Making A Nation: Australia

• In 18 January 1788 the First Fleet arrived at the shores of Botnay Bay
• Federation brought together the six British colonies into one nation called the Commonwealth of Australia.
• The Australian Constitution established a federal system of government.
• The Australian Constitution was written by Australians, but it was approved by the British Parliament.
• The Commonwealth Parliament consisted of two houses - the House of Representatives (lower house) and the Senate (upper house).
• Federation allowed colonies to share resources and free trade; not having to pay taxes/customs tax, tariff.
• States had different armies depending on the British Navy, while federation allowed for a unified army.
• The new government

  Would make it harder for non-Europeans to immigrate to Australia
• Australian-born Europeans outnumbered immigrants in the 1880s and wanted to maintain this
• After the gold rush, Australia wanted to preserve their colonies with 'whites'
• Each colony had its own anti-Chinese laws in place
• Germany suggested the colonies should federate to expand or better protect themselves.
• A new constitution was drawn up and colonies allowed people to vote on federation.
• Richer states worried they would have to share money with poorer states.
• The different key political positions in Australia are: the Queen or Monarch, the Governor-General, the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, Ministers and Shadow Ministers, Members, Senators and the Crossbench
• Monarch

  The head of state of Australia
• Appointment of Governor-General

  Monarch appoints on the advice of the Prime Minister
• Governor-General


  The Monarch's representative, final step in making laws through "Royal Assent"
• Prime Minister


  Head of the party or coalition of parties with a majority of seats in the House of Representatives
• Deputy Prime Minister


  Fills in for the Prime Minister when they are away or incapacitated
• Leader of the Opposition

  Leader of the party with the second most seats in the House of Representatives
• Ministers

  • Minister for Defense
  • Minister for Health
  • Minister for Foreign Affairs
• Ministers


  Focus on the topic of their ministries, also called their portfolio
• Front bench/Cabinet

  Collective term for ministers appointed by the Prime Minister
• Back bench


  Members of the government who are not given a special position
• Shadow Ministers

  Opposition party's ministers who help formulate their party's policies
• Currently the only parties that can get sufficient numbers in the House of Representatives are the Labor Party and the Coalition
• A "hung parliament" occurs when no party has a majority, requiring a coalition with minor parties or independents
• Federal elections in Australia are not on a fixed date, but must be called within a certain time period
• Voting in federal elections is compulsory in Australia
• The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) is responsible for administering federal elections
• The House of Representatives and the Senate are the two "houses" of the Australian parliament, with the Senate being the "upper house"
• The House of Representatives and the Senate are what we refer to as the two "houses"
• The Senate is known as the "upper house" and the House of Representatives is known as the "lower house"
• Currently there are 76 seats in the Senate and 151 in the House of Representatives
• During the first federal election of 1901 there were only 75 seats the House of Representatives and 35 seats for the Senate
• Electorates are divided into comparable sizes of population - not area - population
• The largest electorate is Durack which takes up 64% of the landmass of Western Australia and is over 1.6 million square kilometres
• The Northern Territory only has two electorates whereas New South Wales has 47
• Members

  Technically anyone in either house is a member of parliament but to further distinguish them there is members and then there are senators