AUSTRALIA'S GOVERNMENT & POLITICAL SYSTEM

Australia's system of Government

Australia's system of government is based on the liberal democratic tradition. Its institutions and practices reflect British and North American models but are uniquely Australian. This includes religious tolerance and freedom of speech and association for individuals from every nationality and religious believes.

Responsible government

In 1901 the Commonwealth of Australia was created. This occurred when the former British colonies, now referred to as the six States-agreed to federate.

The Australian Government is based on a popularly elected Parliament which consists of two chambers. The first being the House of Representatives and the second being the Senate.

Policy decisions are made in Cabinet meetings by Ministers appointed from these chambers which are conduct by the executive government. The announcements of decisions are the only elements disclosed, however Cabinet's discussions are not disclosed.

Cabinet Solidarity are the principal by which the Ministers are bound. This model follows closely the British model of Cabinet government responsible to Parliament.

Whilst Australia is an independent nation, Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain is also formally Queen of Australia. In her capacity Queen Elizabeth II appoints a Governor-General (on the advice of the elected Australian Government) to represent her.

Whilst the General-General has wide powers, he only acts on the advice of the elected ministers on visrually all matters.

Parliamentary sovereignty

The Australian Constitution sets out the powers of government in three separate chapters for the legislature, the executive and the judiciary, but insists that members of the executive must also be members of the legislature.

In practice, Parliament delegates wide regulatory powers to the executive.

Minority parties often hold the balance of power in the Senate, which serves as a chamber of review for the decisions of the government. Senators are elected for a six-year term and in an ordinary general election only half the senators face the voters.

In all Australian parliaments questions can be asked without notice, and there is a strict alternation between government and Opposition questions to ministers during Question Time. The Opposition uses its questions to pursue the government. Government members give ministers a chance to put government policies and actions in a favourable light, or to pursue the Opposition.

Anything said in Parliament can be reported fairly and accurately without fear of a suit for defamation. The rough and tumble of parliamentary Question Time and debates is broadcast and widely reported. This has helped to establish Australia's reputation for robust public debate, and serves as an informal check on executive power.

Frequent elections

A national general election must be held within three years of the first meeting of a new federal Parliament. The average life of parliaments is about two-and-a-half years. In practice, general elections are held when the Governor-General agrees to a request from the Prime Minister, who can pick the occasion to begin a campaign.

The governing party has changed about every five years on average since Federation in 1901, but length of hold on government has varied greatly. The Liberal Party led a coalition with the longest hold on government-23 years, from 1949 to 1972. Several governments have lasted less than a year.

Voting

The Australian colonies inherited an electoral tradition from Britain that included limited franchise and public and plural voting. Abuses such as bribery and intimidation of voters stimulated electoral reform. Australia pioneered reforms that underpin the electoral practices of modern democracies.

In 1855 Victoria introduced the secret ballot, which became known throughout the world as 'the Australian ballot'. In 1856, South Australia eliminated professional and property qualifications and gave the vote to all adult men, and in 1892 gave adult women the vote. In the 1890s the colonies adopted the principle of one vote per person, stopping the practice of plural voting.