Parliaments of the Australian states and territories

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The Parliaments of the Australian states and territories are legislative bodies within the federal framework of the Commonwealth of Australia. Before the formation of the Commonwealth in 1901, the six Australian colonies were self-governing, with parliaments which had come into existence at various times between 1825, when the New South Wales Legislative Council was created, to 1891, when Western Australia became the last of the colonies to gain full self-government.

By ratifying the Constitution of Australia, the colonies agreed to become States of the Commonwealth, and to cede certain of their legislative powers to the Commonwealth Parliament, but otherwise retained their self-governing status with their own parliaments. The state parliaments were all created by legislation of the British Imperial Parliament, and their original constitutions were contained in Acts of that Parliament, however now the power to amend their own constitutions resides with the respective state parliaments. The Commonwealth Parliament cannot amend a state's constitution.

The Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory, by contrast, are territories of the Commonwealth, and their parliaments were created by way of legislation of the Commonwealth Parliament. Although the Commonwealth treats the territories as though they were states for many purposes, they are not states, and the legislative powers of their parliaments can be altered or even abolished by the Commonwealth Parliament. The Commonwealth can also overturn legislation passed by the territory parliaments.

All of the States except Queensland have bicameral parliaments, with a lower house called the Legislative Assembly or House of Assembly, and an upper house called the Legislative Council. The parliaments of Queensland and the two territories are unicameral.

States and territories

New South Wales

Main article: Parliament of New South Wales

The New South Wales Legislative Council is the oldest legislative body in Australia, having been created in 1825 as an appointed body to advise the Governor. Today it has 42 members serving eight-year terms and elected by proportional representation. The Legislative Assembly was created in 1856 when New South Wales attained self-government. Today it has 93 members elected for four-year terms from single-member constituencies.

Victoria

Main article: Parliament of Victoria

Victoria's Legislative Council was created in 1851. It has 40 members, each serving four-year terms. They represent eight multi-member constituencies, each with five members elected by proportional representation. The Legislative Assembly was created in 1855 when Victoria attained self-government. Today it has 88 members elected for four-year terms from single-member constituencies.

Until November 2006, the Legislative Council had 44 members serving eight-year terms and elected from single-member constituencies.

Queensland

Main article: Parliament of Queensland

Queensland's Legislative Assembly was created in 1859 when the then colony attained self-government. Today it has 89 members elected for three-year terms from single-member constituencies. The Legislative Council was abolished in 1922.

Western Australia

Main article: Parliament of Western Australia

Western Australia's Legislative Council was created in 1832 as an appointed body. Today it has 36 members elected for four-year terms from multi-member constituencies by proportional representation. The Legislative Assembly was created in 1890 when Western Australia attained self-government. Today it has 59 members, elected for four-year terms from single-member constituencies.

South Australia

Main article: Parliament of South Australia

South Australia's Legislative Council was created in 1840 as an appointed body. Today it has 22 members, elected for eight-year terms by proportional representation. The House of Assembly was created in 1857 when South Australia attained self-government. Today it has 47 members, elected for four-year terms from single-member constituencies.

Tasmania

Main article: Parliament of Tasmania

Tasmania's Legislative Council was created in 1825 as an appointed body. (Tasmania was then called Van Diemen's Land.) Today it has 15 members, elected for six-year terms from single-member constituencies. The House of Assembly was created in 1856 when Tasmania attained self-government. Today it has 25 members, elected for four-year terms from multi-member constituencies by the Hare-Clark system of proportional representation.

Australian Capital Territory

Main article: Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly

The Australian Capital Territory's Legislative Assembly was created by an act of the Commonwealth Parliament in 1989. It has 17 members, elected for four-year terms from multi-member constituencies by the Hare-Clark system of proportional representation. An earlier advisory body, the House of Assembly (also known for a period as the Legislative Assembly), existed from 1976 to 1986.

Northern Territory

Main article: Parliament of the Northern Territory

The Northern Territory's Legislative Assembly was created by an act of the Commonwealth Parliament in 1974. An earlier advisory body, the Northern Territory Legislative Council, existed from 1947 to 1974. The Assembly has 25 members, elected for four-year terms from single-member constituencies.

Summary

State/ Territory	Lower house established	Name of lower house	Number of reps in lower house	Upper house established	Name of upper house	Number of reps in upper house	Total number of reps
NSW	1856	Legislative Assembly	93	1825	Legislative Council	42	135
Qld	1859	Legislative Assembly	89	1860	Legislative Council	abolished 1922	89
SA	1857	House of Assembly	47	1840	Legislative Council	22	69
Tas	1856	House of Assembly	25	1825	Legislative Council	15	40
Vic	1855	Legislative Assembly	88	1851	Legislative Council	40	128
WA	1890	Legislative Assembly	59	1832	Legislative Council	36	95
ACT	1989	Legislative Assembly	17		unicameral parliament		17
NT	1974	Legislative Assembly	25		unicameral parliament		25

See also

• Electoral systems of the Australian states and territories

External links

• The New South Wales Parliament
• The Queensland Parliament
• The South Australian Parliament
• The Tasmanian Parliament
• The Victorian Parliament
• The Western Australian Parliament
• The Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly
• The Northern Territory Legislative Assembly