Lexi Webster
Australia has a federal system of government, with three levels: federal, state and territory, and local. The federal government, also referred to as the Australian Government or the Commonwealth Government, is headquartered in Canberra, in the Australian Capital Territory. The leader of the federal government is the Prime Minister, who is supported by senior ministers in making key policy decisions. The federal government is responsible for matters such as foreign affairs, social security, industrial relations, trade, immigration, currency, and defence. It raises money through taxes on incomes, companies, and other charges, and its budget must be approved by Parliament.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Executive wing of Parliament House, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory |
| Official name | Australian Government |
| Alternative names | Government of the Commonwealth, Commonwealth Government, Federal Government |
| Head of State | King of Australia, His Majesty King Charles III |
| Head of Government | Prime Minister |
| Main decision-making body | Federal Executive Council |
| Federal Executive Council members | All current and former ministers |
| Federal Executive Council meeting chair | Governor-General |
| Federal Executive Council vice-president | Senator Katy Gallagher |
| Number of departments | 16 |
| Number of representatives elected to the Senate | 12 per state, 2 per territory |
| Federal government responsibilities | Foreign affairs, social security, industrial relations, trade, immigration, currency, defence |
| State and territory government responsibilities | Justice, consumer affairs, health, education, forestry, public transport, main roads |
| Local government responsibilities | Local road maintenance, garbage collection, building regulations, land subdivisions, public health and recreation facilities |
| Federal government funding sources | Income tax, company profits, fuel excise, customs duties |
| State and territory government funding sources | Federal government, state taxes, GST |
| Local government funding sources | Local taxes, federal and state grants |
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Foreign affairs
The DFAT promotes and protects Australia's international interests to support its security and prosperity. It works with international partners and other countries to tackle global challenges, increase trade and investment opportunities, protect international rules, and keep the region stable. The department also provides passport services to Australians and maintains travel advisories for over 170 destinations to help Australians avoid difficulties overseas.
The DFAT has a long history, with its origins dating back to the Department of Trade and Customs and the Department of External Affairs (DEA), established in 1901. In 1970, the DEA was renamed the Department of Foreign Affairs, and in 1987, it was amalgamated with the Department of Trade to form the DFAT. The department has gone through various structural changes and faced challenges, such as the Oil-for-Food Programme scandal in 2005.
The DFAT is administered by a senior executive team, including a secretary and five deputy secretaries. The secretary of the department is currently Jan Adams, who reports to the Foreign Minister. The department also includes other ministers, such as the Minister for Trade, Tourism, and Investment, the Minister for International Development and the Pacific, and the Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism, and Investment.
The DFAT plays a crucial role in Australia's engagement with the world, enhancing its international relations, promoting trade, and protecting the country's interests on the global stage. Through its work, the department contributes to Australia's security, prosperity, and cultural exchange with other nations.
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Social security
The history of social security in Australia dates back to the 1920s, when the Bruce-Page government announced plans to develop a comprehensive national social security scheme, often referred to as National Insurance. A royal commission on national insurance was established in 1923, and a bill was introduced in 1928, but it failed to pass before the government was defeated. The Lyons government later passed the National Health and Pensions Insurance Act 1938, which would have enacted the scheme, but it was ultimately abandoned due to the outbreak of World War II. During the war, the federal government, led by Prime Minister John Curtin and Treasurer Ben Chifley, significantly accelerated the development of Australia's welfare state.
In 1946, a successful Social Services referendum modified the Australian Constitution, granting the Commonwealth explicit power to legislate for a range of welfare initiatives, including maternity allowances, widows' pensions, child endowment, unemployment benefits, and various health and education allowances. This enabled Prime Minister Ben Chifley's post-war government to implement further social welfare policies. From the end of World War II until 1975, Australian governments maintained a policy of full employment, with the Commonwealth Employment Service assisting a quarter of the workforce in finding suitable paid employment.
In recent years, there have been ongoing debates and changes regarding specific social security allowances, such as the Newstart Allowance and the Disability Support Pension. The eligibility criteria for these allowances have been a subject of discussion, with some arguing for stricter criteria and others advocating for increased rates to meet the poverty line. The Australian government continues to play a crucial role in ensuring access to essential social security benefits for its citizens and vulnerable communities.
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Industrial relations
The Fair Work Act 2009 created the current national industrial relations system, which covers the majority of Australian workers. The Act established a safety net of minimum terms and conditions of employment, including protections against unfair or unlawful termination of employment. It also protects workplace rights, such as the right to engage in industrial activities, the right to be free from unlawful discrimination at work, and freedom from undue influence or pressure when negotiating individual arrangements. The Act also allows for a system of enterprise-level collective bargaining underpinned by bargaining obligations and rules governing industrial action.
The Fair Work Commission is the independent national workplace relations tribunal, and its functions include setting minimum wages, approving enterprise agreements, overseeing bargaining and industrial action, and resolving disputes at work. The Commission also carries out functions relating to registered organisations (unions and employer organisations), such as their registration, amalgamation, rules, applications, and education about their responsibilities. The Fair Work Ombudsman helps employees, employers, and contractors understand their workplace rights and responsibilities and enforces compliance with Australia's workplace laws.
Before 2009, the Commonwealth and the states operated separate but overlapping industrial relations systems. At Federation, the states retained their power to settle workplace disputes and make labour laws. However, the Australian Constitution gave the federal Parliament the power to prevent and settle interstate industrial disputes and make laws for financial and international corporations. With the external affairs power, these powers allowed the federal Parliament to create national industrial relations tribunals and make national workplace laws.
The Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration was the first body of its kind in the world, responsible for settling disputes between employees, unions, and employers. The Industrial Relations Reform Act 1993 allowed workplace disputes to be settled by enterprise bargaining between employers and unions in the workplace. If the dispute was not settled, the Australian Industrial Relations Commission could settle it. The Australian Industrial Relations Commission started updating and modernising awards in 2009, replacing 1560 state and federal awards with 122 modern awards.
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Trade and business
The Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) is a key government agency that helps Australian businesses grow and expand internationally. Austrade provides trade and investment services to businesses, promotes high-quality investment in Australia, and strengthens the tourism and education sectors. It also offers grants and programs to support businesses, such as the Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) program, which assists small and medium-sized businesses in starting and growing exports.
The Australian Government recognises the importance of innovation in driving business growth and global success. It has implemented a National Innovation and Science Agenda to support smart ideas and emerging technologies, with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) being a key research institution working across various sectors.
At the federal level, the Minister for Trade and Tourism and the Assistant Minister for Trade play crucial roles in shaping trade policy. The Trade 2040 Taskforce is another important body that brings together government, industry, unions, and community representatives to advise on and progress the government's trade agenda.
In terms of law-making, the federal Parliament has the power to make laws relating to international treaties and agreements, as per the external affairs power listed in the Constitution. This includes treaties and agreements related to trade, such as the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA), which has significantly enhanced two-way trade and investment between the two countries.
The federal government also plays a role in taxation, collecting taxes on incomes, company profits, fuel excise, and customs duties. The Treasurer delivers an annual budget to Parliament, outlining how the government will raise and spend this revenue, and seeks approval through the passing of Appropriation Bills.
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Defence
The federal government's role in defence is primarily carried out by the executive branch, which consists of the Prime Minister and senior ministers, also known as the federal executive. The federal executive is responsible for putting federal laws into action, including those related to defence. It also ensures that these laws provide Australians with the necessary services, such as defence and security.
The federal government raises funds for defence through various means, including taxing incomes, businesses, and spending. The money collected is then allocated to defence-related expenditures, such as the ADF, defence research, and military equipment procurement. The federal government also provides funding to state and territory governments, which further strengthens their ability to manage defence-related matters within their jurisdictions.
While the federal government takes the lead on defence matters, there is also collaboration and coordination with state and territory governments. For example, the Australian Health Ministers' Advisory Council includes representatives from different levels of government and works to coordinate a national approach to health policy, including defence-related health issues. Additionally, the federal government shares some powers with the states and territories, allowing them a degree of autonomy in certain areas, although the federal government's powers take precedence in cases of conflicting laws.
In summary, defence is a critical area of responsibility for the federal government in Australia. Through its executive branch, legislative powers, and funding mechanisms, the federal government plays a central role in shaping and executing the country's defence policies and strategies, while also engaging in collaboration with state and territory governments to ensure a unified and effective defence posture.
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Frequently asked questions
The federal government in Australia is the national government, also referred to as the Commonwealth Government. The leader of the federal government is the Prime Minister.
The federal government is responsible for foreign affairs, social security, industrial relations, trade, immigration, currency and defence. The federal government also raises money by taxing incomes, companies and businesses. This money is then spent on federal matters such as Medicare, defence and foreign policy.
The federal executive is the main decision-making body of the Australian government. It is made up of the Prime Minister and ministers from various government levels. The federal executive is responsible for putting federal laws into action and ensuring laws provide the services Australians need.
The Federal Executive Council is the body that advises the governor-general in the exercise of executive power. It is Australia's highest formal governmental body. All current and former ministers are members of the council, and its decisions give legal effect to decisions made by the cabinet.
The Australian federal government has powers that are outlined in the Constitution, with some powers shared with state and territory governments, and others that remain exclusively with the state and territory governments. The federal government also provides funding to state and territory governments, which receive more than half of their money from the federal government.
