Damon Mcknight
In the late 1800s, Australia was made up of six separate British colonies: New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, and Western Australia. These colonies were self-governing but were also under the control of the British Parliament. In the 1890s, politicians and leaders from these colonies gathered at two Constitutional Conventions to discuss the benefits of uniting to form a single nation. Representatives from New Zealand attended the first convention, but it was decided that New Zealand would not join the federation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Country that decided not to join Australia in federation | New Zealand |
| Reason for not joining the federation | New Zealand delegates indicated that it would be unlikely to join the Federation at its foundation, but it would probably be interested in doing so at a later date |
| Year of decision | 1891 |
| Status of New Zealand at the time | British colony |
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What You'll Learn
- New Zealand initially participated in federation discussions but decided against joining
- Fiji was also involved in the process but chose not to join Australia
- New Zealand's absence from the Australasian Federal Convention was notable
- Fiji and New Zealand were originally part of the federation process
- New Zealand indicated it would not join at the foundation but may later
New Zealand initially participated in federation discussions but decided against joining
The Federation of Australia was the process by which the six separate British self-governing colonies of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, and Western Australia agreed to unite and form the Commonwealth of Australia.
New Zealand initially participated in the federation discussions but decided against joining the Commonwealth of Australia. New Zealand was represented at both the 1890 conference and the first National Australasian Convention in Sydney in 1891, where delegates indicated that it would be unlikely to join the Federation at its foundation but might be interested in doing so at a later date.
The Australasian Federal Convention dissolved on 17 March 1898 after adopting a bill to constitute the Commonwealth of Australia. Referendums on the proposed constitution were held in four of the colonies in June 1898, with majority votes in all four. However, New Zealand had already decided not to be part of the Federation process by this stage.
The Constitution created a Commonwealth Parliament with two houses: a lower house (the House of Representatives) and an upper house (the Senate). It also established a new High Court of Australia. The new Australian Constitution reorganised law-making power in Australia, with the former colonies (now called states) retaining control over certain areas but giving some of their law-making power to the new Commonwealth Government.
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Fiji was also involved in the process but chose not to join Australia
The Federation of Australia was a process by which six separate British self-governing colonies of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, and Western Australia agreed to unite and form the Commonwealth of Australia. This process established a system of federalism in Australia.
The colonies of Fiji and New Zealand were also involved in this process but decided not to join the federation. Fiji was a Crown Colony of the British Empire, and it was initially considered to be part of the Australian Federation. However, it ultimately chose not to join. There is limited information on why Fiji chose not to join Australia in federation. One possible reason could be the matter of oceanic separation, as Fiji is an island in the Pacific Ocean, while Australia is surrounded by the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. This separation could have influenced Fiji's decision to remain independent and not join the Australian Federation.
The process of federation in Australia involved deliberation, consultation, and debate. The people of each of the six colonies were asked to approve the constitution in referendums, and the majority voted in favor. The colonies that united to form the Commonwealth of Australia kept their systems of government and legislatures but also agreed to have a federal government that was responsible for matters concerning the whole nation.
The Federation of Australia was officially proclaimed on January 1, 1901, marking the transition of the colonies into states of the Commonwealth of Australia. This process was a significant step in the unification and nation-building of Australia, with the establishment of a federal government and the creation of a unified nation-state.
While Fiji did not join the Australian Federation, it had considered the possibility and was involved in the initial discussions. Ultimately, it chose a different path, remaining a separate entity and forging its own future independent of the Australian Federation.
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New Zealand's absence from the Australasian Federal Convention was notable
The Australasian Federal Convention, which met in Adelaide, Sydney, and Melbourne in 1897 and early 1898, was a significant step towards the Federation of Australia. The convention discussed and modified the draft constitution, finalising the details of the constitution and the makeup of the new legislature. This included debating the number of senators for each state and the mechanism for increasing that number, as well as how people would vote in federal parliament elections to ensure fairness across the new states.
New Zealand's absence from these crucial discussions stood out because the country had been involved in earlier stages of the federation process. As early as 1890, New Zealand delegates participated in the first Australasian Federation Conference in Melbourne, where they affirmed the desirability of "an early union under the crown." This conference called for a national convention to draft a constitution for a Commonwealth of Australia, which took place in Sydney in 1891 with New Zealand representation. During this first National Australasian Convention, New Zealand delegates indicated that the country would likely not join the Federation at its foundation but might consider doing so later.
Despite New Zealand's eventual decision not to join the Federation, its participation in these initial discussions demonstrates the country's interest in exploring the potential benefits and changes that a union would bring. New Zealand's absence from the Australasian Federal Convention, therefore, stands out as a notable shift in its involvement in the federation process.
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$28.84 $40
Fiji and New Zealand were originally part of the federation process
The Federation of Australia was a process by which six separate British self-governing colonies—Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, and Western Australia—agreed to unite and form the Commonwealth of Australia. This process established a system of federalism in Australia.
The colonies of Fiji and New Zealand were originally part of this process, but they decided not to join the federation. New Zealand was represented at the National Australasian Convention in 1891, but its delegates indicated that it would be unlikely to join the Federation at its foundation. Instead, they expressed interest in joining at a later date. This gradual disinterest in the Federation Conferences of the 1880s and 1890s may have played a role in New Zealand's decision not to join the federation.
Fiji, as a Crown Colony, was also initially involved in the federation process. However, it ultimately chose not to join the union.
Following federation, the six colonies that united to form the Commonwealth of Australia retained their systems of government and bicameral legislatures. They also agreed to establish a federal government responsible for matters concerning the entire nation. On January 1, 1901, when the Constitution of Australia came into force, the colonies collectively became states of the Commonwealth of Australia.
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New Zealand indicated it would not join at the foundation but may later
New Zealand initially indicated that it would not join the Australian Federation at its foundation but may be interested in doing so later. This was communicated by New Zealand delegates at the informal meeting in 1890 and the first National Australasian Convention in Sydney in 1891. The decision was influenced by various factors, including the desire to retain self-governance and the recognition that New Zealand's interests might be better served outside the Federation.
New Zealand's absence from the Federation was notable, given its previous involvement in the process. The country had been part of the initial discussions and was represented at both the conference and the Convention. However, as the Federation process progressed, New Zealand chose to withdraw from the negotiations and establish its own path.
One of the primary reasons for New Zealand's decision to remain outside the Federation was its desire to maintain self-governance. As a self-governing colony, New Zealand enjoyed a significant degree of autonomy and wanted to preserve its ability to make decisions independently. Joining the Federation would have meant ceding some of that autonomy to the central federal government, which New Zealand was not yet ready to do.
Additionally, New Zealand recognised that its interests and priorities might differ from those of the Australian colonies. By remaining outside the Federation, New Zealand could pursue its own agenda and make decisions based on its unique circumstances. This included focusing on its own economic development and international relations without being bound by the decisions and agreements made by the central federal government in Australia.
Furthermore, New Zealand's decision to stay out of the Federation may have been influenced by geographical considerations. As an island nation with a distinct geographical location, New Zealand might have felt that its specific needs, particularly in terms of trade and transportation, would be better addressed through independent policies rather than those designed for the collective interests of the Australian colonies.
While New Zealand ultimately chose not to join the Federation at its foundation, it left the door open for future collaboration. The country acknowledged the potential benefits of cooperation with the Australian colonies and indicated a willingness to reconsider joining the Federation at a later stage. This flexibility allowed New Zealand to maintain positive relations with its neighbouring colonies while also asserting its independence and autonomy.
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Frequently asked questions
New Zealand and Fiji decided not to join Australia in federation.
New Zealand's delegates indicated that it would be unlikely to join the Federation at its foundation but that it would probably be interested in doing so at a later date.
Yes, the colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, and Western Australia were part of the federation process.
