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Australia is a federation of six states and two self-governing territories. The six states are New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia. The two self-governing territories are the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory. In 1901, the self-governing colonies became the federated Commonwealth of Australia. Each state has its own constitution, legislature, executive government, judiciary, and law enforcement agencies. They have the power to make and enforce laws within their states. The federal government can override territorial laws in certain cases.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of self-governing states | 6 |
| Names of self-governing states | New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia |
| Number of self-governing territories | 2 |
| Names of self-governing territories | Northern Territory, Australian Capital Territory |
| Number of external territories | 7 |
| Number of federal territories | 10 |
| Number of internal territories | 3 |
| Examples of internal territories | Australian Capital Territory, Jervis Bay Territory, Northern Territory |
| Examples of external territories | Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Australian Antarctic Territory, Christmas Island |
| Number of colonies that united to form the Commonwealth of Australia | 6 |
| Names of colonies that united to form the Commonwealth of Australia | New South Wales, Western Australia, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania |
| Number of colonies with partial self-government by 1860 | 5 |
| Names of colonies with partial self-government by 1860 | New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania |
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What You'll Learn
Australia's six federated states
Australia is divided into six federated states and ten federal territories, three of which are internal territories, and seven of which are external territories. The six federated states are New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia. Each state has a governor, appointed by the monarch, who is currently King Charles III.
Each state is a self-governing polity, with its own constitution, legislature, executive government, judiciary, and law enforcement agencies. They are responsible for administering and delivering public policies and programs. However, they have ceded some sovereign rights to the federal government, and the Federal Parliament can override territorial legislation.
The state of New South Wales includes Lord Howe Island and has a unicameral parliament. Queensland, also known as the 'Sunshine State', is home to the Great Barrier Reef, the Daintree Rainforest, and the Whitsunday Islands. It abolished its upper house in 1922. South Australia is known for its relaxed atmosphere and is a popular tourist destination. Its capital, Adelaide, is a gateway to the Barossa Valley wineries, the Flinders Ranges, and Kangaroo Island.
Tasmania, including Macquarie Island, is the only state to use proportional representation for elections to its lower house, known as the "house of assembly". Victoria was established as a colony in 1851. Western Australia, the largest state by area, was the last of the six colonies to become self-governing in 1890.
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![Land-Grant Railway Across Central Australia. The Northern Territory of the State of South Australia as a Field for Enterprise and Capital. Boundless Resources: Pastoral, 1902 [Leather Bound]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/617DLHXyzlL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
![from unincorporated territory [lukao]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/719TH1uzjfL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
Self-governing territories
Australia has six federated states: New South Wales (including Lord Howe Island), Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania (including Macquarie Island), Victoria, and Western Australia. The states are partially sovereign, administrative divisions that are self-governing polities, with their own constitutions, legislatures, executive governments, judiciaries, and law enforcement agencies.
In addition to these six states, Australia also has two self-governing mainland territories: the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory. These territories are not full partners in the federation but are treated as polities in their own right for many purposes. The Australian Capital Territory is unique in Australia because its parliament combines the responsibilities of both a local and state government.
The Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory were granted self-government by the federal Parliament through the passing of the Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act 1978 and the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988. The Australian Parliament retains the full power to legislate and override laws made by the territorial institutions, although this has rarely occurred.
The external territory of Norfolk Island was also self-governing from 1979 until 2015. Thus, Australia has had a total of nine self-governing territories, two of which (the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory) are currently self-governing, and seven of which (including Norfolk Island) are considered external territories.
It is worth noting that while the states and self-governing territories have a significant degree of autonomy, the federal government can still intervene in certain areas, particularly those concerning the environment and human rights.
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The Australian Capital Territory
The territory's population is concentrated in the city of Canberra in the territory's northeast, but it also includes towns such as Williamsdale, Oaks Estate, Uriarra, Tharwa, and Hall. The territory includes the Namadgi National Park, which comprises the majority of the land area. The western boundary of the territory follows the watershed of the Brindabella Range, a northern extension of the Snowy Mountains. The territory's southern and western parts are mountainous, reaching a maximum height of 6,279 feet (1,914 meters) at Bimberi Peak. The area is drained by the Murrumbidgee River, which flows from the Snowy Mountains northward through the territory. The boundaries of the territory were drawn in part to provide Canberra with its own water supply.
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The Northern Territory
The economy of the Northern Territory is largely based on mining and petroleum, which contributed 23% of the gross state product during 2018-2019, accounting for 92% of exports. The territory also has a significant cattle-raising industry, with Victoria River Downs Station being the largest cattle station in the world at one time. The Northern Territory is also known for its crocodile population, with almost as many crocodiles as people in the north.
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The Jervis Bay Territory
Australia has six federated states and ten federal territories, three of which are internal territories. The Jervis Bay Territory is an internal territory of Australia, and the only non-self-governing internal territory. It was established in 1915 when jurisdiction was transferred from the state of New South Wales to the federal Commonwealth of Australia.
The establishment of the Jervis Bay Territory was a result of three major agreements reached during the negotiations for the Federation of Australia. Firstly, it was decided that the capital city would be a new, purpose-built city within the borders of New South Wales. Secondly, to prevent New South Wales from having too much influence on federal politics, it was agreed that the new city and its surrounds would be a separate federal territory. Finally, it was considered desirable for the federal government to have direct control over at least one port and an area of coastline. As the closest body of water to Canberra, it made sense for New South Wales to hand over the small peninsula of Jervis Bay.
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Frequently asked questions
There are six federated states in Australia: New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia.
There are two self-governing territories: the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory. Norfolk Island was also self-governing from 1979 until 2015.
The self-governing states and territories have their own independent executive governments, legislatures, and judicial systems. They can make and enforce laws within their territories. The other territories are governed according to Australian federal law and the laws of a state.
The federal government can override the laws made by the self-governing states and territories. They can also influence state legislation by making tied grants, which are monetary grants with certain conditions attached.
