Lexi Webster
Australia has a federal system of government, with three levels: federal, state, and local. The federal government, led by the Prime Minister, is responsible for matters such as defence, foreign affairs, and trade. State and territory governments, led by Premiers, manage areas like education, health, and local infrastructure. Local governments, headed by Mayors or Shire Presidents, handle local issues such as road maintenance, garbage collection, and building regulations. Each level of government has its own responsibilities, and they work together to provide services to the people of Australia.
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What You'll Learn
Federal, state and local governments
Australia has a federal system of government, which means power is shared between the federal, state, and local governments. The Australian Constitution, established in 1901, sets out the legal framework by which the country is governed. The federal government is led by the Prime Minister, who is the leader of the party that has won the majority of members elected to the House of Representatives. The federal government is responsible for areas that impact the entire nation, including foreign affairs, social security, trade, immigration, currency, and defence.
The state governments, on the other hand, are led by a Premier. Each state has its own constitution and system of government. Major state responsibilities include schools, hospitals, conservation, environment, roads, railways, public transport, agriculture, fishing, community services, police, and emergency services.
The local government, also known as the city council or shire council, is the most localized level of government. It is responsible for local road maintenance, garbage collection, building regulations, land subdivisions, and public health and recreation facilities. The decision-making body of local government is usually called the city council or shire council, with the Mayor or Shire President as its head.
It is important to note that the Australian Capital Territory has a unique position as its parliament combines the responsibilities of both a local and state government. Additionally, the Northern Territory has a similar arrangement, with its parliament being unicameral and consisting of only one house called the Legislative Assembly.
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The role of the Prime Minister
The Prime Minister of Australia is the head of the federal government and the leader of the Cabinet of Australia. The Prime Minister is appointed by the governor-general, who has the executive power to appoint ministers of state under Section 64 of the Australian Constitution. The Prime Minister is typically the leader of the party that has won the majority of members elected to the House of Representatives.
The Prime Minister must be able to command a continuous majority in the legislature, usually the lower house, to remain in office. They are paid a total salary of A$586,950, including the base salary received by all members of parliament and an additional 160% salary for the role of Prime Minister. The Prime Minister has two official residences, with the primary residence being the Lodge in Canberra.
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State and territory parliaments
Australia has six state parliaments and two territory parliaments, known as legislative assemblies. These parliaments are legislative bodies within the federal framework of the Commonwealth of Australia. The six states with parliaments are New South Wales, Western Australia, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania. The two territories with parliaments are the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory.
The parliaments of the Australian states and territories are based on the Westminster system, and each is regulated by its own constitution. Queensland and the two territories have unicameral parliaments, with a single house called the Legislative Assembly. The other states have a bicameral parliament, with a lower house called the Legislative Assembly (in New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia) or the House of Assembly (in South Australia and Tasmania) and an upper house called the Legislative Council.
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.
The Australian Capital Territory is unique in that its parliament combines the responsibilities of both a local and state government. The Commonwealth Parliament treats the territories as if they were states for many purposes, but they are not states, and their legislative powers differ. The federal Parliament has the power to make laws for the territories and can override a territory law at any time. However, the territories were granted self-government through the Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act 1978 and the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988.
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Local councils
The head of a council is the Mayor or Shire President, and the people's representatives who form the council are called aldermen or councillors. Local communities are encouraged to have a say in what their council does and how it does it. Local government is a trusted partner and fundamental to the development and delivery of policies and programs for all Australians. The Australian Council of Local Government (ACLG) was established in 2008 as a formal meeting between senior leaders of local government and the Australian Government. It provides an opportunity for local governments to engage with ministers on opportunities and challenges in their areas.
The roles and responsibilities of local councils vary from state to state, as they sit under the jurisdiction of each state and territory government. While their functions are similar, their specific powers, size, and electoral rules are dictated by local government acts created by state governments. Local councils have a statutory mandate to provide certain services, and their decisions can have a far-reaching impact on their communities.
Local governments in Australia have achieved higher rates of women's representation than national parliaments, with Victoria leading the country in terms of the proportion of female councillors, at 43.8%. Local councils also reflect the diverse nature of their communities, with councillors speaking a variety of languages and having diverse backgrounds.
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The Australian Constitution
The Constitution is divided into eight chapters and 128 sections, outlining key features of Australia's system of government. It establishes an Australian Parliament and government responsible for national decision-making and law-making. The Parliament is bicameral, consisting of the King (represented by the Governor-General), the Senate, and the House of Representatives. 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 alongside the House of Representatives.
The Constitution also outlines the structure and roles of six state governments, responsible for state matters, and power-sharing arrangements between the Australian and state parliaments. The leader of a state government is known as the Premier, while the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory have Chief Ministers as their leaders. The Constitution further details the role of the High Court of Australia, which is the final court of appeal and interprets the Constitution, settling disputes between the federal and state governments.
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Frequently asked questions
The federal government is the most important level of government in Australia. It is the national executive government of Australia, a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy. The federal government is responsible for areas that affect the whole nation, such as foreign affairs, defence, border security, customs, trade, money, and airports and seaports.
The prime minister is the head of the federal government in Australia. The current prime minister is Anthony Albanese, who has been in office since the 2022 federal election.
In addition to the federal government, Australia has two other levels of government: state and local. The state and territory governments control schools, hospitals, emergency services, public housing, and the environment. The local government, also known as the city council or shire council, is responsible for local road maintenance, garbage collection, building regulations, land subdivisions, public health, and recreation facilities.
