACT is treated as a state in Australia-New Zealand intergovernmental bodies
Australia has six federated states: New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia. It also has ten federal territories, out of which three are internal territories: the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), the Jervis Bay Territory, and the Northern Territory. The remaining seven are external territories.
The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is an internal territory of Australia. Canberra, the capital city of Australia, is situated within the territory. The territory is located in southeastern Australia as an enclave surrounded by the state of New South Wales.
The ACT and the Northern Territory are treated as states in Australia-New Zealand intergovernmental bodies. This is despite the fact that they do not have constitutional status as states and territorial legislatures. The ACT has been self-governing since 1988, with a locally elected legislative assembly. The territory has representation in the Parliament and the Senate.
The ACT operates indistinguishably from the states in many ways. For example, the Chief Minister of the ACT sits on the National Cabinet, and the territory has its own judicial system. However, the Commonwealth maintains authority over the territory and may override local laws. The territory does not have a governor or an administrator. Instead, the functions of the head of the Executive are exercised by the Assembly and the Chief Minister.
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ACT has no governor or administrator
Australia has six states: New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia. It also has ten federal territories, three of which are internal territories: the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), the Jervis Bay Territory, and the Northern Territory.
The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is a unique political entity within the Commonwealth of Australia. It consists of Canberra, the national and territorial capital, and the surrounding land. ACT is an internal territory of Australia, located in the southeast region of the mainland. It is an enclave within the state of New South Wales (NSW) and was exclaved from NSW after federation to serve as the seat of government for the new nation.
Despite operating indistinguishably from the states in many respects, the ACT does not have constitutional status as a state. Instead, it is governed by a locally elected legislative assembly under the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 (Cth). This Act constitutes a democratic government for the territory, consisting of a popularly elected Legislative Assembly that elects a Chief Minister. The Chief Minister, in turn, appoints an Executive consisting of several Ministers. The executive power of the territory rests with the ACT government, headed by the Chief Minister.
An interesting distinction between the ACT and the Australian states is that the ACT has neither a governor nor an administrator. Typically, each state has a governor appointed by the monarch, while the Administrator of the Northern Territory is appointed by the governor-general. However, the ACT does not follow this model. Instead, the functions typically associated with a governor or administrator, such as commissioning the government, proroguing parliament, and enacting legislation, are exercised by the Assembly itself and the chief minister. This arrangement was established through the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 (Cth), which grants the ACT a significant degree of autonomy in its governance.
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ACT has a locally elected legislative assembly
The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is an internal territory of Australia, which means it is not a state. The territory's only city is Canberra, the capital city of Australia. The ACT is located in the southeast region of the country and is surrounded by the state of New South Wales.
The ACT has a locally elected legislative assembly, which has governed the territory since 1988. The territory's government is constituted by the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988, which establishes a democratic government consisting of a popularly elected Legislative Assembly. The Assembly elects a Chief Minister from among its members, who then appoints an Executive consisting of a number of Ministers. The executive power of the territory rests with the ACT government, headed by the Chief Minister.
The ACT government is responsible for the territory's executive functions, including commissioning the government, proroguing parliament, and enacting legislation. The Chief Minister is equivalent to a State Premier and sits on the National Cabinet. The ministers are supported by the ACT Public Service, which is arranged into directorates, and a number of public authorities.
While the ACT has a locally elected legislative assembly, the Commonwealth maintains authority over the territory. The Commonwealth can disallow or overturn local laws and maintains control over the area known as the Parliamentary Triangle through the National Capital Authority. Additionally, the Australian Parliament retains the power to legislate over the ACT and can override laws made by the territorial institutions, although this is a rare occurrence.
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ACT is located in southeastern Australia
The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is an internal territory of Australia. It is located in southeastern Australia and is an enclave within the state of New South Wales. The territory's only city, Canberra, is the capital of Australia.
ACT was excised from New South Wales in 1909 and established as a separate territory to serve as the seat of government for the new nation. The site for the nation's capital was chosen in 1908, and construction began in 1911. The city of Canberra was formally established in the northeastern corner of the territory, about 185 miles (300 km) southwest of Sydney, 290 miles (465 km) northeast of Melbourne, and 95 miles (150 km) from the coast.
The territory covers an area of about 53 miles (85 km) from north to south and 33 miles (53 km) from east to west. It is bordered to the west by the Brindabella Range, a northern extension of the Snowy Mountains. The southern and western parts of the territory are mountainous, with the highest point being Bimberi Peak at 6,279 feet (1,914 meters). The northeastern section features broad valleys between rounded hills.
The Murrumbidgee River flows northward through the territory, providing Canberra with its water supply. The Molonglo River, a tributary of the Murrumbidgee, runs through the centre of Canberra and has been dammed to form Lake Burley Griffin, a major landscape feature. The territory has a continental climate with marked seasonal and diurnal variations in temperature.
While ACT is not a state, it operates indistinguishably from the states in many respects. It has its own legislative assembly and representation in the Parliament and Senate. The territory is self-governing, with the functions of the head of the Executive being exercised by the Assembly and the Chief Minister.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is not a state. It is a self-governing internal territory of Australia.
The Australian Capital Territory is located in the southeast region of Australia and is surrounded by the state of New South Wales.
Canberra is the capital of Australia and is located within the Australian Capital Territory.
The Australian Capital Territory is governed by a locally elected legislative assembly, which elects a Chief Minister who, in turn, appoints an Executive consisting of a number of Ministers.
