190-402: [REDACTED] [REDACTED] The monarchy of Australia is a key component of Australia's form of government , by which a hereditary monarch serves as the country's sovereign and head of state . It is a constitutional monarchy , modelled on the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy , while incorporating features unique to the constitution of Australia . The present monarch
380-504: A constitutional monarchy , governed via a parliamentary democracy in the Westminster tradition . Australia is also a federation , where power is divided between the federal government and the states . The monarch , currently King Charles III , is the head of state and is represented locally by the governor-general , while the head of government is the prime minister , currently Anthony Albanese . The country has maintained
570-540: A governor in each of the Australian states, who themselves appoint executive bodies, as well as people to fill casual Senate vacancies , if the relevant state parliament is not in session. The state governors continue to serve as the direct representatives of the monarch, in no way subordinate to the governor-general, and they carry out on his behalf all of the monarch's constitutional and ceremonial duties in respect of their respective state. The Northern Territory and
760-481: A sovereign and under established principles of international law , the monarch of Australia is not subject to suit in foreign courts without his express consent. The prerogative of mercy lies with the monarch, and is exercised in the state jurisdictions by the governors. In accordance with the Australia Act 1986 , the sovereign has the power to appoint, on advice tendered by the relevant state premier ,
950-541: A "Washminster mutation". Australia is a federation , with different powers and responsibilities for the three levels of government: the federal government, the states and territories and local government . The federal nature and the structure of the Parliament of Australia were the subject of protracted negotiations among the colonies during the drafting of the Constitution. The House of Representatives
1140-502: A "race to the palace" should Whitlam attempt to advise the queen to dismiss the governor general before the governor general dismissed Whitlam. References to the monarchy were removed from various institutions through the late 1980s and 1990s. For example, in 1993, the Oath of Citizenship , which included an assertion of allegiance to the Australian monarch, was replaced by a pledge to be loyal to "Australia and its people". Earlier, in 1990,
1330-528: A "republic by stealth". However beginning with Queensland in 2013, Victoria and the Commonwealth in 2014 and followed by South Australia in 2020 the title of Queen's Counsel (QC) and now King's Counsel (KC) has again been conferred, in part due to the title's greater regard and recognition, internationally and domestically. There remains interest in New South Wales for a reintroduction of
1520-476: A combination of written and unwritten rules, comprising the sovereign, governors , and governor-general . The Constitution does not mention the term head of state . According to the Parliament of Australia website, Australia's head of state is the monarch and its head of government is the prime minister, with powers limited by both law and convention for government to be carried on democratically. However,
1710-500: A constitutional monarchy. Further, some Aboriginal Australians, such as former Senator Neville Bonner , said a republican president would not "care one jot more for my people". It has also been claimed monarchism and republicanism in Australia delineate historical and persistent sectarian tensions with, broadly speaking, Catholics more likely to be republicans and Protestants more likely to be monarchists. This developed out of
1900-471: A constitutional — rather than a statutory — perspective, the fundamental criterion of membership [of the Australian body-politic] is allegiance to the Queen of Australia". However, the precise relationship and relative importance of constitutional and statutory definitions of "the people" is the subject of evolving interpretations of the court. Key features of Australia's system of government include its basis on
2090-523: A coronation ceremony in the United Kingdom; though, this is not necessary for a sovereign to reign, being primarliy a symbolic event. For example, Edward VIII was never crowned, yet was undoubtedly king during his short time on the throne. After an individual ascends the throne, he or she typically continues to reign until death. The monarch legally cannot unilaterally abdicate ; the only Australian monarch to do so, Edward VIII, did so following
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#17327656733202280-649: A day-long visit to Vanuatu by Charles (then the Prince of Wales), escorted by Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs , Julie Bishop , in between a tour of Queensland and the Northern Territory, was paid for by the Australian government. The governor-general has two official residences: Government House in Canberra (commonly known as Yarralumla ) and Admiralty House in Sydney . When HMY Britannia
2470-486: A deep affection for Queen Elizabeth." She stated her belief that it would be appropriate for Australia to become a republic only once Queen Elizabeth II's reign ends. In November 2013, Governor-General Quentin Bryce proclaimed her support for an Australian republic, stating in a speech "perhaps, my friends, one day, one young girl or boy may even grow up to be our nation's first head of state". She had previously emphasised
2660-639: A direct election model, precisely for the reason that such a process favours models with shallow surface appeal and multiple flaws. Equally inevitably, such a model would be doomed at referendum." Since 2022, the ARM has supported the Australian Choice Model, which was developed after consultation with more than 10,000 Australians and drafted into detailed constitutional amendments with the support of ten constitutional law scholars. The model proposes that state, territory and Federal parliaments nominate
2850-618: A distinction may be relevant if either Australia or an individual state wished to become a republic , as with separate crowns, a federal republic would not necessarily abolish the Crown at a state level. The formal title of the current monarch is King Charles the Third, by the Grace of God King of Australia and His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth . Prior to 1953,
3040-566: A failure to vote attracting a $ 20 fine. All non-Indigenous women gained the right to vote in federal elections in 1902 and in all states by 1908. All seats in the House of Representatives are contested in each election. Members are elected using preferential voting , in which the winning candidate obtains over 50% of votes after distribution of preferences; therefore, preference flows from lower-polling candidates are frequently significant in electoral outcomes. Senate elections are contested by half
3230-439: A fixed term. The second question, generally deemed to be far less important politically, asked whether Australia should alter the constitution to insert a preamble . Neither of the amendments passed, with 55% of all electors and all states voting 'no' to the proposed amendment; it was not carried in any state. The preamble referendum question was also defeated, with a Yes vote of only 39 per cent. Many opinions were put forward for
3420-532: A governor-general. The bi-partisan recommendations of committee supported educational initiatives and holding a series of plebiscites to allow the public to choose which model they preferred, prior to a final draft and referendum, along the lines of plebiscites proposed by John Howard at the 1998 constitutional convention. Issues related to republicanism were raised by the March 2006 tour of Australia by Queen Elizabeth II . John Howard, still serving as prime minister,
3610-632: A historical cleavage in 19th- and 20th-century Australia, in which republicans were predominantly of Irish Catholic background and loyalists were predominantly of British Protestant background. Whilst mass immigration since the Second World War has diluted this conflict, the Catholic–Protestant divide has been cited as a dynamic in the republic debate, particularly in relation to the referendum campaign in 1999. Nonetheless, others have stated that Catholic–Protestant tensions—at least in
3800-528: A landslide and he was replaced by John Howard, a monarchist, as prime minister. With the change in government in 1996, Prime Minister John Howard proceeded with an alternative policy of holding a constitutional convention. This was held over two weeks in February 1998 at Old Parliament House . Half of the 152 delegates were elected and half were appointed by the federal and state governments. Convention delegates were asked whether or not Australia should become
3990-424: A majority because of 22 abstentions in the final vote (57 against delegates voted against the model and 73 voted for, three votes short of an actual majority of delegates). A number of those who abstained were republicans who supported direct election (such as Ted Mack , Phil Cleary , Clem Jones , and Andrew Gunter), thereby allowing the bi-partisan model to succeed. They reasoned that the model would be defeated at
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#17327656733204180-497: A member of the royal family is present. His Majesty The King's Flag for Australia , approved on 30 August 2024 by Charles III, signifies his presence and is displayed when Charles is in Australia. The flag was first used during the 2024 royal visit. The flag is used in the same way as the Royal Standard in the United Kingdom. Where practical, when it is flown on or outside a building, no other flag should be flown with it and
4370-419: A non-royal Australian head of state . It is opposed to monarchism in Australia . Republicanism was first espoused in Australia before Federation in 1901. After a period of decline following Federation, the movement again became prominent at the end of the 20th century after successive legal and socio-cultural changes loosened Australia's ties with the United Kingdom. Republicanism is officially supported by
4560-402: A particular ministry, which traditionally included a promise of allegiance to the monarch. However, the wording of this oath or affirmation is not written into law and beginning with swearing in of Paul Keating , all Labor prime ministers have dropped the reference to the sovereign. The oath of citizenship similarly contained a statement of allegiance to the reigning monarch until 1994, when
4750-464: A pledge of allegiance to Australia and its values was introduced. However, the importance of allegiance to the monarch has been stressed by several justices in the context of determining whether a person is an "alien" for the purposes of section 51 the Constitution . For example, Justice Callinan held in Re Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs; Ex parte Te (2002) that "judged from
4940-456: A referendum and a second referendum called with direct election as the model. The convention also made recommendations about a preamble to the constitution and a proposed preamble was also put to referendum. According to critics, the two-week timeline and quasi-democratic composition of the convention is evidence of an attempt by John Howard to frustrate the republican cause, a claim John Howard adamantly rejects. The republic referendum
5130-527: A referendum, asking the public for their support for a specific model of government. Labor lost the election. Following Labor's victory in the 2022 federal election , the new Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese , appointed Matt Thistlethwaite as the Assistant Minister for the Republic , signalling a commitment to prepare Australia for a transition to republic following the next election. After
5320-419: A republic and which model for a republic is preferred. At the opening of the convention, Howard stated that if the convention could not decide on a model to be put to a referendum, then plebiscites would be held on the model preferred by the Australian public. At the convention, a republic gained majority support (89 votes to 52 with 11 abstentions), but the question of what model for a republic should be put to
5510-484: A republic in principle for some years before the vote. In his journal The Currency Lad , first published in Sydney in 1832, pastoralist and politician Horatio Wills was the first person to openly espouse Australian republicanism. Born to a convict father, Wills was devoted to the emancipist cause and promoted the interests of " currency lads and lasses " (Australian-born Europeans). Some leaders and participants of
5700-483: A republic while only 10% strongly oppose. Roy Morgan research has indicated that support for the monarchy has been supported by a majority of Australians since 2010, with support for a republic being in the majority between 1999 and 2004. An opinion poll held in November 2008 that separated the questions found support for a republic at 50% with 28% opposed. Asked how the president should be chosen if there were to be
5890-400: A republic, 80 percent said elected by the people, against 12 percent who favoured appointment by parliament. In October 2009, another poll by UMR found 59% support for a republic and 33% opposition. 73% supported direct election, versus 18% support for parliamentary appointment. On 29 August 2010, The Sydney Morning Herald published a poll produced by Neilson, asking multiple questions on
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6080-408: A second referendum on constitutional reform and should focus instead on economic policy and leaving many senior republican leaders to fear there will be no chance for a successful referendum for at least a generation. In January 2024, the government stated that the issue was "not a priority" and that there was no timeline for a new referendum, abandoning an earlier commitment to seek a referendum on
6270-405: A shortlist of candidates which are then put to a national vote. ARM research showed that this approach has significantly higher levels of support in the Australian community than direct election or parliamentary appointment models and would have the best prospects of success at a referendum. Polls and surveys generate different responses depending on the wording of the questions, mostly in regards
6460-547: A slim majority of members of both houses of parliament supported Australia becoming a republic (54% in the House and 53% in the Senate). In July 2017, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten revealed that, should the Labor Party be elected in the 2019 federal election , they would legislate for a compulsory plebiscite on the issue. Should that plebiscite be supported by a majority of Australians, a second vote would be held, this time
6650-482: A specific policy area and reporting directly to a senior Cabinet minister. The Constitution of Australia does not explicitly mention Cabinet; it existing solely by convention, with its decisions not in and of themselves having legal force. However, it serves as the practical expression of the Federal Executive Council , which is Australia's highest formal executive governmental body. In practice,
6840-477: A stable liberal democratic political system under its Constitution , the world's tenth oldest , since Federation in 1901. Australia is the world's sixth oldest continuous democracy and largely operates as a two-party system in which voting is compulsory . The Economist Intelligence Unit rated Australia a " full democracy " in 2022. Like other Westminster-style systems of government , Australia's federal system of government consists of three branches :
7030-428: A symbol of the legal authority under which all governments and agencies operate. Still, the royal prerogative belongs to the Crown, not to any of the ministers, and the governor-general may unilaterally use these powers in exceptional situations , such as when, during the constitutional crisis in 1975 , Sir John Kerr dismissed prime minister Gough Whitlam , on the occasion of a stalemate over government funding between
7220-487: Is King Charles III , who has reigned since 8 September 2022. The monarch is represented at the federal level by the governor-general (currently Samantha Mostyn ), in accordance with the Australian constitution and letters patent from his mother and predecessor, Queen Elizabeth II . Similarly, in each of the Australian states the monarch is represented by a governor (assisted by a lieutenant-governor), according to
7410-569: Is responsible to the Parliament , of which they must be (or shortly become) members. In the Senate, 12 senators are from each State and 2 senators from the ACT and the NT respectively are elected by an optional preferential single transferable vote system. State senators serve staggered fixed six year terms, with half up for election each three years. Territory senators serve a non fixed term equal to that of
7600-567: Is a significant power due to high levels of vertical fiscal imbalance arising because of the limited revenue raising capabilities of the states. In addition, Australia has several territories, two of which are self-governing: the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory . As these territories' legislatures exercise powers devolved to them by the Commonwealth, the Parliament of Australia has
7790-423: Is both legal and practical. The sovereign of Australia is represented in the federal sphere by the governor-general—appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister of Australia —and in each state by a governor —appointed by the monarch upon the advice of the relevant state premier. One of the main duties of the governor-general is to appoint the prime minister. This is, in accordance with convention ,
Monarchy of Australia - Misplaced Pages Continue
7980-637: Is celebrated on the first Monday in October, and in Western Australia it is usually the last Monday of September or the first Monday of October. Celebrations are mainly official, including the Australian Birthday Honours list and military ceremonies. Politics of Australia [REDACTED] [REDACTED] The politics of Australia operates under the written Australian Constitution , which sets out Australia as
8170-589: Is determined for us essentially by the parliament at Westminster ". As Australian Republican Movement member Frank Cassidy put it in a speech on the issue: "In short, we want a resident for President." Some republicans associate the monarchy with British identity and argue that Australia has changed demographically and culturally, from being "British to our bootstraps", as prime minister Sir Robert Menzies once put it, to being less British in nature (albeit maintaining an "English Core"). Many Australian republicans are of non-British ancestry, and feel no connection to
8360-432: Is difficult to apply as many actions by executive agencies are wide ranging, binding and conducted independently of Parliament. Ultimately whether a power is executive or legislative is determined on a case by case basis, and involves the weighing up of various factors, rather than the application of a strict test. The Federal Executive Council is a formal body which exists and meets to give legal effect to decisions made by
8550-507: Is elected on a basis that reflects the differing populations of the states. Therefore, the most populous state, New South Wales , has 48 members, while the least populated, Tasmania , has only five. But the Senate is elected on a basis of equality among the states: all states elect 12 senators, regardless of population. This was intended to ensure that smaller states retained influence over legislation and that laws could not be passed with only
8740-714: Is flown when the King is visiting Australia from all buildings, cars, boats or aircraft that he occupies. The flag features the six quarters of the Commonwealth Coat of Arms, surrounded by an ermine border which represents the Commonwealth of Australia. As in other Commonwealth realms, the King's Official Birthday is a public holiday and, in Australia, is observed on the second Monday in June in all states and territories , except Queensland and Western Australia. In Queensland, it
8930-411: Is further both mentioned in and the subject of songs and loyal toasts. Australia inherited the royal anthem " God Save the King " (alternatively, "God Save the Queen" in the reign of a female monarch) from the United Kingdom. It was the national anthem of Australia until 1984, and has since been retained as the country's royal anthem, its use generally restricted to official occasions where the monarch or
9120-713: Is no strict separation between the executive and legislative branches, with ministers required to also be members of the legislature. Only the High Court can deem if a law is constitutional or not. The Australian system of government combines elements derived from the political systems of the United Kingdom ( fused executive , constitutional monarchy ) and the United States ( federalism , written constitution , strong bicameralism ), along with distinctive local features, and has therefore been characterised as
9310-497: Is represented by the Mace of the House (which also represents the authority of the house itself and its Speaker ). However, neither the sovereign nor the governor-general participate in the legislative process save for the granting of royal assent . Further, the constitution outlines that the governor-general alone is responsible for summoning, proroguing , and dissolving the federal parliament. All laws in Australia, except those in
9500-401: Is the supreme court in the Australian court hierarchy and the final court of appeal in Australia. It has both original and appellate jurisdiction, has the power of judicial review over laws passed by the Parliament of Australia and the parliaments of the states , and interprets the Constitution of Australia. The High Court is mandated by section 71 of the Constitution , which vests in it
9690-480: Is the council of senior ministers, responsible to the Parliament. The ministers are appointed by the governor-general, on the advice of the prime minister, who serve at the former's pleasure. Cabinet meetings are strictly private and occur once a week where vital issues are discussed and policy formulated. Outside the cabinet there is an outer ministry and also a number of junior ministers, called assistant ministers (formally parliamentary secretaries ), responsible for
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#17327656733209880-420: The Australia Act and respective letters-patent and state constitutions. The monarch appoints the governor-general on the advice of the prime minister and the state governors on the advice of the respective premiers . These are the only mandatory constitutional functions of the monarch of Australia. Australian constitutional law provides that the person who is monarch of the United Kingdom will also be
10070-704: The Sydney Morning Herald has reported that ministerial positions are allocated to the Left and Right factions on a proportional basis according to their representation in Parliament. The Left selects their ministers nationally, whilst the Right assigns ministers according to state based quotas. The cabinet meets not only in Canberra but also in state capitals, most frequently Sydney and Melbourne. Kevin Rudd
10260-441: The 1990 federal election The most recent Australian federal election, which took place on 21 May 2022 , saw the election of a historically large crossbench in the House of Representatives consisting of six minor party members and ten independents. Australia's six states and the two largest territories are structured within a political framework similar to that of the Commonwealth. Each state has its own bicameral parliament, with
10450-603: The 1999 referendum , the Australian Republican Movement (ARM) supported the bi-partisan appointment model , which would result in a President elected by the Parliament of Australia , with the powers currently held by the Governor-General. It is argued that the requirement of a two-thirds majority in a vote of both houses of parliament would result in a bi-partisan appointment, preventing a party politician from becoming president. In 2010,
10640-694: The Anzac Day ceremonies at Gallipoli , or when Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, and Princess Anne participated in Australian ceremonies for the anniversary of D-Day in France in 2004. Members of the royal family will sometimes make private donations to Australian charities or causes, such as when Elizabeth II made a private donation to the Australian Red Cross Appeal after the Blue Mountains bushfires in 2009. Section 68 of
10830-519: The Australia Acts severed the last possibilities of UK institutions changing Australian laws). However, members of the High Court have indicated that the separation of the Crowns was complete by at least 1948, as seen by the creation of Australian citizenship laws . It is unclear however whether for each state there is also a distinct Crown, separate from the Crown of Australia. In other words,
11020-427: The Australian Capital Territory (ACT), are enacted only with the granting of royal assent, done by the governor-general, relevant state governor, or administrator in the case of the Northern Territory (NT). This is done in the federal context by the governor-general signing two copies of the bill. If the law is one in which takes effect on proclamation , the governor-general will also make this proclamation to which
11210-451: The Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory . Separation of powers is the principle the power of state should be shared between multiple bodies, in order to avoid the concentration of power in one entity. The legislature proposes and debates laws that the executive then administers, and the judicial arbitrates cases arising from the administration of laws and common law . However, in accordance with Westminster system , there
11400-411: The Australian Capital Territory resemble states in many respects, but are administered directly by the Commonwealth of Australia; an administrator , appointed by the governor-general upon the advice of the Commonwealth government, takes the place of a state governor in the Northern Territory. The Australian Capital Territory has no equivalent position. Official duties involve the sovereign representing
11590-653: The Australian Constitution says: "The command in chief of the naval and military forces of the Commonwealth is vested in the governor-general as the Queen's [monarch's] representative." In practice, however, the governor-general does not play any part in the Australian Defence Force's command structure other than following the advice of the Minister for Defence in the normal form of executive government. Australian naval vessels bear
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#173276567332011780-479: The Cocos (Keeling) Islands , have never been self-governing. The third level of governance is local government , in the form of shires , towns or cities. The councils of these areas are composed of elected representatives (known as either councillor or alderman , depending on the state). Their powers are devolved to them by the state or territory in which they are located. The Australian Constitution sets down
11970-602: The Country Party , the leader of the junior Coalition party has had the right to nominate their party's members of the Coalition ministry, and to be consulted by the Prime Minister on the allocation of their portfolios. When Labor first held office under Chris Watson , Watson assumed the right to choose members of his Cabinet. In 1907, however, the party decided that future Labor Cabinets would be elected by
12160-534: The Great Seal of Australia is then affixed in authentication of the corresponding letters patent . Laws passed by the ACT and NT legislatures, unlike their state counterparts, are subject to the oversight of the government of Australia and can be disallowed by the Australian Parliament. The governor-general may reserve a bill for the King's (or Queen's) pleasure ; that is withhold his consent to
12350-599: The Labor Party and the Greens , and is also supported by some Liberal Party members of the Australian Parliament . There was an assistant minister for the republic from 1 June 2022 until 28 July 2024. In a referendum held in 1999 , Australian voters rejected a proposal to establish a republic with a parliamentary appointed head of state. This was despite polls showing a majority of Australians supported
12540-499: The Queen from the Constitution and replaced the governor-general with a president nominated by the prime minister, but subject to the approval of a two-thirds majority of both houses of Parliament. The proposal was defeated. The Australian Republican Movement continues to campaign for an end to the monarchy in Australia , opposed by Australians for Constitutional Monarchy and Australian Monarchist League . The Parliament exercises
12730-545: The Republic Advisory Committee to produce an options paper on issues relating to the possible transition to a republic to take effect on the centenary of Federation: 1 January 2001. The committee produced its report in April 1993 and in it argued that "a republic is achievable without threatening Australia's cherished democratic institutions". In response to the report, Keating promised a referendum on
12920-581: The Senate and the House of Representatives . Section 51 of the Constitution provides for the Australian government's legislative powers and allocates certain powers (known as heads of power ) to the federal government. All remaining legislative power is retained by the six states (previously separate colonies). Further, each state has its own constitution, so that Australia has seven parliaments, with legislative power shared between them. The High Court of Australia rules on legal disputes which arise between
13110-596: The Statute of Westminster by the time of the abdication of Edward VIII in 1936, the UK Declaration of Abdication Act 1936 applied automatically without the need for Australia's consent. However, the Australian federal Parliament did pass a resolution of assent to the changes as a matter of courtesy. The most recent reforms to the succession occurred following the Perth Agreement in 2011, in which all
13300-786: The US there is only one common law of the nation, rather than a common law for each state. Additionally, unlike Canada and the US, there is no distinct federal common law. Federal judicial power is vested in the High Court of Australia and such other federal courts created by the Parliament, including the Federal Court of Australia , the Family Court of Australia , and the Federal Circuit Court of Australia . Additionally,
13490-734: The Whitlam government . When the non-Labor parties are in power, the prime minister makes all Cabinet and ministerial appointments at their own discretion, although in practice they consult with senior colleagues in making appointments. When the Liberal Party and its predecessors (the Nationalist Party and the United Australia Party ) have been in coalition with the National Party or its predecessor
13680-493: The advice of the prime minister, appoints the other ministers of state , a subset of which form the Cabinet . In accordance with the principles of responsible government , these ministers are, in turn, accountable to the Parliament and, through it, to the people. The monarch is informed by the governor-general of the acceptance of the resignation of a prime minister and the swearing-in of a new prime minister and other members of
13870-465: The death of Elizabeth II , former prime minister Julia Gillard opined that Australia would inevitably choose to be a republic, but agreed with Albanese's timing on debate about the matter. When asked if he supported another referendum following the Queen's death, Albanese stated it was "not the time" to discuss a republic. Instead the government had focused on the referendum to enshrine an Indigenous Voice to Parliament , which has been described by
14060-529: The judicial power of the Commonwealth of Australia. The High Court was constituted by the Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) . The High Court is composed of seven Justices: the Chief Justice of Australia , presently Stephen Gageler , and six other Justices. The state supreme courts are also considered to be superior courts, those with unlimited jurisdiction to hear disputes and which are the pinnacle of
14250-413: The legislative power of the Commonwealth by enacting legislation. It also supervises the executive actions of the government, through activities such as question time and Senate estimates. The Australian Parliament is bicameral and consists of the King of Australia , the 76 member Senate (the upper house ) and the 151 member House of Representatives (the lower house ). The Australian government
14440-570: The passage and adoption of the Statute of Westminster , the Monarch of Australia (along with the monarchies of the other dominions) is a separate office from the Monarch of the United Kingdom , despite being held by the same person. As such, in Commonwealth matters, the monarch is only advised by Commonwealth ministers. By the Royal Style and Titles Act 1953 , the Australian Parliament gave
14630-539: The state at home or abroad, or other royal family members participating in a government-organised ceremony either in Australia or elsewhere. The sovereign and their family have participated in events such as various centennials and bicentennials; Australia Day ; the openings of Olympic and other games; award ceremonies; D-Day commemorations; anniversaries of the monarch's accession; and the like. Other royals have participated in Australian ceremonies or undertaken duties abroad, such as Charles III , then Prince Charles, at
14820-434: The "mother country" to speak of. According to an Australian government inquiry, arguments put forth by these republicans include the claim that the idea of one person being both monarch of Australia and of the United Kingdom is an anomaly. However, monarchists argue that immigrants who left unstable republics and have arrived in Australia since 1945 welcomed the social and political stability that they found in Australia under
15010-566: The 14 other Commonwealth realms within the 56-member Commonwealth of Nations . However, each realm is independent of the others, the monarchy in each being distinct from the rest. Effective with the Australia Act 1986 , no foreign government can advise the monarch on any matters pertinent to Australia; on all matters of the Australian Commonwealth, the monarch is advised solely by Australian federal ministers of state . Likewise, on all matters relating to any Australian state,
15200-466: The ARM briefly proposed a non-binding plebiscite to decide the model, followed by a binding referendum to amend the Constitution, reflecting the model chosen. Opponents of holding non-binding plebiscites include monarchist David Flint , who described this process as "inviting a vote of no confidence in one of the most successful constitutions in the world," and minimalist republican Greg Craven , who states "a multi-option plebiscite inevitably will produce
15390-436: The Australian monarchy. The main symbol of the monarchy is the sovereign, and their image is used to signify Australian sovereignty. Queen Elizabeth II's portrait, for instance, currently appears on all Australian coins minted during her reign, the five-dollar banknote , and postage stamps such as the Queen's Birthday stamp, issued by Australia Post every year since 1980. All new coins bear King Charles III's portrait, however
15580-574: The British Parliament enacting laws to override the Australian Constitution was also removed. Federal elections are held at least once every three years. The prime minister can advise the governor-general to call an election for the House of Representatives at any time, but Senate elections can only be held within certain periods prescribed in the Australian Constitution . Although it is possible to hold elections for
15770-755: The Cabinet, and to carry out various other functions. All ministers are members of the council and are entitled to be styled The Honourable for life. The governor-general usually presides at council meetings, but in his or her absence another minister nominated as the Vice-President of the Executive Council presides at the meeting of the council. Since 1 June 2022, the vice-president of the Federal Executive Council has been Senator Katy Gallagher . The Cabinet of Australia
15960-524: The Commonwealth realms agreed to changes including the removal of a preference towards male heirs and the repeal of the Royal Marriages Act 1772 (which amongst other things prevented the monarch from marrying a Roman Catholic). As the Australian federal Parliament does not have a head of power over succession, it required a referral legislation from each of the states. The Northern Territory also added its request and concurrence, although this
16150-413: The Constitution. To become effective, the proposals must be put to a referendum of all Australians of voting age and must receive a double majority : a majority of all votes, and a majority of votes in a majority of states. Section 1 of the Australian Constitution creates a democratic legislature, the bicameral Parliament of Australia which consists of the monarch and two chambers of parliament,
16340-663: The Empire and generally supported the appointment of Australians as governor-general, it did not question the monarchy itself. Under the Labor government of John Curtin , a member of the Royal Family, Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester , was appointed governor-general during World War II . The royal tour of Queen Elizabeth II in 1954 saw a reported 7 million Australians (out of a total population of 9 million) out to see her. The constitutional crisis of 1975 , which began when
16530-435: The Executive Council in the absence of the governor-general. Until 1956 all members of the ministry were members of the Cabinet. The growth of the ministry in the 1940s and 1950s made this increasingly impractical, and in 1956 Robert Menzies created a two-tier ministry, with only senior ministers holding Cabinet rank, also known within parliament as the front bench . This practice has been continued by all governments except
16720-523: The Faith" had "no historical or constitutional relevance in Australia". A new Royal Titles and Styles Bill that removed these references was passed by the federal Parliament. The governor-general, Sir Paul Hasluck , reserved royal assent for the monarch, as governor-general Sir William McKell had done with the 1953 Royal Titles and Styles Bill to allow Elizabeth to give her assent in person, which she did at Government House in Canberra on 19 October 1973. At
16910-417: The Federal Executive Council meets solely to endorse and give legal force to decisions already made by the Cabinet. All members of the Cabinet are members of the Executive Council. While the governor-general is nominal presiding officer, they almost never attends Executive Council meetings. A senior member of the Cabinet holds the office of vice-president of the Executive Council and acts as presiding officer of
17100-619: The Grace of God) of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, [name of realm], and all of her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth (Defender of the Faith) . The latter composition was adopted, despite some objections from the South African and Canadian governments. The sovereign's title in all her realms thus kept mention of the United Kingdom, but, for the first time, also separately mentioned Australia and
17290-572: The House and Senate separately, it is the convention to hold simultaneous elections for both houses; every national election since 1974 has been for both the House and the Senate. Voting has been compulsory federally since 1924, except for Indigenous Australians. All restrictions on Indigenous people's right to vote were removed in 1962, but this right remained optional until both voting and enrolment became compulsory in 1984. Federal enrolment for non-Indigenous Australians has been compulsory since 1911. Compulsory voting laws are actively enforced, with
17480-405: The House in order to obtain a seat, minor parties have often focused their election efforts on the upper house. This is true also at state level (only the two territories and Queensland are unicameral ). Historically it has been comparatively rarer for minor parties and independents to win seats in the House of Representatives, although the size of the crossbench has been on an increasing trend since
17670-472: The House of Representatives and the Senate. The only role the monarch must perform personally is appoint the governor-general. Additionally, assent for a bill may be reserved for the pleasure of the monarch, allowing them to exercise their judgement on whether to give assent. The monarch has also been personally involved in issuing letters-patent for the creation of Australian honours . Members of various executive agencies and other officials are appointed by
17860-468: The House of Representatives, usually around three years. The most recent general election was on 21 May 2022 . In the House of Representatives, also known as the people's house, 151 members are elected using full preferential voting in single member electorates (also known as seats ). Elections are held once at least every three years, however the prime minister (historically the Cabinet) may request
18050-480: The House of Representatives. The Leader of the Opposition heads shadow cabinet, composed of shadow ministers who mirror, scrutinise and oppose government ministers and act as the government in waiting. Although the government, by virtue of commanding a majority of members in the lower house of the Parliament, can usually pass its legislation and control the workings of the House, the opposition can considerably delay
18240-514: The House) power. The federal Parliament (as defined in section 1 of the Constitution ) comprises the monarch and is bicameral (has two chambers): the House of Representatives (lower house) and Senate (upper house). The House of Representatives has 151 members , each representing an individual electoral district of about 165,000 people. The Senate has 76 members: twelve from each of the six states and two each from Australia's internal territories,
18430-483: The King and governor-general to be replaced by a president or an executive federal council. There is much debate on the appointment or election process that would be used and what role such an office would have. An alternative minimalist approach to change provides for removing the sovereign and retaining the governor-general. The most notable model of this type is the McGarvie model , while Copernican models replace
18620-571: The Liberal Party and was appointed prime minister. He stated he would not pursue "his dream" of Australia becoming a republic until after the end of the Queen's reign, instead focusing his efforts toward the economy. Upon meeting Elizabeth II in July 2017, Turnbull declared himself an "Elizabethan" and stated he did not believe a majority of Australians would support a republic before the end of her reign. In December 2016, News.com.au found that
18810-451: The Parliament has the power to enact laws which vest federal authority in state courts. Since the Constitution requires a separation of powers at the federal level, only courts may exercise federal judicial power; and conversely, non-judicial functions cannot be vested in courts. State judicial power is exercised by each state's supreme court, and such other courts and tribunals created by the state parliaments. The High Court of Australia
19000-436: The Queen the title Queen of Australia , and in 1973 titles with any reference to her status as Queen of the United Kingdom and Defender of the Faith as well were removed. Under the conventions of the Westminster system the governor-general's powers are almost always exercised on the advice of the Prime Minister or other ministers. However, the governor-general retains some reserve powers , being powers not subject to
19190-632: The Royal Family are ever appointed to these ranks. Additionally, some members of the royal family are Colonels-in-Chief of Australian regiments, including: the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery ; Royal Australian Army Medical Corps ; the Royal Australian Armoured Corps and the Royal Australian Corps of Signals , amongst many others. Royal symbols are the visual and auditory identifiers of
19380-533: The Senate Legal and Constitutional References Committee. During 2004, the committee reviewed 730 submissions and conducted hearings in all state capitals. The committee tabled its report, called Road to a Republic , on 31 August 2004. The report examined the contest between minimalist and direct-election models and gave attention to hybrid models such as the electoral college model, the constitutional council model, and models having both an elected president and
19570-409: The Senate can still block supply (the annual bill authorising government expenditure), but this has only happened once, during the 1975 Australian constitutional crisis . Parliamentarians belong to either the government, the opposition or sit on the cross-bench (which includes independents and members of minor parties). The opposition consists of members of the second largest party or coalition in
19760-406: The Senate. With the exception of a three-year period from 2005 to 2008, no party or coalition has held a majority in the Senate since 1981; this has required governments to frequently seek the support of minor parties or independent senators holding the balance of power in order to secure their legislative agenda. Because the Senate's system of single transferable voting requires a lower quota than
19950-485: The actions of the Australian Defence Force , and negotiate and ratify treaties, alliances, and international agreements. The governor-general is empowered by the constitution to summon and prorogue parliament and call elections . Use of the royal prerogative does not require parliamentary approval. As such, the monarch's and the governor-general's roles are primarily symbolic and cultural, acting as
20140-462: The approval of another person or institution. These are rarely exercised, but during the Australian constitutional crisis of 1975 Governor-General Sir John Kerr used them to dismiss the prime minister when he failed to secure supply. Australia has periodically experienced movements seeking to end the monarchy. In a 1999 referendum , the Australian people voted on a proposal to change the Constitution. The proposal would have removed references to
20330-437: The assistant minister as a "critical first step" before a vote possibly some time in 2026. The Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had stated: "I couldn't envisage a circumstance where we changed our head of state to an Australian head of state but still didn't recognise First Nations people in our constitution ." However, this referendum failed, leading to warnings within the government that it could not politically afford to lose
20520-435: The authority to override their legislation and to alter their powers. Australian citizens in these territories are represented by members of both houses of the Parliament of Australia, albeit with less representation in the Senate. Norfolk Island was self-governing from 1979 until 2015, although it was never represented as such in the Parliament of Australia. The other inhabited territories: Jervis Bay , Christmas Island and
20710-491: The bill and present it to the sovereign for their personal decision. Under the constitution, the sovereign also has the power to disallow a bill within one year of the governor-general having granted royal assent. The purpose of this section was originally to allow the UK parliament to supervise the workings of the Commonwealth parliament, as this power would only be exercised by the monarch as advised by their British ministers. However,
20900-586: The bottom layer includes public servants, police, government departments and independent statutory bodies who directly implement policy and laws. Executive power is also difficult to clearly define. In the British context, it was defined by John Locke as all government power not legislative or judicial in nature. The key distinction is that while legislative power involves setting down rules of general application, executive power involves applying those rules to specific situations. In practice however, this definition
21090-753: The case of Elizabeth II) are appointed to the highest ranks in each of the branches of the Defence Force. As of 2024, Charles III holds the Honorary Ranks of Admiral of the fleet of the Royal Australian Navy , Field Marshal of the Australian Army , and Marshal of the Royal Australian Air Force , these appointments where conferred by the Governor-General of Australia, bar two exceptions only members of
21280-498: The constitution, require the passage of a referendum. The Australian Labor Party (ALP) first made republicanism its official policy in 1991, with then Prime Minister Bob Hawke describing a republic as "inevitable". Following the ALP decision, the Australian Republican Movement , the leading republican advocacy group, was born. Hawke's successor, Paul Keating , pursued the republican agenda much more actively than Hawke and established
21470-543: The context of the Glorious Revolution . These laws were received alongside all other British laws to Australia when Australia was settled. Considering the colonial status of the individual colonies and later the federated Australia, it was accepted at the time that these laws could only be changed by the UK Parliament. Later, Australia and the other dominions gained greater legislative independence with
21660-546: The court hierarchy within their jurisdictions. They were created by means of the constitutions of their respective states or the self government Acts for the ACT and the Northern Territory . Appeals may be made from state supreme courts to the High Court of Australia . Inferior courts are secondary to superior courts. Their existence stems from legislation and they only have the power to decide on matters which Parliament has granted them. Decisions in inferior courts can be appealed to
21850-571: The current monarch ( primogeniture ), with the restriction that an heir must be in communion with the Church of England and not a Roman Catholic to ascend the throne. These rules have evolved over centuries. The British statutes, the Bill of Rights 1689 and the Act of Settlement 1701 first limited succession to legitimate descendants of Sophia, Electress of Hanover and imposed religious requirements in
22040-433: The defeat, some relating to perceived difficulties with the parliamentary appointment model, others relating to the lack of public engagement or that most Australians were simply happy to keep the status quo. Some republicans voted no because they did not agree with provisions such as the president being instantly dismissible by the prime minister. On 26 June 2003, the Senate referred an inquiry into an Australian republic to
22230-683: The discriminatory policies backed the proposed secession from the Empire as a republic. One attendee of the ARA meetings was the Australian-born poet Henry Lawson , who wrote his first poem, entitled A Song of the Republic , in The Republican journal. Banish from under your bonny skies Those old-world errors and wrongs and lies At the Australian Federation Convention, which produced the first draft that
22420-491: The entirety of Mainland Australia at the federal and mainland state levels simultaneously (leaving Tasmania as the only state with a Liberal government), a feat that had last been achieved in 2007. This would last until 24 August 2024 when Labor lost government in the Northern Territory to the Country Liberal Party (CLP) opposition. The Liberal–National Coalition has never achieved this feat (control of
22610-581: The entirety of Mainland Australia at the federal and mainland state levels simultaneously) as of 2024. Queensland is regarded as comparatively conservative . Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory are regarded as comparatively left of centre . New South Wales, the largest state by population, as well as South Australia have often been regarded as politically moderate bellwether states. Western Australia, by contrast, tends to be more politically volatile; regarded as
22800-408: The establishment of a republic, replacing the governor-general with a president, and removing references to the Australian sovereign. The president was to be nominated by the prime minister and appointed by a two-thirds majority in a joint sitting of the Senate and House of Representatives. The referendum was to be held either in 1998 or 1999. However, Keating's party lost the 1996 federal election in
22990-499: The exception of Queensland and the two territories, whose parliaments are unicameral. Each state has a governor , who undertakes a role equivalent to that of the governor-general at the federal level, and a premier , who is the head of government and is equivalent to the prime minister. Each state also has its own supreme court, from which appeals can be made to the High Court of Australia. State and territory elections occur every four years using fixed terms (except for Tasmania, where
23180-410: The federal government and the states and territories, or among the states and territories themselves. The monarch is the symbolic head of Australia and is ceremonially involved in all branches of the government, as a constitutive part of Parliament, formal holder of executive power and the person in whose name most criminal offences are brought. In a broader sense, the Crown represents the authority of
23370-684: The formula of enactment for the Parliament of Australia was changed from "Be it enacted by the Queen, and the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia as follows" to "The Parliament of Australia enacts". Barristers in New South Wales (from 1993), Queensland (from 1994), ACT (from 1995), Victoria (from 2000), Western Australia (from 2001), Tasmania (from 2005), Northern Territory (from 2007), Commonwealth (from March 2007) and South Australia (from 2008) were no longer appointed Queen's Counsel (QC), but as Senior Counsel (SC). These changes were criticised by Justice Michael Kirby and other monarchists as moves to
23560-521: The functions of the head of state, leading some commentators to contend that the governor-general is the head of state . As a constitutional democracy , the role is limited to constitutional and ceremonial duties. Although the governor-general is the King's representative, and exercises various constitutional powers in his name, other powers they independently exercise in their own right. The governor-general also represents Australia internationally, through making and receiving state visits. Since at least
23750-444: The governor-general call a new election at any time (however, they retain the discretion to refuse if inadequate reasons for the election are given). However, as Senate elections must occur only during certain periods and as it is generally politically advantageous (while not legally required) to hold House elections at the same time, elections are generally restricted to a ten month window between August and May every three years, with
23940-399: The governor-general is head of state. This view has some support within the group Australians for Constitutional Monarchy . Australia has a written constitution based on the Westminster model of government, implementing a federal system and a distinct separation of powers . It gives Australia a parliamentary system of government , wherein the role of the sovereign and governor-general
24130-417: The governor-general on behalf of the Federal Executive Council , which meets at Government House after the accession. Parallel proclamations are made by the governors in each state. Regardless of any proclamations, the late sovereign's heir immediately and automatically succeeds, without any need for confirmation or further ceremony. Following an appropriate period of mourning , the monarch is also crowned at
24320-438: The governor-general's website states that the office holder is in practice Australia's head of state. A leading textbook on Australian constitutional law formulates the position thus: "The Queen, as represented in Australia by the governor-general, is Australia's head of state." Additionally, Queensland and South Australia describe the monarch as the head of state for their particular state. New South Wales and Western Australia on
24510-406: The governor-general, including High Court judges . Ministers and parliamentary secretaries are also appointed to the Federal Executive Council . Royal commissions , a powerful type of public inquiry , are also commissioned by the Crown through a royal warrant . Parliament consists of the sovereign, the Senate and the House of Representatives . Their authority in the House of Representatives
24700-524: The importance of debate about the future of the Australian head of state and the evolution of the constitution. In January 2015, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten called for a new push for a republic, stating: "Let us declare that our head of state should be one of us. Let us rally behind an Australian republic - a model that truly speaks for who we are, our modern identity, our place in our region and our world." In September 2015, former Australian Republican Movement chair Malcolm Turnbull became leader of
24890-445: The individual most likely to maintain the support of the House of Representatives ; usually the leader of the political party with a majority in that house; but, also when no party or coalition holds a majority (referred to as a minority government situation) or other scenarios in which the governor‑general's judgement about the most suitable candidate for prime minister has to be brought into play. The governor-general also, on
25080-494: The last split election in 1970 and 1972 . Unlike in the Senate, in which each state is represented equally, each state has a number of seats roughly proportional to its population. The prime minister is selected from the House, needing the support of the majority of members in order to be invited to form a government. Each chamber of Parliament has equal powers, with the exception that the Senate may not introduce "money bills" (new taxes or laws authorising expenditure). However,
25270-400: The legislative ( Parliament ), the executive (the prime minister , the cabinet , other ministers , and government departments), and the judicature (the High Court of Australia and other federal courts ). The Australian government consists of the party or coalition that had majority support in the lower house and exercises both executive (as ministers) and legislative (through control of
25460-463: The members of the parliamentary Labor Party, (the Caucus ) and the prime minister would retain the right to allocate portfolios. This practice was followed until 2007. Between 1907 and 2007, Labor Prime Ministers exercised a predominant influence over who was elected to Labor ministries, although the leaders of the party factions also exercised considerable influence. Prior to the 2007 general election ,
25650-419: The middle class, to the extent that there were calls in 1999 for 300,000 exceptionally enfranchised British subjects who were not Australian citizens to be barred from voting on the grounds that they would vote as a loyalist bloc in a tight referendum. From some perspectives, it has been argued that several characteristics of the monarchy are in conflict with modern Australian values. The hereditary nature of
25840-416: The ministry and the monarch holds audience with Australian ministers where possible. The prime minister and Cabinet advises the governor-general on how to execute his or her executive powers over all aspects of government operations and foreign affairs. This means ministers direct the use of the royal prerogative that resides in the monarch, which includes the privilege to declare war, maintain peace, direct
26030-417: The monarch is advised by the ministers of that state, tendered via the premier. Courts and academics have proposed several dates on which the Crown of Australia separated from the Crown of the United Kingdom. These include 1926, when at an Imperial Conference it was announced that governors-general would no longer represent the government of the United Kingdom or 1930, when at another Imperial Conference it
26220-515: The monarch may also be king of Victoria, etc. for each of the states. Prior to the passage of the Australia Act , the monarch acted as sovereign of the United Kingdom at the state level. With that Act's passage, either independent Crowns emerged for each of the states or the Crown of Australia transformed into a federal Crown in which the monarch receives advice from both state and commonwealth ministers in exercising their respective powers. Such
26410-404: The monarch of Australia. Since the 1940s at the latest, the Australian monarchy has been a distinct office and in that capacity, they act exclusively upon the advice of Australian state and federal ministers. Australia is one of the Commonwealth realms , 15 independent countries that share the same person as monarch and head of state . The monarch of Australia is the same person as the monarch of
26600-532: The monarch with a directly elected figurehead. These Copernican models allow for regular and periodic elections for the office of head of state while limiting the reserve powers to the appointed governor-general only. A popularly elected head of state would have the same powers as the monarch, but he or she could not dismiss the prime minister. If this were to happen, it would be a first, as all other former Commonwealth realms have created presidencies upon becoming republics. Alternatively it has been proposed to abolish
26790-614: The monarch's title. The Queensland parliament passed legislation seeking an advisory opinion from the Privy Council as to whether they had the legislative power to do, however this legislation was declared unconstitutional by the High Court. In seeking this title, the Queensland government's motivation was to dissuade the British from accepting the Whitlam's government advice that all of the British government's then authority over
26980-427: The monarchy in its second term, but maintained that a republic was still Labor party policy in the long term. On 28 July 2024, the position of assistant minister for the republic, which was first established on 1 June 2022, was abolished in a ministerial reshuffle. A central argument made by Australian republicans is that, as Australia is an independent country, it is inappropriate and anomalous for Australia to share
27170-485: The monarchy is said to conflict with egalitarianism and dislike of inherited privilege. The laws of succession were, before amendment to them in 2015, held by some to be sexist and the links between the monarchy and the Church of England inconsistent with Australia's secular character. Under the Act of Settlement , the monarch is prohibited from being a Catholic. A typical proposal for an Australian republic provides for
27360-503: The most conservative state during the 2000–10s, it has lately swung to rank amongst the most left-leaning states in the country. It is also known for historical secessionist sentiments. Local government in Australia is the lowest tier of government. Local governments are subject to the relevant states and territories . There is only one level of local government in Australia; with none of the distinctive local government types seen in other anglophone nations. Most local governments within
27550-522: The nationalisation of land and an independent federal Australian republic outside of the British Empire . David Flint , the national convener of Australians for Constitutional Monarchy , notes that a movement emerged in favour of a White Australia policy; however British authorities in Whitehall were opposed to segregational laws. He suggests that to circumvent Westminster, those in favour of
27740-474: The new five-dollar banknote is expected to depict Indigenous Australian culture and history instead of the new monarch. A crown is depicted on the Queensland and Victorian state badges (which are included on the Australian coat of arms ,) and on various medals and awards . For example, the crown's presence on the insignia of the Order of Australia represents the monarch's role as Head of the Order. The sovereign
27930-450: The opposition controlled Senate refused to pass the budget of the government, culminated in the dismissal of the Whitlam government by governor-general Sir John Kerr and the appointment of opposition leader Malcolm Fraser as prime minister to hold a new election. The incident raised questions about the value of maintaining a supposedly symbolic office that still possessed many key constitutional powers and what an Australian president with
28120-399: The other Commonwealth realms. The passage of the Royal Style and Titles Act 1953 by the Parliament of Australia put these recommendations into law. In 1973 the Whitlam government replaced the 1953 royal styles Act, with Whitlam arguing that the inclusion and position of Elizabeth's title in the UK made the title not "sufficiently distinctively Australian" and that the phrase "Defender of
28310-409: The other hand describe their governors as their respective heads of state, whilst Tasmania and Victoria state that the governor "exercises the constitutional power" of the head of state. While current official sources use the description head of state for the monarch, in the lead up to the referendum on Australia becoming a republic in 1999, Sir David Smith proposed an alternative explanation that
28500-404: The other two branches of government however, membership of the executive is not clearly defined. One definition describes the executive as a pyramid, consisting of three layers. At the top stands The King, as the symbolic apex and formal repository of executive power. Below him lies a second layer made up of the prime-minister, cabinet and other ministers who in practice lead the executive. Finally,
28690-408: The passage of British legislation. While the UK has passed regency acts from 1936 onwards to prepare for a situation when the monarch is incapacitated, the dominions did not agree for these acts to be extended into domestic law as it was felt that governors-general could exercise all the powers a regent would need to exercise. Members of the royal family only draw from Australian funds for support in
28880-519: The passage of legislation and obstruct government business if it chooses. The day-to-day business of the House of Representatives is usually negotiated between the Leader of the House , appointed by the prime minister, and the Manager of Opposition Business in the House , appointed by the Leader of the Opposition . The executive's primary role is to implement the laws passed by the Parliament. Unlike
29070-435: The passage of the Statute of Westminster 1931 ( adopted by Australia in 1939 ). While this allowed the dominions to pass laws that conflicted with UK laws, to ensure that succession laws remained consistent, the preamble noted that it would be in keeping with each Commonwealth realm's constitutional practice that any succession changes would require the consent of the parliaments of each realm. As Australia had not yet adopted
29260-466: The peace. This is in reciprocation to the sovereign's coronation oath, taken most recently by Charles III who promised "to govern the Peoples of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland [and] your other Realms ... according to their respective laws and customs". The prime minister, ministers and parliamentary secretaries also make an oath or affirmation of office on their appointment to
29450-505: The people at a referendum produced deep divisions among republicans. Four republican models were debated: two involving direct election of the head of state; one involving appointment on the advice of the prime minister (the McGarvie Model ); and one involving appointment by a two-thirds majority of parliament (the bi-partisan appointment model ). The latter was eventually successful at the convention, even though it only obtained
29640-494: The performance of their duties while visiting Australia at the request of the government; Australians do not pay any money to the King or any other member of the royal family, either towards personal income or to support royal residences outside of Australia. However, the Australian Government does pay a salary to the governor-general and for the upkeep of the official vice-regal residences in the country. In 2018,
29830-400: The person of its monarch with the United Kingdom. Republicans argue that the Australian monarch is not Australian and, as a national and resident of another country, cannot adequately represent Australia or Australian national aspirations, either to itself or to the rest of the world. Former Chief Justice Gerard Brennan stated that "so long as we retain the existing system our head of state
30020-409: The polity itself. However, in all these functions they are represented by the governor-general, whose appointment is the only mandatory function of the monarch. The monarch of Australia , currently Charles III , is also the monarch of the other Commonwealth realms , and the sovereign of the United Kingdom. The monarch is the head of state , however in almost all matters the governor-general performs
30210-451: The power was never actually used and it is very unlikely that it will be used in the future. Traditionally, the monarch is known as the fount of justice . However, he does not personally rule in judicial cases, meaning that judicial functions are normally performed only in the monarch's name. In most jurisdictions, criminal offences are legally deemed to be offences against the sovereign and proceedings for indictable offences are brought in
30400-436: The powers and responsibilities of many of the institutions of the Australian Commonwealth. However, the prime minister, the cabinet and the other principles of responsible government are not explicitly mentioned in the document, along with most of the realities of exercise of executive power. This reflected the British influence on the document with its unwritten constitution . The Parliament of Australia can propose changes to
30590-656: The prefix His Majesty's Australian Ship (HMAS) and many organisational groupings of the defence force (such as the Royal Australian Infantry Corps , Royal Australian Air Force and the Royal Australian Engineers ) carry the "royal" prefix. Members of the royal family have presided over military ceremonies, including Trooping the Colour ceremonies, inspections of the troops, and anniversaries of key battles. When Elizabeth II
30780-634: The premier decides the date of the election). Thomas Playford served as Premier of South Australia and leader of the Liberal and Country League (LCL) from 5 November 1938 to 10 March 1965 (26 years). it was the longest term of any elected government leader in Australian history . Labor winning government in New South Wales on 25 March 2023 marked the second time in history that the Australian Labor Party gained control of
30970-516: The president to lobby the Parliament on certain issues and help ensure consistency in policy making between governments. Australians for Constitutional Monarchy and the Australian Monarchist League argue that no model is better than the present system and argue that the risk and difficulty of changing the constitution is best demonstrated by inability of republicans to back a definitive design. From its foundation until
31160-534: The responsibility of the states. For example, the federal government has the responsibility for defence, inter-state trade and bankruptcy while the states have responsibility for healthcare and education. Additionally, the states can agree to refer any of their powers to the Commonwealth government via legislation, as has been done to allow the Commonwealth to regulate corporations. The federal government can also significantly influence state legislation by making tied grants (money which comes with certain conditions). This
31350-623: The revolt at the Eureka Stockade in 1854 held republican views and the incident has been used to encourage republicanism in subsequent years, with the Eureka Flag appearing in connection with some republican groups. The Australian Republican Association (ARA) was founded in response to the Eureka Stockade, advocating the abolition of governors and their titles, the revision of the penal code, payment of members of parliament,
31540-422: The roles of the governor-general and the monarchy and have their functions exercised by other constitutional officers such as the speaker . Another such model is the 50-50 model, created by government consultant and Labor member Anthony Cianflone. Under this model, an Australian president would be the head of state and elected by a combination of a joint sitting of Parliament and the public, with each have 50% of
31730-569: The same reserve powers would do in a similar situation. Correspondence between Kerr and Martin Charteris , the Queen's private secretary, were declassified by the Australian National Archives in 2020 and show that Kerr did not inform the palace ahead of time of his decision to dismiss the prime minister. They do reveal however, that Kerr sought advice from the palace about his constitutional obligations and concerns about
31920-434: The senators from each state, except in the case of a double dissolution where all senators contest the election; senators representing the territories are elected and sworn into office simultaneously with the House of Representatives rather than the rest of the Senate. All senators are elected using the single transferable voting system of proportional representation, which has resulted in a greater presence of minor parties in
32110-439: The sense of an Irish–British conflict—are at least forty years dead. It has also been claimed, however, that the Catholic–Protestant divide is intermingled with class issues. Republicanism in Australia has traditionally been supported most strongly by members of the urban working class with Irish Catholic backgrounds, whereas monarchism is a core value associated with urban and rural inhabitants of British Protestant heritage and
32300-424: The sovereign's name in the form of The King [or Queen] against [Name] (typically shortened to R v [Name] standing for Rex for King or Regina for Queen). However, offences in Western Australia and Tasmania are brought in the name of the particular state. Civil lawsuits against the Crown in its public capacity (that is, lawsuits against the government) are permitted due to statute. In international cases, as
32490-438: The state level, Western Australia and South Australia have independently legislated the monarch's title to be the same as the Commonwealth title. There is limited reference to the monarch's title in the other states, however parliamentarians have used expressions include "Queen of [state]" and "Queen in right of [state]" during parliamentary debates. In 1973, Queensland sought to pass legislation to include Queensland specifically in
32680-450: The states have equivalent powers to each other; styles such as shire or city have only historical meaning. Republicanism in Australia [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Republicanism in Australia is a movement to change Australia's system of government from a constitutional monarchy to a republic ; presumably, a form of parliamentary republic that would replace the monarch of Australia (currently King Charles III ) with
32870-428: The states should be transferred to the federal government. The dismissal of the Whitlam government in 1975 removed the impetus for the title change and no further steps were taken in the matter. Royal succession is determined by a mix of common law, British law that continues to apply in Australia, and more recent Australian federal and state statutes. These entail that succession follows the eldest non-adopted child of
33060-589: The superior court in that area, and then to the High Court of Australia. Until the passage of the Australia Act 1986 , by the Australian and UK parliaments, some Australian cases could be referred to the British Judicial Committee of the Privy Council for final appeal. With this act, Australian law was made fully independent, and the High Court of Australia was confirmed as the highest court of appeal. The theoretical possibility of
33250-400: The support of the more popular states. However due to the emergence of strong parties with senators that very rarely cross the floor , this role is much less visible. The Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory, the only territories represented in Senate, each elect only two. The federal government may only legislate on certain matters, with any remaining areas falling within
33440-405: The then Leader of the Opposition, Kevin Rudd , said that he and he alone would choose the ministry should he become prime minister. His party won the election and he chose the ministry, as he said he would. However, in return for changes restricting the ability of Caucus to select the prime minister, in 2013 the right of Caucus to choose the ministry was restored. While Caucus rules are not public,
33630-542: The title of the Australian monarch had simply been the same as that in the United Kingdom . A change in the title resulted from occasional discussion among Commonwealth prime ministers and an eventual meeting in London in December 1952, at which Australia's officials stated their preference for a format for Queen Elizabeth II 's title that would name all the realms. However, they stated they would also accept Elizabeth II (by
33820-447: The title. In 2024, South Australia reverted back to only appointing SCs. All Australian federal parliamentarians are required to take an oath or affirmation of allegiance by pledging to "be faithful and bear true allegiance to [His Majesty King Charles III], [His] heirs and successors according to law. So help me God!" before taking their seats, as required by section 42 of the constitution . Any changes to this, or any other part of
34010-581: The type of republic, and often appear contradictory. In 2009, the Australian Electoral Survey that is conducted following all elections by the Australian National University has found that support for a republic has remained reasonably static since 1987 at around 60%, if the type of republic is not part of the question. The survey also shows that support or opposition is relatively weak: 31% strongly support
34200-427: The vote. While having a similar role as the current governor-general, under this model the president would also act as the nation's "social conscience and moral compass" by advocating for social issues. Additionally, a "Social and Moral Conscience Charter" is suggested, which the president could be empowered to require Parliament to consider regarding certain bills. Finally, an annual address to Parliament would also allow
34390-415: The war effort went hand in hand with a renewed sense of loyalty to the monarchy. The Bulletin abandoned republicanism and became a conservative, Empire loyalist paper. The Returned and Services League formed in 1916 and became an important bastion of monarchist sentiment. The conservative parties were fervently monarchist and although the Labor Party campaigned for greater Australian independence within
34580-493: Was clarified that the monarch would be advised directly by dominion ministers. Anne Twomey argues for this later date at the latest. Others have suggested the Crowns separated once Australia became fully independent, with dates suggested including 1931 (when the UK Statute of Westminster was passed), 1939 or 1942 (due to Statute of Westminster Adoption Act , passed in 1942 with retrospective effect to 1939) or 1986 (when
34770-475: Was held on 6 November 1999, after a national advertising campaign and the distribution of 12.9 million 'Yes/No' case pamphlets. It comprised two questions: The first asked whether Australia should become a republic in which the governor-general and monarch would be replaced by one office, the President of the Commonwealth of Australia, the occupant elected by a two-thirds vote of the Australian parliament for
34960-532: Was in Australian waters and in use by the monarch of Australia, it was not available to British officials for meetings or promotions. The monarch is the locus of many oaths of allegiance . Various employees of the Crown are required by law to recite this oath before taking their posts, such as all members of the Commonwealth Parliament and of the state and territory parliaments, as well as most magistrates, judges, police officers, and justices of
35150-653: Was in Canberra, she laid wreaths at the Australian War Memorial . In 2003, Elizabeth acted in her capacity as Australian monarch when she dedicated the Australian War Memorial in Hyde Park , London. In 2024, Charles III as part of his tour of Sydney and Canberra, laid wreaths at the Australian War Memorial, as well as presiding over a Royal Fleet Review of the Royal Australian Navy, in Sydney. Monarchs of Australia (or their spouse in
35340-454: Was in favour of the Cabinet meeting in other places, such as major regional cities. There are Commonwealth Parliament Offices in each state capital, with those in Sydney located in 1 Bligh Street . As a federation, in Australia judicial power is exercised by both federal and state courts. However, unlike the UK's multiple legal systems there is only one legal system and like Canada and unlike
35530-450: Was no fixed time frame for such a move and that the result of the 1999 referendum must be respected. After his party won the 2007 federal election and Rudd was appointed prime minister, he stated in April 2008 that a move to a republic was "not a top-order priority". In the lead-up to the 2010 federal election , Prime Minister Julia Gillard stated: "I believe that this nation should be a republic. I also believe that this nation has got
35720-402: Was not constitutionally required. The federal legislation finally become law on 24 March 2015 and as Australia was the last realm to the make the required changes, the act took effect on 26 March 2015 ( BST ), parallel to other realms' laws. Upon a demise of the Crown (the death or abdication of a sovereign), it is customary for the accession of the new monarch to be publicly proclaimed by
35910-417: Was then questioned by British journalists about the future of the Australian monarchy and there was debate about playing Australia's royal anthem, " God Save the Queen ", during the opening of that year's Commonwealth Games , at which the monarch was present. In July 2007, Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd pledged to hold a new referendum on a republic if called on to form a government. However, he stated there
36100-526: Was to become the Australian constitution 1891, a former Premier of New South Wales, George Dibbs , stated the "inevitable destiny of the people of this great country" would be the establishment of "the Republic of Australia". The fervour of republicanism tailed off in the 1890s as the labour movement became concerned with the Federation of Australia . The republican movement dwindled further during and after World War I as emotional and patriotic support for
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