Debates that shaped the nation: Federation fast facts Background information At the end of the 1800s, Australia was divided into six separate colonies instead of being one nation. But people had been talking for years about whether Australia should be one nation, and in the 1890s a series of meetings (called conventions or conferences) was held to discuss federation of the colonies. The Premier of New South Wales, Sir Henry Parkes, had announced in 1889 that the time had come to form a national parliament and government. In 1893, a conference was held in Corowa on the Murray River and attended by politicians from NSW and Victoria, business representatives from Melbourne and people from Victorian branches of the Australian Natives Association, an organisation which wanted federation. There was then a meeting of colonial premiers in 1895 in Hobart and Quick's scheme was accepted by New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. In 1897, elections were held to choose delegates to attend a convention to draw up a constitution.
Government Australia was one of the first countries to establish democracy in the modern world. In the mid-nineteenth century, Australian colonies set about writing constitutions which produced democratically elected parliaments. From the 1850s to the 1890s, when few other countries in the world were democratic, the Australian colonies progressively established universal male suffrage, and were also among the first to give women the vote. Australian democracy has at its heart the following core defining values: freedom of election and being elected freedom of assembly and political participation freedom of speech, expression and religious belief rule of law other basic human rights. Did you know? Australia is a constitutional monarchy — 'constitutional' because the powers and procedures of the Australian Government are defined by a written constitution and 'monarchy' because Australia's head of state is Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Parliament and Government
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Steps to Federation: 1883-1901, Federation and Australia's Constitution, Australia to 1914, SOSE: History Year 9, NSW Introduction For several decades leading up to 1883, the general public and the colonial governments had been discussing ideas which included forming an inter-colonial authority or even federating the six separate colonies. Matters of defence, immigration, trade, transport and national pride were growing in importance on colonial agendas and influencing them to form a united front. After several attempts lasting many years, in 1901 Federation was finally established in Australia. The beginning: 1883 In January 1881, an inter-colonial conference was held in Sydney to discuss the particular issue of customs duties. In November and December of 1883, an Australasian inter-colonial convention was held in Sydney where the six colonies, New Zealand and Fiji met. The Federal Council: 1885 The British Parliament passed the Federal Council of Australasia Act 1885 (UK) on 14 August and after the colonies passed adopting acts, the Federal Council was formed. Parkes and his 'Tenterfield Address': 1889
Levels of government - ABC online education In a land called Australia, three super heroes fight for the people. Federal woman, State man and Local boy. KID CITIZEN: Help help! No one's collected my rubbish for weeks! LOCAL BOY: Never fear, Local boy will keep your bins clear! KID CITIZEN: My school's closing down - can you help!? STATE MAN: Don't worry citizen. KID CITIZEN: I don't have enough money - taxes are too high! FEDERAL WOMAN: Federal woman can fix that. KID CITIZEN: Wow! These three super heroes each have their own unique powers. State and Territory governments control each of Australia's six states and two territories. At the bottom of the list is local government. But the country hasn't always had three levels of government, or three super heroes looking over it, either. STATE MAN: Federal woman! But as the population grew, state governments found it hard to manage all of the responsibilities they still had. LOCAL BOY: I humbly accept these powers. STATE MAN: I think that we should this small road into a highway!
australia.gov.au Constitution for a Nation – National Archives of Australia, Australian Government Cover of the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900 (UK) The Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900 (UK) is the most important document for the modern nation of Australia. The Constitution expresses our understanding of ourselves as a democratic nation. The Constitution is an agreement among the six colonies of the 1890s about what powers would be granted to the new federal parliament of Australia and how they should be exercised. Constitution for a Nation is the story of the 10 tumultuous years (1890–1900) of the creation of the Constitution, the people, the conventions, the arguments, the passion and the politics that created your Constitution. Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this contains names and images of people who have died. Fast facts Commonwealth Coat of Arms (NAA: A462, 828/3/8 PART 1, p. 35 ) National treasure Founding document Transfer of power Ten years The Constitution was written between 1890 and 1900. Democratic nation
What is Democracy?: 17/05/2016, Behind the News Planes and buses start criss-crossing the country for the start of the 2016 federal election campaign. They're doing it to try to convince the Australian people to vote for their party. And the only reason we get a say is because of a little something called democracy. Long, long ago in ancient Greece, the people of Athens were in danger. NOBLE BOY: Did you hear the Persians are planning to attack us? But not everyone in the city wanted to. POOR GIRL: I'm not too keen on this whole war thing, I wish I could have a say.POOR BOY: Maybe we can? To give the people more of a say on big decisions like this, the Greeks came up with something they called democracy! NOBLE GIRL: OK here's the idea. PEOPLE: Yay! Well they didn't really mean everyone. NOBLE GIRL: Oh wait, we won’t let women vote, slaves vote or anyone too poor. NOBLE BOY: Yes! That still left thousands of men and all of them were allowed to attend meetings and vote on any issues that were important to them.