Ruqayyah Snyder
Australia has three levels of government, each with its own responsibilities, which work together to provide services to the country. The Federal Parliament, located in Canberra, the nation's capital, makes laws for the whole of Australia. Six state parliaments make laws for their respective states, and two territory parliaments, located in the capital cities, make laws for their territories. The leader of the federal government is the Prime Minister, while the leader of a state government is called the Premier.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of levels of government | 3 |
| Federal Parliament location | Canberra, the nation's capital |
| State/territory parliaments location | Capital cities of each of the 6 states and 2 territories |
| Local councils location | Each local council division |
| Federal government leader | Prime Minister |
| State government leader | Premier |
| Territory government leader | Chief Minister |
| 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 |
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What You'll Learn
- The Federal Parliament is located in Canberra, Australia's capital
- There are six state parliaments, located in each state's capital city
- Queensland's parliament is unicameral, with one house
- The Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory have unicameral parliaments
- Local councils are spread across Australia, with over 500 in total
The Federal Parliament is located in Canberra, Australia's capital
Australia has three levels of government, each with its own responsibilities. The Federal Parliament, also known as the Parliament of the Commonwealth, is the federal legislature of Australia. It is located in Canberra, the nation's capital, and is responsible for making laws for the whole of Australia. The Federal Parliament consists of 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 came into existence on 1 January 1901, with the federation of the six Australian colonies. The site of Canberra was selected as the nation's capital city in 1908, and the construction of the Old Parliament House commenced in 1923. The Old Parliament House served as the home of Parliament for over 60 years, though it was intended to be a provisional building for 50 years until a new, permanent house could be built.
The New Parliament House was opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 9 May 1988, though it exceeded its intended completion date of 26 January 1988, the 200th anniversary of European settlement in Australia, and its budget of $220 million. The new building features artworks, such as a tapestry based on a painting by Arthur Boyd, and an embroidery designed by Kay Lawrence that depicts early Australian history.
In addition to the federal level, the other two levels of government in Australia are the state/territory parliaments and local councils. There are six state and two territory parliaments, which make laws for their respective states or territories. The state/territory parliaments are located in the capital cities of each state and territory. Over 500 local councils make local laws (by-laws) for their region or district.
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There are six state parliaments, located in each state's capital city
Australia has a federal parliamentary system with three levels of government: the federal parliament, state/territory parliaments, and local councils. The federal parliament, located in Canberra, the nation's capital, makes laws for the entire country. The state and territory parliaments, on the other hand, are located in the capital cities of each of the six states and two territories.
Each state has its own parliament, with Queensland having a unicameral system with just one house, the Legislative Assembly. The other states each have a bicameral parliament consisting of two houses. The Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory also have unicameral parliaments, each with a single house called the Legislative Assembly.
The state parliaments make laws and govern their respective states. Representatives elected to state parliaments are known as 'Members', specifically Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), Members of the House of Assembly (MHA), or Members of the Legislative Council (MLC). The leader of a state government is called the Premier.
The local councils, established by the state governments, are the third level of government and are responsible for creating and enforcing local laws, also known as by-laws, for their specific regions or districts. They address the particular needs of their local communities, with their representatives known as aldermen or councillors.
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Queensland's parliament is unicameral, with one house
Australia has three levels of government: federal, state, and local. The federal parliament is located in Canberra, the nation's capital. State and territory parliaments are located in the capital cities of each of the six states and two territories.
Queensland is unique among Australian states in that its parliament is unicameral, with one house, the Legislative Assembly. The upper chamber, the Legislative Council, was abolished in 1922 by the Theodore Labor Government with the help of members known as the "suicide squad", who were appointed to vote the chamber out of existence. This converted the Queensland Parliament from a bicameral arrangement (two houses) to a unicameral one (single-house). The Legislative Assembly sits in Parliament House in the Brisbane central business district. The building was completed in 1891 and is located at the corner of George and Alice Streets. It is surrounded by the City Botanic Gardens, the Queensland University of Technology Gardens Point campus, and the Brisbane River.
The Legislative Assembly of Queensland is the sole chamber of the unicameral parliament established under the Constitution of Queensland. There are currently 93 members of the Legislative Assembly, who each serve for a fixed four-year term. Elections are held every four years using full preferential voting. As of October 2024, the Liberal National Party (LNP) has 51 out of 93 seats and formed a majority government within the unicameral chamber.
The Queensland Parliament is responsible for passing legislation that establishes the laws of the state. It also scrutinises the government's annual financial requirements, an important feature of the legislature's role. As a representative assembly, the Queensland Parliament is responsible for forming the state government after a general election, with the political party or coalition of parties that obtains a majority of seats in the Legislative Assembly.
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The Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory have unicameral parliaments
Australia has three levels of government, each with its own law-making responsibilities. The Federal Parliament is located in Canberra, the nation's capital, and is responsible for making laws for the whole of Australia.
Six state and two territory parliaments make laws for their respective states or territories. These parliaments are located in the capital cities of each of the six states and two territories. The two territories are the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory.
The Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory have unicameral parliaments, meaning they consist of a single house called the Legislative Assembly. Each has 25 members, elected for four-year terms from single-member constituencies, using preferential voting.
The Australian Capital Territory is unique in Australia as its parliament combines the responsibilities of both a local and state government. Until they were granted self-government, the Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory were administered by the federal government. The Federal Parliament still retains the power to make laws for the territories and can override a territory law at any time under Section 122 of the Constitution.
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Local councils are spread across Australia, with over 500 in total
Australia has a federal parliamentary system of government, which means that power is shared between the federal government and state governments. The country has three levels of government – the federal parliament, state/territory parliaments, and local councils.
The Federal Parliament is located in Canberra, the nation's capital. State/territory parliaments are located in the capital cities of each of the six states and two territories. Local councils are spread across Australia, with over 500 in total. These councils make local laws (by-laws) for their region or district.
Local government in Australia is generally run by a council, and its territory of public administration is referred to as the local government area or LGA. Each LGA encompasses multiple suburbs or localities, which are roughly equivalent to neighbourhoods. The council board members are generally known as councillors, and the head councillor is called the mayor or shire president.
The number of local councils in Australia has changed over time. In 2016, there were 547 local councils. However, according to some sources, there are currently 537 councils Australia-wide. The number of councils has decreased in some states due to amalgamations aimed at improving efficiency and operations. For example, Victoria reduced the number of local councils from 210 to 78 in the early 1990s. South Australia, Tasmania, and Queensland have also seen reductions in the number of local governments.
Local councils in Australia have similar functions and powers, but their official designations vary depending on the state and 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".
Local governments in Australia have significant responsibilities and assets. They manage and maintain local roads, community infrastructure, buildings, facilities, airports, water, and sewerage (in some states). Local governments also raise revenue through taxation, user charges, and grants from federal and state/territory governments.
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Frequently asked questions
There are three levels of government in Australia.
The Federal Parliament is located in Canberra, the nation's capital.
State/Territory parliaments are located in the capital cities of each of the six states and two territories.
State and territory government responsibilities include justice, consumer affairs, health, education, forestry, public transport, and main roads.
The decision-making body of local government is usually called the city council or shire council.
