States and territories of Australia

Second level of government in Australia

States and territories of Australia

Map depicting Mainland Australia’s states and its territories labelled in lime and dark green

Location| Australia
Number| 16 (6 states, 3 internal territories, and 7 external territories)
Populations| Least populous state:

* Tasmania
541,071

Most populous state:

* New South Wales
8,166,369

Least populous territories:

* Ashmore and Cartier Islands
0 (uninhabited)
* Heard Island and McDonald Islands
0 (uninhabited)

Most populous territory:

* Australian Capital Territory
431,215

Areas| Smallest state:

* Tasmania
68,401 km2 (26,410 sq mi)

Largest state:

* Western Australia
2,527,013 km2 (975,685 sq mi)

Smallest territory:

* Cocos (Keeling) Islands
14 km2 (5.4 sq mi)

Largest territories:

* Northern Territory
1,347,791 km2 (520,385 sq mi)
* Australian Antarctic Territory[a]
5,896,500 km2 (2,276,700 sq mi)

Subdivisions|

* Local government areas and unincorporated areas

The states and territories are the national subdivisions and second level of government of Australia.[2] The states are partially sovereign, administrative divisions that are self-governing polities, having ceded some sovereign rights to the federal government.[3] They have their own constitutions, legislatures, executive governments, judiciaries and law enforcement agencies that administer and deliver public policies and programs. Territories can be autonomous and administer local policies and programs much like the states in practice, but are still legally subordinate to the federal government.[4]

Australia has six federated states: New South Wales (including Lord Howe Island), Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania (including Macquarie Island), Victoria, and Western Australia. Australia also has ten federal territories,[5] out of which three are internal territories: the Australian Capital Territory, the Jervis Bay Territory, and the Northern Territory[5] on the Australian mainland; and seven are external territories: the Ashmore and Cartier Islands, the Australian Antarctic Territory,[a] Christmas Island, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, the Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, and Norfolk Island[5] that are offshore dependent territories. Every state and internal territory (except the Jervis Bay Territory) is self-governing with its own independent executive government, legislature, and judicial system, while the rest only have local government status overseen by federal departments.[4][6]

State and territory governments may legislate on matters concerning their citizens, subject to the limits of the federal constitution (notably section 51 and section 109). Each state and internal territory (except Jervis Bay Territory) has its own legislature, although the Federal Parliament can override territorial legislation. The federal High Court of Australia acts as a final court of appeal for all matters, and has the authority to override any state judiciary.[7][8] While all states and internal territories have their own judicial system (subject to appeal to the High Court), most external territories are subject to the judiciary and legislature of either a state or internal territory.[6] Excluding the Heard Island and McDonald Islands and the Australian Antarctic Territory (which are governed by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water), the external territories are governed by the federal Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.[9] Norfolk Island had its own legislature from 1979 to 2015.[10]

Each state is a successor to a historical British colony, and each has its own constitution. The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and Northern Territory[11] for the most part operate indistinguishably from the states (for example, both have representation in the Parliament since 1948 and in the Senate since 1975),[12][13] even though they do not have constitutional status as states and territorial legislation can be overridden.

## Geography

[edit]

Main article: Geography of Australia

Surrounded by the Indian, Pacific, and Southern oceans, Australia is separated from Maritime Southeast Asia and New Guinea by the Arafura Sea, the Timor Sea, and the Torres Strait, from Island Melanesia by the Coral Sea, and from New Zealand by the Tasman Sea. The world's smallest continent, Australia is also the sixth-largest country by land area and sometimes considered the world's largest island. Australia has a mainland coastline of 32,994 kilometres (20,502 mi)[14] and claims an exclusive economic zone of about 8,200,000 square kilometres (3,200,000 sq mi).[15]

### Borders

[edit]

Main article: Territorial evolution of Australia

* Australian Capital Territory borders
* New South Wales borders
* Northern Territory borders
* Queensland borders
* South Australian borders
* Tasmanian borders
* Victorian borders
* Western Australian borders

## States and territories

[edit]

A clickable map of Australia's states, mainland territories and their capitals

At Federation in 1901, what is now the Northern Territory was within South Australia, what are now the Australian Capital Territory and Jervis Bay Territory were within New South Wales, and the Coral Sea Islands were part of Queensland. Ashmore and Cartier Islands was accepted by Australia in 1934[16] and was annexed to the Northern Territory prior to adoption of the Statute of Westminster in 1942, deemed effective from 1939; it has thus become part of Australia.

### States

[edit]

States of Australia[b] Flag | State  | Postal  | ISO[17] | Capital | Population
(June 2024)[18] | Area (km2)[19] | Population Density (/km2)  | No. members in House of Reps.[20] | Governor | Premier
(Party)  | State Government

|
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| New South Wales | NSW | AU-NSW | Sydney | 8,511,151 | 800,150  | 10.49  | 47  | Margaret Beazley |  | Chris Minns (Labor)  | Government of New South Wales
| Victoria | VIC | AU-VIC | Melbourne | 7,012,962 | 227,416  | 30.18  | 38  | Margaret Gardner |  | Jacinta Allan
(Labor)  | Victorian Government
| Queensland | QLD | AU-QLD | Brisbane | 5,608,666 | 1,729,742  | 3.18  | 30  | Jeannette Young |  | David Crisafulli (Liberal National)  | Queensland Government
| Western Australia | WA | AU-WA | Perth[c] | 2,981,752 | 2,527,013  | 1.15  | 16  | Chris Dawson |  | Roger Cook
(Labor)  | Government of Western Australia
| South Australia | SA | AU-SA | Adelaide | 1,882,722 | 984,321  | 1.89  | 10  | Frances Adamson |  | Peter Malinauskas (Labor)  | Government of South Australia
| Tasmania | TAS | AU-TAS | Hobart | 575,959 | 68,401  | 8.89  | 5  | Barbara Baker |  | Jeremy Rockliff
(Liberal)  | Tasmanian Government

### Territories

[edit]

#### Internal territories

[edit]

Internal territories of Australia[d] Flag | Territory  | Postal  | ISO[17] | Capital
(or largest settlement)  | Population
(June 2024)[18] | Area (km2)[19] | Population Density (/km2)  | No. members in House of Reps.[20] | Administrator | Chief Minister
(Party)  | Territory Government

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| Australian Capital Territory | ACT | AU-ACT | Canberra | 475,644 | 2,358  | 198.97  | 3  | None |  | Andrew Barr
(Labor)  | ACT Government
| Northern Territory | NT | AU-NT | Darwin | 255,559 | 1,347,791  | 0.19  | 2  | Hugh Heggie |  | Lia Finocchiaro
(Country Liberal)  | Northern Territory Government
None | Jervis Bay Territory | ACT | — | Jervis Bay Village | 405 | 67  | 6.04  | Part of ACT's Division of Fenner | Administered by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts

#### External territories

[edit]

External territories of Australia[e] Flag | Territory  | Postal  | ISO[17] | Capital
(or largest settlement)  | Population
(Jun 2018)[18] | Area (km2)[19] | Population Density (/km2)  | No. members in House of Reps. | Administrator | Head of Local Government  | Local Government

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| Norfolk Island | NSW | NF | Kingston | 2,601 | 35  | 74  | Part of ACT's Division of Bean | George Plant  | Lead Administrator
Scott Mason[21] | Norfolk Island Regional Council
| Christmas Island | WA | CX | Flying Fish Cove | 1,938 | 135  | 14  | Part of NT's Division of Lingiari | Farzian Zainal | Shire President
Gordon Thompson | Shire of Christmas Island
| Cocos (Keeling) Islands | WA | CC | West Island | 547 | 14  | 39  | Shire President
Aindil Minkom[22] | Shire of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
None | Australian Antarctic Territory[a] | TAS | AQ[f] | None
(Davis Station) | 60[g] | 5,896,500  | 0.0000102  | —  | None
Coral Sea Islands | QLD | — | None
(Willis Island) | 4[h] | 780,000[i] | 0.000005
Ashmore and Cartier Islands | — | None
(offshore anchorage) | 0 | 199  | 0
Heard Island and McDonald Islands | TAS | HM | None
(Atlas Cove) | 0 | 372  | 0

Each external territory is regulated by an Act of the federal Parliament. These Acts contain the majority of provisions determining the legal and political structure applying in that external territory. Under s 122 of the Australian Constitution the federal Parliament has plenary power to make laws for all territories including all external territories.[24] The Cocos (Keeling) Islands voted for integration in 1984. Together with Christmas Island, these two territories comprise the Australian Indian Ocean Territories. Commonwealth laws apply automatically to the territories unless expressly stated otherwise[6] and residents of both external territories are associated with Northern Territory for federal elections. They are, thus, constitutionally part of Australia.

The Heard Island and McDonald Islands, although uninhabited, are treated as constitutionally part of Australia by the central government.[25]

Norfolk Island's status is controversial, with the present (as of 2018[update]) government taking measures to integrate the territory into Australia proper (including representation in parliament and compulsory voting). The Norfolk Islanders have not formally consented to this change in constitutional status and assert that they are not Australian.[10]

Integration of territories with small populations  Territory | Ref. | Subject to laws of | Subject to courts of | Part of electorate of

|
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|

for House | for Senate
Christmas Island | [26] | Western Australia[a] | Division of Lingiari | Northern Territory
Cocos (Keeling) Islands | [27]
Jervis Bay Territory | [28] | Australian Capital Territory[a] | Division of Fenner | Australian Capital Territory
Norfolk Island | [29]
[30]
[31] | Norfolk Island[b]
New South Wales[a]
Queensland[a] | Norfolk Island | Division of Bean
Ashmore and Cartier Islands | [32] | Northern Territory | (no permanent population)
Australian Antarctic Territory | [33] | Australian Capital Territory
Heard Island and McDonald Islands | [34]
Coral Sea Islands | [35][36] | Australian Capital Territory | Norfolk Island

Notes

1. ^

a) Residents of the territory are not represented in the parliament or assembly that makes these laws, or in the government that appoints judges to these courts.

2. ^

b) Laws passed by the Norfolk Island Legislative Assembly while it existed from 1979 to 2015 remain in effect unless modified or repealed by the federal government.[37]

### Former territories

[edit]

#### Internal

[edit]

Two internal territories established by the Australian federal government under Section 122 of the Constitution of Australia no longer exist:

* Central Australia (1926–1931), consisting of the area of the current Northern Territory south of the 20th parallel south[38]
* North Australia (1926–1931), consisting of the area of the current Northern Territory north of the 20th parallel south[38]

#### External

[edit]

Two present-day Oceanic countries, Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Nauru, were administered by the federal government of Australia as de facto or de jure external territories for differing periods between 1902 and 1975.

##### Papua and New Guinea (1883–1975)

[edit]

* Territory of Papua:
* 1883–1902: A de facto part of Queensland (de jure British territory in 1888–1900)
* 1902–1949: An external territory of Australia
* Territory of New Guinea: 1920–1949, under a League of Nations mandate. The territory was previously known as German New Guinea between 1884 and 1914; it was formally under Australian military occupation in 1914–1920).

Following World War II, the Papua and New Guinea Act 1949 placed the Territory of New Guinea in an "administrative union" with the Territory of Papua, and the combined Territory of Papua and New Guinea was created. However, both territories remained technically distinct for some administrative and legal purposes. Following the passage of the Papua New Guinea Independence Act 1975, the combined entity eventually was given independence as the Independent State of Papua New Guinea.

##### Nauru (1920–1968)

[edit]

Nauru was previously under the German colonial empire as part of the German New Guinea. Following World War I, the Australian government received a League of Nations mandate for Nauru. After World War II, the Territory of Papua, Territory of New Guinea and Nauru were all controlled by the Australian government as United Nations trust territories. Following the passage of the Nauru Independence Act 1967, Nauru was granted independence in 1968.

## Statistics

[edit]

The majority of Australians live in the eastern coastal mainland states of New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, and the Australian Capital Territory, which collectively forms 79% of the entire population of Australia (more than three-quarters of all Australians). Most of the major population centres are located east and south of the Great Dividing Range on the coastal plains and their associated hinterland regions.

State / territory  | Mainland area[19] | Total land area[19] | Marine area[19] | Total area

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km2 | sq mi | Rank  | km2 | sq mi | Rank  | km2 | sq mi | Rank  | km2 | sq mi | Rank
New South Wales | 801,137  | 309,321 | 5 | 801,150  | 309,330 | 5 | 8,802  | 3,398 | 7 | 809,952  | 312,724 | 7
Victoria | 227,038  | 87,660 | 6 | 227,444  | 87,817 | 6 | 10,213  | 3,943 | 6 | 237,657  | 91,760 | 6
Queensland | 1,723,030  | 665,270 | 2 | 1,792,742  | 692,182 | 2 | 121,994  | 47,102 | 1 | 1,914,736  | 739,284 | 1
Western Australia | 2,523,924  | 974,493 | 1 | 2,527,013  | 975,685 | 1 | 115,740  | 44,690 | 2 | 2,642,753  | 1,020,373 | 2
South Australia | 979,651  | 378,245 | 4 | 984,321  | 380,048 | 4 | 60,032  | 23,178 | 4 | 1,044,353  | 403,227 | 4
Tasmania | 64,519  | 24,911 | 7 | 68,401  | 26,410 | 7 | 22,357  | 8,632 | 5 | 90,758  | 35,042 | 5
Australian Capital Territory | 2,358  | 910 | 8 | 2,358  | 910 | 8 | — | — | 8 | 2,358  | 910 | 8
Northern Territory | 1,334,404  | 515,216 | 3 | 1,347,791  | 520,385 | 3 | 71,839  | 27,737 | 3 | 1,419,630  | 548,120 | 3

State / territory  | Abbreviation  | Land area[19] |

* Population
* (2021 census)

| Population density  |

* % of population
* in capital

| Notes

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km2 | sq mi | Rank  | Number | Rank  | /km2 | /sq mi | Rank  | % | Rank
New South Wales | NSW | 801,150  | 309,330  | 5 | 8,072,163 | 1 | 9.62  | 24.9  | 3 | 63.0% | 5 | [39]
Victoria | VIC | 227,444  | 87,817  | 6 | 6,503,491 | 2 | 26.56  | 68.8  | 2 | 71.0% | 4 | [40]
Queensland | QLD | 1,729,742  | 667,857  | 2 | 5,156,138 | 3 | 2.79  | 7.2  | 5 | 46.0% | 7 | [41]
Western Australia | WA | 2,527,013  | 975,685  | 1 | 2,660,026 | 4 | 1.03  | 2.7  | 7 | 73.4% | 3 | [42]
South Australia | SA | 984,321  | 380,048 | 4 | 1,781,516 | 5 | 1.74  | 4.5 | 6 | 73.5% | 2 | [43]
Tasmania | TAS | 68,401  | 26,410 | 7 | 557,571 | 6 | 7.58  | 19.6 | 4 | 41.0% | 8 | [44]
Australian Capital Territory | ACT | 2,358  | 910  | 8 | 453,890 | 7 | 167.6  | 434  | 1 | 99.6% | 1 | [45]
Northern Territory | NT | 1,347,791  | 520,385  | 3 | 232,605 | 8 | 0.18  | 0.47  | 8 | 54.0% | 6 | [46]

## Background and overview

[edit]

Further information: History of Australia and Territorial evolution of Australia

The states originated as separate British colonies prior to Federation in 1901.[2] The Colony of New South Wales was founded in 1788 and originally comprised much of the Australian mainland, as well as Lord Howe Island, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, and Van Diemen's Land, in addition to the area currently referred to as the state of New South Wales. During the 19th century, large areas were successively separated to form the Colony of Tasmania (initially established as a separate colony named Van Diemen's Land in 1825), the Colony of Western Australia (initially established as the smaller Swan River Colony in 1829), the Province of South Australia (1836), the Colony of New Zealand (1840),[47] the Victoria Colony (1851) and the Colony of Queensland (1859). Upon federation, the six colonies of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania became the founding states of the new Commonwealth of Australia. The two territory governments (the Australian Capital Territory [ACT] and the Northern Territory [NT]), were created by legislation of the Federal Parliament—the NT in 1978 and the ACT in 1988.[2]

The legislative powers of the states are protected by the Australian constitution, section 107,[48] and under the principle of federalism, Commonwealth legislation only applies to the states where permitted by the constitution. The territories, by contrast, are from a constitutional perspective directly subject to the Commonwealth government; laws for territories are determined by the Australian Parliament.[24]

Most of the territories are directly administered by the Commonwealth government, while two (the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory) have some degree of self-government although less than that of the states.[4] In the self-governing territories, the Australian Parliament retains the full power to legislate, and can override laws made by the territorial institutions, which it has done on rare occasions.[4] For the purposes of Australian (and joint Australia-New Zealand) intergovernmental bodies, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory are treated as if they were states.

Each state has a governor, appointed by the monarch (currently King Charles III), which by convention he does on the advice of the state premier.[49] The Administrator of the Northern Territory, by contrast, is appointed by the governor-general.[50] The Australian Capital Territory has neither a governor nor an administrator. Instead, since the enacted of the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 (Cth), the functions of the head of the Executive – commissioning government, proroguing parliament and enacting legislation – are exercised by the Assembly itself and by the chief minister.[51]

Jervis Bay Territory is the only non-self-governing internal territory. Until 1989, it was administered as if it were a part of the ACT, although it has always been a separate territory. Under the terms of the Jervis Bay Territory Acceptance Act 1915,[52] the laws of the ACT apply to the Jervis Bay Territory insofar as they are applicable and providing they are not inconsistent with an ordinance.[53] Although residents of the Jervis Bay Territory are generally subject to laws made by the ACT Legislative Assembly, they are not represented in the assembly. They are represented in the Parliament of Australia as part of the Electoral Division of Fenner (named the Division of Fraser until 2016) in the ACT and by the ACT's two senators. In other respects, the territory is administered directly by the Federal Government through the Territories portfolio.[54]

The external territory of Norfolk Island possessed a degree of self-government from 1979 until 2015.[10]

Each state has a bicameral parliament, except Queensland, which abolished its upper house in 1922.[55][2] The lower house is called the "legislative assembly", except in South Australia and Tasmania, where it is called the "house of assembly". Tasmania is the only state to use proportional representation for elections to its lower house; all others elect members from single member constituencies, using preferential voting. The upper house is called the "legislative council" and is generally elected from multi-member constituencies using proportional representation. Along with Queensland, the three self-governing territories, the ACT, the Northern Territory, and Norfolk Island, each have unicameral legislative assemblies.[2] The legislative assembly for the ACT is the only parliament with responsibility for both state/territory and local government functions.[2]

The head of government of each state is called the "premier", appointed by the state's governor.[56] In normal circumstances, the governor will appoint as premier whoever leads the party or coalition which exercises control of the lower house (in the case of Queensland, the only house) of the state parliament. However, in times of constitutional crisis, the governor can appoint someone else as premier.[56] The head of government of the self-governing internal territories is called the "chief minister". The Northern Territory's chief minister, in normal circumstances whoever controls the legislative assembly, is appointed by the administrator.

The term interstate is used within Australia to refer to a number of events, transactions, registrations, travel, etc. which occurs across borders or outside of the particular state or territory of the user of the term. Examples of use include motor vehicle registration,[57] travel,[58] applications to educational institutions out of one's home state.[59]

There are very few urban areas bifurcated by state or territory borders. The Queensland-New South Wales border runs through Coolangatta (Queensland) and Tweed Heads (New South Wales) and splits Gold Coast Airport. Oaks Estate, a contiguous residential of Queanbeyan, was excised out of New South Wales when the Australian Capital Territory was established in 1909. Some Urban Centres and Localities reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics include some agglomerations of cities spreading across state borders, including Gold Coast–Tweed Heads, Canberra–Queanbeyan, Albury–Wodonga (New South Wales-Victoria) and Mildura–Wentworth (Victoria-New South Wales)

### Timeline

[edit]

* 1788 – British Empire establishes the Colony of New South Wales across central and eastern mainland Australia, the island of Tasmania, both islands of New Zealand and Norfolk Island.
* 1803 – The Coral Sea Islands are claimed by New South Wales.
* 1825 – The island of Tasmania becomes the independent colony of Van Diemen's Land. New South Wales extends its borders further west in mainland Australia.
* 1829 – The British Empire establishes the Swan River Colony in western mainland Australia.
* 1832 – Swan River Colony is renamed the "colony of Western Australia".
* 1836 – The Colony of South Australia is established.
* 1841 – The islands of New Zealand become the independent colony of New Zealand. Much of eastern Antarctica is annexed by Britain as Victoria Land.
* 1844 – New South Wales transfers Norfolk Island to Van Diemen's Land.
* 1846 – Northern central and eastern Australia briefly become the independent Colony of North Australia, then are returned to New South Wales.Map of Australia, 1851
* 1851 – Southeastern mainland Australia becomes the independent colony of Victoria.
* 1856 – Van Diemen's Land is renamed the colony of Tasmania. Norfolk Island becomes the independent colony of Norfolk Island, however it is to be administered by the same governor as New South Wales.
* 1857 – Much of southern central mainland Australia becomes the independent colony of South Australia. The Cocos (Keeling) Islands are annexed by Britain.
* 1859 – Northeastern mainland Australia and Coral Sea Islands become the independent colony of Queensland.
* 1860 – A pocket of New South Wales territory remaining in southern central mainland Australia is transferred to South Australia.
* 1862 – Some of New South Wales' northern central mainland Australian territory is transferred to Queensland.
* 1863 – New South Wales' remaining northern central mainland Australian territory is transferred to South Australia.
* 1878 – Britain annexes Ashmore Island.
* 1883 – Queensland annexes southeastern New Guinea.
* 1884 – Southeastern New Guinea becomes the independent Territory of Papua.
* 1886 – The Cocos (Keeling) Islands are to be administered by the same governor as the Straits Settlements.
* 1888 – Christmas Island is annexed by Britain and incorporated into the Straits Settlements.
* 1897 – Norfolk Island is officially reintegrated into New South Wales.
* 1901 – New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Western Australia, Victoria and South Australia federate into the Commonwealth of Australia. Queensland transfers the Coral Sea Islands to the federal government, creating a federal external territory.
* 1902 – Britain transfers Papua to Australia as an external territory.
* 1903 – The Cocos (Keeling) Islands are incorporated into the Straits Settlements.
* 1909 – Britain annexes Cartier Island.
* 1910 – Britain claims Heard Island and the McDonald Islands.
* 1911 – The state of South Australia transfers control of northern central mainland Australia to the federal government, creating the Northern Territory. A small pocket of New South Wales around the city of Canberra is transferred to the federal government (who are seated within it), creating the Federal Capital Territory.
* 1913 – New South Wales transfers Norfolk Island to the federal government, making it a federal external territory.
* 1915 – A small pocket of New South Wales around Jervis Bay is transferred to the federal government and incorporated into the Federal Capital Territory.
* 1920 – Following the defeat of the German Empire in World War I, the League of Nations establishes an Australian mandate in northeastern New Guinea, it becomes the external Territory of New Guinea.
* 1923 – Another conquered German territory, the island of Nauru, is established as an Australian mandate and external territory by the League of Nations, this time as a co-mandate with Britain and New Zealand.
* 1927 – The Northern Territory is split into two territories – North Australia and Central Australia.
* 1930 – The remaining territory in eastern Antarctica is annexed by Britain as Enderby Land.
* 1931 – North Australia and Central Australia are reincorporated as the Northern Territory. Britain recognises Australia as possessors of the uninhabited Ashmore and Cartier Islands, making them an external federal territory.
* 1933 – Britain transfers Victoria Land and Enderby Land to Australia, creating the Australian Antarctic Territory, with ongoing limited international recognition.
* 1938 – The Federal Capital Territory is renamed the "Australian Capital Territory".
* 1942 – The Empire of Japan conquers Nauru from Australia, Britain and New Zealand as part of World War II. Japan also conquers much of the Straits Settlements, including Christmas Island. The Cocos (Keeling) Islands are not conquered and are transferred to the Colony of Ceylon.
* 1946 – The United Nations, the successor to the League of Nations, renews its mandate of New Guinea to Australia.
* 1947 – Following the defeat of Japan in World War II, the United Nations returns Nauru to Australia, Britain and New Zealand as a joint mandate. Christmas Island returns to Britain and is incorporated into the Colony of Singapore. The Cocos (Keeling) Islands are also transferred to Singapore.
* 1949 – Papua and New Guinea are incorporated into the singular Territory of Papua and New Guinea. Britain transfers Heard Island and the McDonald Islands to Australia, creating a federal external territory.
* 1955 – Britain transfers the Cocos (Keeling) Islands to Australia, they become an external territory.
* 1958 – Britain transfers Christmas Island to Australia, it becomes an external territory.
* 1966 – The Republic of Nauru is established, ending Australian-British-New Zealander control of the island.
* 1975 – Papua and New Guinea becomes the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, ending British-Australian control.
* 1978 – Northern Territory gains self-government with certain Commonwealth control.
* 1979 – Norfolk Island gains self-government with certain Commonwealth control.
* 1989 – The Australian Capital Territory gains self-government with certain Commonwealth control. Jervis Bay becomes independent of the ACT, becoming the Jervis Bay Territory.
* 2015 – Norfolk Island loses self-government with full Commonwealth control.

### Comparative terminology

[edit]

Entity  | Type of entity  | Tie to the monarch  | Domestic administrator  | Head of government  | Upper House of Parliament  | Lower House of Parliament  | Member of Parliament

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Upper house  | Lower house[note 1]
Commonwealth of Australia | Federal government  | Direct  | Governor-general  | Prime minister  | Senate  | House of Representatives  | Senator  | MP
South Australia | Federated state | Direct (established by the Australia Act 1986)  | Governor  | Premier  | Legislative Council  | House of Assembly  | MLC
Tasmania
New South Wales | Legislative Assembly
Victoria
Western Australia | MLA
Queensland | N/A (abolished 1922)  | —  | MP
Australian Capital Territory | Self-governing territory  | Indirect (through the governor-general acting as "administrator")  | Assembly and chief minister  | Chief minister  | —  | MLA
Northern Territory | Indirect (through the governor-general)  | Administrator
Christmas Island | External territory  | Shire president  | Shire Council  | Councillor
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Norfolk Island | Mayor  | Regional Council[note 2]
Note:

1. ^ The abbreviations MLA and MHA were previously the acceptable term for members of lower houses in states that now use MP.
2. ^ Between 1979 and 2015 Norfolk Island was a self-governing external territory with its own legislature, the Norfolk Island Legislative Assembly, until this was abolished by the Commonwealth Parliament.

## Politics

[edit]

Map showing the jurisdictions of Australia and their governing political parties as of October 2024.

Labor

Liberal / CLP

### Governors and administrators

[edit]

Main article: Governors of the Australian states

Post  | Incumbent  | Appointed

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|

Governor of New South Wales | Margaret Beazley | 2 May 2019
Governor of Victoria | Margaret Gardner | 9 August 2023
Governor of Queensland | Jeannette Young | 1 November 2021
Governor of Western Australia | Chris Dawson | 15 July 2022
Governor of South Australia | Frances Adamson | 7 October 2021
Governor of Tasmania | Barbara Baker | 16 June 2021
Administrator of the Northern Territory | Hugh Heggie | 2 February 2023
Administrator of Norfolk Island | George Plant  | 26 May 2023
Administrator of the Australian Indian Ocean Territories | Farzian Zainal | 26 May 2023

### Premiers and chief ministers

[edit]

Main article: Premiers and chief ministers of the Australian states and territories

Post  | Incumbent  | Political party  | Appointed

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Premier of New South Wales | Chris Minns MP |  | Labor | 25 March 2023
Premier of Victoria | Jacinta Allan MP |  | Labor | 27 September 2023
Premier of Queensland | David Crisafulli MP |  | Liberal National | 28 October 2024
Premier of Western Australia | Roger Cook MLA |  | Labor | 8 June 2023
Premier of South Australia | Peter Malinauskas MP |  | Labor | 21 March 2022
Premier of Tasmania | Jeremy Rockliff MP |  | Liberal | 8 April 2022
Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory | Andrew Barr MLA |  | Labor | 11 December 2014
Chief Minister of the Northern Territory | Lia Finocchiaro MLA |  | Country Liberal | 28 August 2024

### Parliaments

[edit]

Main article: Parliaments of the Australian states and territories

* Parliament of New South Wales
* Parliament of Victoria
* Parliament of Queensland
* Parliament of Western Australia
* Parliament of South Australia
* Parliament of Tasmania
* Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly
* Northern Territory Legislative Assembly

## Supreme courts

[edit]

Main article: Australian court hierarchy

* Supreme Court of New South Wales
* Supreme Court of Victoria
* Supreme Court of Queensland
* Supreme Court of Western Australia
* Supreme Court of South Australia
* Supreme Court of Tasmania
* Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory
* Supreme Court of the Northern Territory
* Supreme Court of Norfolk Island

## Police forces

[edit]

Main article: Law enforcement in Australia

* New South Wales Police Force
* Victoria Police
* Queensland Police Service
* Western Australia Police Force
* South Australia Police
* Tasmania Police
* Australian Capital Territory Policing (performed by Australian Federal Police)
* Northern Territory Police Force
* Law enforcement in Norfolk Island, also provided by Australian Federal Police

## State and territory codes

[edit]

State/territory  | Abbrev.  | Call signs | Postal  | Telephone numbers in Australia | Time zone

|
|
|
|
|

AM/FM | TV  | Amateur | Abbrev.  | Postcode  | Std  | Summer
New South Wales  | NSW  | 2xx(x) | xx(x)Nn | VK2xx  | NSW  | 1nnn,[nb 1] 2nnn | +61 2 xxxx xxxx[nb 2] | +10 (+9+1⁄2 +10+1⁄2)[nb 3] | +11 (+10+1⁄2)[nb 4]
Victoria  | Vic  | 3xx(x) | xx(x)Vn | VK3xx  | VIC  | 3nnn, 8nnn[nb 1] | +61 3 xxxx xxxx[nb 2] | +10 | +11
Queensland  | Qld  | 4xx(x) | xx(x)Qn | VK4xx  | QLD  | 4nnn, 9nnn[nb 1] | +61 7 xxxx xxxx | +10
Western Australia  | WA  | 6xx(x) | xx(x)Wn | VK6xx  | WA  | 6nnn | +61 8 9xxx xxxx
+61 8 6xxx xxxx | +8
South Australia  | SA  | 5xx(x) | xx(x)Sn | VK5xx  | SA  | 5nnn | +61 8 8xxx xxxx
+61 8 7xxx xxxx | +9+1⁄2 | +10+1⁄2
Tasmania  | Tas  | 7xx(x) | xx(x)Tn | VK7xx  | TAS  | 7nnn | +61 3 6xxx xxxx | +10 | +11
Australian Capital Territory  | ACT  | 1xx(x)[nb 5] | xx(x)Cn[nb 5] | VK1xx[nb 5] | ACT  | 02nn,[nb 1] 26nn, 29nn | +61 2 62xx xxxx
+61 2 61xx xxxx | +10 | +11
Northern Territory  | NT  | 8xx(x) | xx(x)Dn | VK8xx  | NT  | 08nn | +61 8 89xx xxxx | +9+1⁄2
External territories
Christmas Island  |  | 6xx(x) | xx(x)Wn | VK9xx  | WA  | 6798 | +61 8 9164 xxxx | +7
Norfolk Island  |  | 2xx(x) | xx(x)Nn | VK2xx  | NSW  | 2899 | +672 3 xx xxx | +11 | +12
Cocos Island  |  | 6xx(x) | xx(x)Wn | VK9xx  | WA  | 6799 | +61 8 9162 xxxx | +6+1⁄2
Australian Antarctic Territory  | AAT  | none  | VK0xx  | TAS  | 7151 | +672 1  | +6 to +8

1. ^ a b c d This is used for some PO box and large users only.
2. ^ a b Some exceptions apply to numbers in this state's number range.
3. ^ The state of New South Wales observes Australian Eastern Standard Time except for Broken Hill and the surrounding region, which observes Australian Central Standard Time and Lord Howe Island which is 30 minutes ahead of Australian Eastern Standard Time.
4. ^ Broken Hill and surrounding region observe Australian Central Summer Time. Lord Howe Island adopts Australian Eastern Summer Time.
5. ^ a b c A number of broadcast stations in the ACT have call signs allocated as if ACT were part of New South Wales.

## See also

[edit]

* Australia portal

* Australian regional rivalries
* ISO 3166-2:AU, the ISO codes for the states and territories of Australia
* List of adjectival and demonymic forms of Australian states and territories
* List of Australian states and territories by Human Development Index
* Proposals for new Australian states

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ a b c The Australian Antarctic Territory covers nearly 5.9 million square kilometres, about 42% of Antarctica, but this claim is only recognised by France, New Zealand, Norway, and the United Kingdom.[1] Antarctic territorial claims are generally unrecognised by the international community.
2. ^ Unless provided, references and details on data provided in the table can be found within the individual state and territory articles.
3. ^ Perth was defined as the capital by statute in 2016: City of Perth Act 2016 (WA) in AustLII.
4. ^ Unless provided, references and details on data provided in the table can be found within the individual state and territory articles.
5. ^ Unless provided, references and details on data provided in the table can be found within the individual state and territory articles.
6. ^ Under the definitions in ISO 3166-1, the AAT is covered by the Antarctican ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code "AQ".
7. ^ No permanent population, research station with fluctuating staff numbers.
8. ^ No permanent population, weather monitoring station generally with four staff.[23]
9. ^ Most of which is ocean.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Antarctic Territory claims and The Antarctic Treaty System
2. ^ a b c d e f Manager, Web (23 May 2022). "Australian levels of government". www.parliament.act.gov.au. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
3. ^ Twomey, Anne (January 2008). "The States, the Commonwealth and the Crown: The Battle for Sovereignty". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
4. ^ a b c d "What's the difference between a territory and a state parliament?". Parliamentary Education Office. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
5. ^ a b c Section 2B, Acts Interpretation Act 1901
6. ^ a b c "10. External territories". Australian Law Reform Commission. 15 July 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
7. ^ "Court System in Western Australia". www.supremecourt.wa.gov.au. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
8. ^ "Chapter III. The Judicature". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
9. ^ "Territories of Australia". Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications. Archived from the original on 9 February 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
10. ^ a b c Davey, Melissa (21 May 2015). "'We're not Australian': Norfolk Islanders adjust to shock of takeover by mainland". The Guardian.
11. ^ "Why Isn't the Northern Territory a State?". www.abc.net.au. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
12. ^ "Territory Representation in the Commonwealth Parliament" (PDF). aph.gov.au. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
13. ^ "Representation of Commonwealth Territories in the Senate". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
14. ^ "Border Lengths – States and Territories". Geoscience Australia. Commonwealth of Australia. 2004. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
15. ^ "Oceans and Seas". Geoscience Australia. Australian Government. 7 June 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
16. ^ "Ashmore and Cartier Islands Acceptance Act 1933". Federal Register of Legislation. 4 July 2008.
17. ^ a b c ISO 3166-2:AU (ISO 3166-2 codes for the states and territories of Australia)
18. ^ a b c "National, state and territory population". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 17 September 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
19. ^ a b c d e f g "Area of Australia – States and Territories". Geoscience Australia: National Location Information. 15 May 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
20. ^ a b "Number of Members". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
21. ^ "About Council". Norfolk Island Regional Council. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
22. ^ "Meet the Council". Shire of Cocos Keeling Islands. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
23. ^ "How Willis Island weather observers survive life working at the remote outpost off Queensland". ABC News. 28 March 2018. Archived from the original on 31 October 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
24. ^ a b "Government of territories". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
25. ^ "Frequently asked questions". heardisland.antarctica.gov.au. 28 February 2005.
26. ^ Christmas Island Act 1958, Federal Register of Legislation. Archived 10 January 2017 at the Wayback Machine
27. ^ Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act 1955, Federal Register of Legislation. Archived 22 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine
28. ^ Jervis Bay Territory Acceptance Act 1915, Federal Register of Legislation. Archived 3 April 2022 at the Wayback Machine
29. ^ Norfolk Island Act 1979, Federal Register of Legislation. Archived 22 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine
30. ^ "Norfolk Island Applied Laws Ordinance 2016". Federal Register of Legislation. 28 June 2023.
31. ^ "Norfolk Island Applied Laws and Service Delivery (Queensland) Ordinance 2021". Federal Register of Legislation. 4 February 2023.
32. ^ Ashmore and Cartier Islands Acceptance Act 1933, Federal Register of Legislation. Archived 22 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine
33. ^ Australian Antarctic Territory Act 1954, Federal Register of Legislation. Archived 22 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine
34. ^ Heard Island and McDonald Islands Act 1953, Federal Register of Legislation. Archived 22 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine
35. ^ Application of Laws Ordinance 1973 (Coral Sea Islands), Federal Register of Legislation. Archived 5 November 2021 at the Wayback Machine
36. ^ Coral Sea Islands Act 1969, Federal Register of Legislation. Archived 22 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine
37. ^ "Norfolk Island Legislation". Norfolk Island Regional Council.
38. ^ a b Ling, Ted. "Dividing the Territory, 1926–31". Commonwealth Government Records about the Northern Territory. National Archives of Australia. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
39. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "New South Wales". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
40. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Victoria". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
41. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Queensland". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
42. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Western Australia". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
43. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "South Australia". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
44. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Tasmania". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
45. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Australian Capital Territory". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
46. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Northern Territory". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
47. ^ A.H. McLintock (ed), An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, 3 vols, Wellington, NZ:R.E. Owen, Government Printer, 1966, vol 3 p. 526.'
48. ^ "Saving of Power of State Parliaments". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
49. ^ "What Does A State Governor Do?". www.moadoph.gov.au. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
50. ^ "The Administrator". nt.gov.au. 21 October 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
51. ^ "Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 (Cth)". www.foundingdocs.gov.au. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
52. ^ Jervis Bay Territory Acceptance Act 1915 (Cth) Archived 6 July 2017 at the Wayback Machine.
53. ^ "Jervis Bay Territory Governance and Administration". The Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport. Retrieved 17 January 2013. "Although the Jervis Bay Territory is not part of the Australian Capital Territory, the laws of the ACT apply, insofar as they are applicable and, providing they are not inconsistent with an Ordinance, in the Territory by virtue of the 'Jervis Bay Acceptance Act 1915'"
54. ^ Hayward, Philip (2021). "Australia's oddest jurisdiction : the continuous anomaly of Jervis Bay Territory". Small States & Territories. 4 (1): 157–170.
55. ^ "Overview | Queensland Parliament". www.parliament.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
56. ^ a b Twomey, Anne (September 2011). "Changing the Leader — the Constitutional Conventions concerning the Resignation of Prime Ministers and Premiers". Federal Law Review. 39 (3): 330–331\. doi:10.22145/flr.39.3.1. ISSN 0067-205X.
57. ^ "Interstate-registered vehicles". sa.gov.au. Government of South Australia. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
58. ^ "Interstate travel". Public Transport Victoria. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
59. ^ "Applying interstate". VTAC. Retrieved 18 August 2019.

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