Leslie Massey
Australia has a federal system of government, with three levels of government working together to provide services to the country's citizens. The three levels are: local councils, state/territory parliaments, and the federal parliament. The federal parliament, located in Canberra, is responsible for making laws for the whole of Australia, while state and territory parliaments are located in the capital cities of each of the six states and two territories. The federal government is led by a Prime Minister, who is supported by a Cabinet of ministers responsible for decisions made by their department.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of levels | 3 |
| Levels | Federal, State, Local councils |
| Federal Parliament location | Canberra, the nation's capital |
| State Parliament location | Capital cities of each of the 6 states |
| Local councils location | Around Australia in each local council division |
| Federal Parliament composition | Senate, House of Representatives |
| Number of Senators | 76 |
| Number of Representatives | 150 or 151 |
| Term of Senators | 6 years, except for territory senators (3 years) |
| Term of Representatives | 3 years |
| State Parliament composition | Two houses (except Queensland) |
| State Parliament leader | Premier |
| Territory Parliament composition | One house (Legislative Assembly) |
| Territory Parliament leader | Chief Minister |
| Branches of government | Legislative, Executive, Judiciary |
| Federal Executive Council composition | All government ministers, governor-general |
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What You'll Learn
Federal Parliament
The Parliament of Australia, also known as the Federal Parliament, 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 combines elements from the Westminster system, in which the party or coalition with a majority in the lower house forms the government, and the United States Congress, which provides equal representation to each state and scrutinises legislation before it becomes law. The monarch of Australia, currently King Charles, shares equal law-making powers with the Senate and the House of Representatives. However, the King is not involved in the day-to-day operations of the government. Instead, the governor-general exercises the monarch's constitutional functions, except for the power to appoint the governor-general. The governor-general typically exercises these powers upon the advice of ministers, except in limited circumstances covered by the reserve powers.
The Senate, also known as the "state's house" or the "house of review", plays a crucial role in reviewing, debating, and voting on proposed laws. It consists of 76 members: 12 senators from each state and two senators each from the Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory. Senators are elected using a proportional system, resulting in a diverse range of parties represented in the chamber. The House of Representatives, on the other hand, is composed of 150 members, each representing a separate division or electorate in Australia. The government is formed in the House of Representatives, with the party or coalition of parties holding the majority.
The Federal Parliament is responsible for making laws that are then implemented by the government. It scrutinises the work of the government through various mechanisms, such as setting up committees, examining government spending, and questioning the government during Question Time in the Senate and House. The Federal Parliament also has the power to review and amend the standing orders without necessarily requiring an absolute majority, as demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic when the 46th Parliament of Australia was suspended, and MPs were allowed to participate electronically.
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State/territory parliaments
Australia has six state parliaments and two territory parliaments, known as legislative assemblies. The state parliaments were created by the British Imperial Parliament, and their original constitutions were contained in Acts of that Parliament. However, now the power to amend state constitutions resides with the respective state parliaments, in accordance with its constitution. The Commonwealth Parliament cannot amend a state's constitution.
The Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory have a different arrangement. Each territory parliament has one house called the Legislative Assembly. The leader of each territory government is called the Chief Minister. The Australian Capital Territory is unique in Australia because its parliament combines the responsibilities of both a local and state government.
The Parliament of Queensland is a unicameral legislature comprising the Legislative Assembly and the King, represented by the Governor of Queensland. The Legislative Assembly has 93 members elected for fixed four-year terms in single-member constituencies using preferential voting. The other states have a bicameral parliament, with a lower house called the Legislative Assembly (New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia) or House of Assembly (South Australia and Tasmania), and an upper house called the Legislative Council.
The decision-making body of the state government is the state parliament, which meets in the Parliament House of the particular state. Representatives elected to state parliaments are generally known as 'Members' – Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) or Members of the House of Assembly (MHA) or Members of the Legislative Council (MLC). The leader of a state government is called the Premier. State and territory government responsibilities include justice, consumer affairs, health, education, forestry, public transport, and main roads.
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Local councils
The council board members are generally known as councillors, and the head councillor is called the mayor or shire president. Despite the (largely) single tier of local governance in Australia, there are a number of extensive regions with relatively low populations that are not a part of any established LGA. Powers of local governments in these unincorporated areas may be exercised by special-purpose governing bodies established outside of the local legislation, or directly administered by state/territory governments.
The administrative area covered by local government councils in Australia varies significantly. For example, the Shire of East Pilbara in Western Australia's Pilbara region is Australia's largest local government area, covering 372,571 square kilometres. In contrast, the Shire of Peppermint Grove in the Perth metropolitan region is the smallest local government area at just 1.5 square kilometres.
Local government authorities across the country have similar functions and powers, but different official designations in different states, which may vary based on whether the LGA is regional or for historical reasons. Most urban municipalities in all states are "cities". Many in Western Australia are officially "towns", even within the Perth metropolitan area. Many rural areas in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia are "shires", while rural areas in South Australia have "district councils", and those in Tasmania officially use the title "municipality".
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The Prime Minister
The role of the Prime Minister is not mentioned in the Australian Constitution but is defined by constitutional convention deriving from the Westminster system and responsible government. The Prime Minister is formally appointed by the Governor-General, who is ordinarily constrained by convention to choose the parliamentarian with the confidence of the lower house. The Prime Minister's duties include representing their electorate in the Australian Parliament and leading their party's campaign during federal elections.
In the event that the Prime Minister is unable to perform their duties for a short period, due to illness, travel, or leave, the Deputy Prime Minister becomes the Acting Prime Minister and assumes the roles and responsibilities of the Prime Minister. If the Prime Minister dies in office, the Deputy Prime Minister is appointed Prime Minister by the Governor-General until the government elects a new leader.
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The Cabinet
Cabinet meetings are private and occur weekly, with vital issues discussed and policies formulated. They are held in Canberra and state capitals, most often in Sydney and Melbourne. The National Security Committee (NSC), chaired by the Prime Minister, is one of the most important Cabinet committees, focusing on international security issues, border protection, and national responses to developing situations.
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Frequently asked questions
The three levels of government in Australia are the federal, state, and territory parliaments, and the local councils. The federal parliament makes laws for the whole of Australia, while the state and territory parliaments are located in the capital cities of each of the 6 states and 2 territories. The local councils are located in each local council division.
The federal government is the decision-making body of the Australian government. It is made up of the Federal Parliament, which consists of two houses: the House of Representatives and the Senate. The leader of the federal government and the leader of the party that has won the majority of members elected to the House of Representatives is the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister leads a Cabinet of ministers who are responsible for decisions made by their department.
The decision-making body of the state government is the state parliament, which meets in the Parliament House of each state. The leader of a state government is called the Premier. The Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory have a different arrangement, with each territory parliament having one house called the Legislative Assembly. The leader of each territory government is called the Chief Minister. State and territory government responsibilities include justice, consumer affairs, health, education, forestry, public transport, and main roads.
