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Australia is a democracy with a federal system of government. The country has three levels of government, each with its own responsibilities: the federal government, six state governments, and over 500 local councils. The federal government, also referred to as the Australian Government or Commonwealth government, is responsible for areas that affect the entire nation, such as foreign affairs, social security, trade, and defence. State governments handle matters including justice, health, and education, while local councils manage local issues like road maintenance and garbage collection. The Australian Constitution outlines the legal framework for this system, with the federal Parliament having the power to make laws for the country, and state and local governments possessing a significant degree of autonomy. The purpose of the Australian government, led by the Prime Minister, is to represent the people, develop policies, propose and implement laws, and make important decisions on behalf of Australians.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the government | Government of Australia |
| Type of government | Democracy |
| System of government | Federal |
| Number of levels of government | 3 |
| Head of State | King of Australia, His Majesty King Charles III |
| Head of Council | Mayor or Shire President |
| Leader of the government | Prime Minister |
| Leader of the territory government | Chief Minister |
| Federal Parliament composition | 226 members |
| Number of Senators | 12 per state and 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 and land subdivisions, public health and recreation facilities |
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What You'll Learn
Australia's three levels of government
The purpose of the Australian government is to provide its citizens with the services they need. Australia has three levels of government: federal, state, and local. The establishment of these three levels of government was an outcome of the Federation in 1901, when the six British colonies of New South Wales, Western Australia, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania united to form the Commonwealth of Australia.
The federal government, also referred to as the Australian Government or the Government of Australia, is responsible for making laws for the whole of Australia. The Australian Parliament, comprising 76 senators and 150 members of the House of Representatives, is responsible for making these federal laws. The federal government's responsibilities include foreign affairs, social security, industrial relations, trade, immigration, currency, and defence. The federal government raises money through taxing incomes, spending, and businesses.
The second level of government is the state government, which has its own parliaments and law-making powers. There are six state parliaments in Australia, each with two houses, except for the Queensland Parliament. The state parliaments are responsible for matters that affect their respective states, such as justice, consumer affairs, health, education, forestry, public transport, and main roads.
The third level of government is the local government, which consists of over 500 local councils that make laws (by-laws) for their specific regions or districts. Local councils are established by state governments to address the particular needs of their communities, such as local road maintenance, garbage collection, building regulations, and land subdivisions. The Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory have a unique arrangement, with each territory parliament having one house called the Legislative Assembly.
Each level of government has its own responsibilities, and in some cases, they work together or share responsibilities. For instance, ministers from different levels of government collaborate on matters of common concern, such as health policy. Uniform national laws have been established to enhance efficiency in areas like road transport, food standards, and consumer rights.
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The role of the Prime Minister
The Prime Minister is responsible for making independent policy decisions and has significant influence over foreign policy, particularly in relation to national security. They also have the power to declare war and enter into treaties. The Prime Minister is supported by senior ministers who form the Cabinet, which makes most of the important policy decisions of the government. The Cabinet is the key decision-making organ of the government that makes policy and decides the agenda of the government.
The Prime Minister is also responsible for managing the government's legislative timetable and priorities, as well as top-level foreign relations, major defence decisions, and macroeconomic policy. The Prime Minister's role has been enhanced by the emergence of international summits and heads of government meetings as key events in international diplomacy.
As of 27 August 2023, the Prime Minister of Australia is paid a total salary of A$586,950, including a 'base salary' of A$225,750 and a 160% 'additional 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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The Australian Constitution
The legislature, also known as the Parliament, debates and creates laws. It is formally comprised of the King (represented by the Governor-General), the Senate, and the House of Representatives. The executive, also known as the government, is responsible for putting these laws into action. It includes the King (represented by the Governor-General), the Prime Minister, and other Ministers of State. The Prime Minister and their sworn ministers form the cabinet, which makes most important policy decisions for the government. The judiciary interprets and applies the law and is comprised of the High Court of Australia and other courts. This system ensures that no one group has too much power.
The Constitution also provides for amendments, prescribing that alterations may only occur through a referendum bill being approved at a national referendum. Since 1910, there have been calls for constitutional reform to recognise Indigenous Australians. In 1967, the Constitution was amended to provide the Commonwealth with the power to legislate for all Indigenous Australians and to include them in population counts for constitutional purposes.
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Federal, state and territory responsibilities
Australia has a federal system of government, with three levels of government working together to provide services to the people. The federal government, also called the Commonwealth government, is responsible for national affairs and issues that impact the country as a whole. The Australian Constitution outlines the areas of responsibility for the federal government, which include defence, foreign affairs, trade, commerce, currency, immigration, postal services, telecommunications, broadcasting, air travel, and most social services and pensions. The federal government is also involved in funding many areas primarily managed by the states, such as health, education, environmental issues, and industrial relations.
The state and territory governments have significant autonomy and handle matters not listed as federal responsibilities. They play a crucial role in everyday life, with responsibilities including schools, hospitals, conservation, environment, roads, public transport, public works, agriculture, fishing, community services, consumer affairs, police, prisons, and emergency services. State parliaments can refer issues to the federal parliament, requesting federal intervention in areas typically under state jurisdiction.
The six state parliaments and two territory parliaments make laws for their respective states or territories. The two territory parliaments are unicameral and are called legislative assemblies. The states of Australia, except Queensland, have bicameral parliaments, while Queensland has a unicameral parliament. The territories, including the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and the Northern Territory, each have a unicameral parliament with one house called the Legislative Assembly. The ACT combines the responsibilities of both a local and state government, and unlike other states, it does not have local councils.
Local councils, also known as city or shire councils, are established by state governments to address the specific needs of local communities. They are responsible for local issues such as road maintenance, garbage collection, building regulations, land subdivisions, public health, and recreational facilities. Local councils receive funding from both the federal and state levels of government to support their operations and service provision.
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Local government responsibilities
Australia has a federal system of government with three levels: the federal government, state and territory governments, and local councils. Each level of government has its own responsibilities, although sometimes these responsibilities overlap. Local councils are responsible for making and enforcing local laws (by-laws) for their region or district. There are over 500 local government bodies across Australia, often called councils, municipalities, or shires.
Local governments consist of two groups: elected members and council staff. Elected members typically serve four-year terms, with an average of nine councillors or aldermen per council, led by a mayor or president. These smaller legislative bodies make decisions on behalf of their constituents and provide services. Local governments are tasked with looking after the particular needs of their local communities, such as managing local roads, footpaths, cycle ways, street lighting and signage, waste management, and regulating services and activities like traffic lights and pet registration.
Local councils raise money through the collection of taxes (rates) from local property owners and also receive funding from the federal and state governments. This money is then spent on providing services to their communities. The size and character of local government areas can vary significantly. For example, the Sydney area is divided into about 35 cities, municipalities, or shires, each with its own local council, while larger but less populated country areas are usually governed by shire councils based in one of the larger towns.
The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is unique in that its parliament combines the responsibilities of both a local and state government. The ACT Legislative Assembly is responsible for both state and local government duties, and there are no separate local councils in the ACT.
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Frequently asked questions
The purpose of the government in Australia is to provide the services that Australians need. This includes developing national policies, proposing and enforcing laws, and making important decisions on behalf of Australians. The government is also responsible for representing the interests of its citizens and ensuring their voices are heard.
There are three levels of government in Australia: federal, state, and local. The federal government, also known as the Australian Government or Commonwealth Government, is responsible for issues that affect the entire nation, such as foreign affairs, trade, and defence. The state governments consist of six state parliaments and two territory parliaments, which make laws for their respective states or territories. The local government, consisting of over 500 local councils, creates and enforces by-laws for their specific regions or districts.
The leader of the Australian government is the Prime Minister, who is a member of the House of Representatives. The Prime Minister is responsible for forming the cabinet, which includes senior ministers and is responsible for making key policy decisions. The Prime Minister also appoints other members of the government to important roles, known as portfolios, and together they form the government.
