Australia's Federation
Australia became an independent nation on 1 January 1901. The British Parliament passed legislation allowing the six Australian colonies to govern in their own right as part of the Commonwealth of Australia.
The Commonwealth of Australia was established as a Constitutional Monarchy. ‘Constitutional’ because the Commonwealth Government was established with a written constitution, and ‘Monarchy’ because Australia's Head of State was Queen Victoria.
The Constitution, the Monarch and the Governor-General
The Australian Constitution is the most important document in Australian government history. It established the Commonwealth government, defined its structure, powers and procedures, and defined the rights and obligations of the states in relation to the Commonwealth.
The Constitution was brought into existence through a British Act of Parliament, the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act. This Act granted permission to the six Australian colonies, which were still then subject to British law, to form their own Commonwealth government in accordance with the Constitution. The text of the Constitution (which was clause 9 of the Act) was written by representatives of the six colonies during a series of conventions in the 1890s, and accepted by a referendum in each colony.
Under the Constitution, the reigning British monarch is also the Australian monarch, and therefore Australia's Head of State. The Constitution grants the monarch - currently Queen Elizabeth II - certain governing powers that place them above all other levels of the government. Because of the large distance between Australia and Britain, the monarch is permitted to appoint a Governor-General who can exercise the monarch's powers in their absence.
The Federal System
The birth of our nation is often referred to as 'federation'. This is because the Constitution created a 'federal' system of government.
Under a federal system, powers are divided between a central government and several regional governments. In Australia, power was divided between the Commonwealth Government and the governments of the six colonies, which were renamed 'states' by the Constitution.
Specific areas of legislative power ("heads of power") were given to the Commonwealth Government, including:
- taxation
- defence
- foreign affairs
- postal and telecommunications services
A complete list of Commonwealth heads of power is at section 51 of the Constitution. The Commonwealth also has power to make laws for Australia's territories (section 122).
The states retained legislative power over all other matters that occurred within their borders, including:
- police
- hospitals
- education
- public transport
The wording of the law has often created situations where both the Commonwealth and the states claim the authority to make laws over the same matter. See State and Territory Government for a discussion of the State-Commonwealth relationship and how these conflicts are resolved.
More Information
- Commonwealth Documents
- The Documenting a Democracy site presents key documents that are the foundation of our nation. Includes the original Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900 (UK).
- Australian Constitution
- Parliament of Australia page providing links to the Preamble and all chapters of the Australian Constitution.
- Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia
- Official website of the Governor-General.
- Federation Gateway
- The National Library of Australia's Federation Gateway was created to assist in locating a wide variety of materials like books, web sites, pictures and manuscripts relating to the Federation of Australia.
- Federation (Culture and Recreation Portal)
- Culture and Recreation Portal article about the movement towards Federation and the inauguration of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. Links to relevant online resources are provided.
- Governors-General (Culture and Recreation Portal)
- Culture and Recreation Portal overview of the history, powers and duties of the Governor-General of Australia. Links to relevant online resources are provided.
