Each State experienced a period of colonial self-government prior to the achievement of Federation. The fact of Australia having a federal system of government means that significant powers are held by the State and Territory Governments.
State Governors
The Governor is the representative of the Sovereign, appointed by the Sovereign on the advice of the relevant State Premier. The Governor exercises the executive power of his or her State on the advice of the Premier. Other powers and functions are similar to the powers exercised at the Commonwealth level by the Governor-General.
In addition, Governors have been invested with various statutory functions by State Constitutions and the Commonwealth Australia Act 1986, as well as under the Acts of the Parliaments of the States. Governors may administer the prerogative of mercy by the reprieve or pardon of criminal offenders, and may remit fines and penalties due to the Crown in right of their State.
In the performance of his/her functions generally, the Governor of a State acts on the advice of Ministers of State for that State.
The Governor also has what are referred to as 'reserve powers'. These may be used without the advice of the Premier, but are used only in times of political uncertainty.
The Governors of the States at November 2001 are shown in table 2.8.
2.8 GOVERNORS OF THE STATES - November 2001 |
|
| State | Governor |
|
| New South Wales | Her Excellency the Professor Marie Bashir, AC |
| Victoria | John Landy, AC, MBE |
| Queensland | His Excellency Major-General Peter Arnison, AO |
| Western Australia | His Excellency Lieutenant-General John Murray Sanderson, AC, AM |
| South Australia | Her Excellency Mrs Marjorie Jackson Nelson AC, MBE |
| Tasmania | His Excellency the Honourable Sir Guy Green, AC, KBE |
|
| Source: Department of the Parliamentary Library. |
State Governments
Each State is governed by a Ministry headed by a Premier. The State Cabinet, chaired by the Premier, is the centre of political and administrative power in each State.
Each State has a formal Opposition, with the same role as at the Commonwealth level, headed by an Opposition Leader.
Tables 2.9 and 2.10 set out the State Premiers and Opposition Leaders at November 2001.
2.9 PREMIERS, States - November 2001 |
|
| State | Premier |
|
| New South Wales | The Hon. R. J. Carr, MP (ALP) |
| Victoria | The Hon. S. P. Bracks, MP (ALP) |
| Queensland | The Hon. P. Beattie, MP (ALP) |
| Western Australia | The Hon. G. I. Gallop, MP (ALP) |
| South Australia | Hon. R. G. Kerin, MP (LP) |
| Tasmania | The Hon. J. A. Bacon, MP (ALP) |
|
| Source: Department of the Parliamentary Library. |
2.10 OPPOSITION LEADERS, States - November 2001 |
|
| State | Opposition Leader |
|
| New South Wales | K. A. Chikarovski, MP (LP) |
| Victoria | The Hon. D. Napthine, MP (LP) |
| Queensland | M. J. Horan, MP (NP) |
| Western Australia | The Hon. C. J. Barnett, MP (LP) |
| South Australia | The Hon. M. Rann, MP (ALP) |
| Tasmania | The Hon. B. Cheek, MP (LP) |
|
| Source: Department of the Parliamentary Library. |
State Parliaments
Five of the six Australian States have a bicameral Parliament. In Queensland there is a single house. The lower houses in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia are entitled Legislative Assembly. In South Australia and Tasmania the term is House of Assembly. The title of all upper houses is Legislative Council.
The members of the Parliaments of each State are elected by the residents of that State using either the alternative vote (preferential voting) or the single transferable vote variant of proportional representation.
The state of the parties in each of the State and Territory Parliaments is set out in table 2.11.
The extent of State legislative powers is defined by the Commonwealth and State Constitutions, and includes education, police, public health, public transport, agriculture, roads and the overseeing of local government.
2.11 STATE OF THE PARTIES, States and Territories - October 2001 |
|
| State/Territory | no. of seats |
|
NEW SOUTH WALES |
|
| Legislative Assembly | |
| Australian Labor Party | 55 |
| Liberal Party | 20 |
| National Party | 13 |
| Independent | 5 |
| Total | 93 |
| Legislative Council | |
| Australian Labor Party | 16 |
| Liberal Party | 9 |
| National Party | 4 |
| Christian Democratic Party | 2 |
| Greens | 2 |
| Australian Democrats | 1 |
| Pauline Hanson’s One Nation | 1 |
| Others | 7 |
| Total | 42 |
|
VICTORIA |
|
| Legislative Assembly | |
| Australian Labor Party | 44 |
| Liberal Party | 35 |
| National Party | 6 |
| Independent | 3 |
| Total | 88 |
| Legislative Council | |
| Australian Labor Party | 24 |
| Liberal Party | 14 |
| National Party | 6 |
| Total | 44 |
|
QUEENSLAND |
|
| Legislative Assembly | |
| Australian Labor Party | 66 |
| National Party | 11 |
| Liberal Party | 3 |
| City Country Alliance | 3 |
| Independent | 6 |
| Total | 89 |
|
SOUTH AUSTRALIA |
|
| House of Assembly | |
| Liberal Party | 24 |
| Australian Labor Party | 21 |
| National Party | 1 |
| Independent | 1 |
| Total | 47 |
| Legislative Council | |
| Liberal Party | 10 |
| Australian Labor Party | 6 |
| Australian Democrats | 3 |
| Independent | 3 |
| Total | 22 |
|
WESTERN AUSTRALIA * |
|
| Legislative Assembly | |
| Liberal Party | 16 |
| Australian Labor Party | 32 |
| National Party | 5 |
| Independent | 4 |
| Total | 57 |
| Legislative Council | |
| Liberal Party | 12 |
| Australian Labor Party | 13 |
| National Party | 1 |
| Greens | 5 |
| Pauline Hanson's One Nation | 3 |
| Total | 34 |
|
TASMANIA * |
|
| House of Assembly | |
| Australian Labor Party | 14 |
| Liberal Party | 10 |
| Greens | 1 |
| Total | 25 |
| Legislative Council | |
| Australian Labor Party | 5 |
| Independent | 10 |
| Total | 15 |
|
NORTHERN TERRITORY |
|
| Legislative Assembly | |
| Australian Labor Party | 13 |
| Country Liberal Party | 10 |
| Independent | 2 |
| Total | 25 |
|
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY |
|
| Legislative Assembly | |
| Australian Labor Party | 8 |
| Liberal Party | 7 |
| Australian Democrats | 1 |
| Greens | 1 |
| Total | 17 |
|
| Source: Department of the Parliamentary Library. |
* Some figures for Western Australia and Tasmania were revised on 21 March 2002
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