STATE GOVERNMENT
The Australian nation was created by the federation of the six British self-governing colonies of New South Wales, Tasmania, Queensland, Western Australia, Victoria and South Australia which became the ‘Original States’ in the Commonwealth of Australia. Under the constitutional arrangements that came into existence in 1901 significant powers were retained by these states. The extent of state legislative power is defined by the Commonwealth and state Constitutions, and includes education, police, public health, public transport, agriculture, roads, community services, corrective services, mineral resources, emergency services, ports and the oversight of local government.
GOVERNORS
A state governor is the representative of the Sovereign, appointed by the Sovereign on the advice of the state’s 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 (Cwlth), as well as under the Acts of the parliaments of the states. For example, 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.
The governors also possess 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 September 2006 are shown in table 2.6.
2.6 GOVERNORS, States - September 2006
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| New South Wales | Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC |
| Victoria | Professor David de Krester AC |
| Queensland | Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC |
| 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 Hon. William Cox AC, RFD, ED |
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Source: Library of the Commonwealth Parliament.
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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.
Table 2.7 lists the premiers at September 2006.
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 the five upper houses is Legislative Council.
ELECTIONS
The members of the parliaments of each state are elected by the residents of that state using either the alternative vote (‘preferential voting’) or proportional representation (single transferable vote variant).
2.7 PREMIERS, States - September 2006
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| New South Wales | The Hon. M Iemma MP (ALP) |
| Victoria | The Hon. SP Bracks MP (ALP) |
| Queensland | The Hon. P Beattie MP (ALP) |
| Western Australia | The Hon. AJ Carpenter MP (ALP) |
| South Australia | The Hon. M Rann MP (ALP) |
| Tasmania | The Hon. PA Lennon MP (ALP) |
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Source: Library of the Commonwealth Parliament.
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