Australia · Government
Government and administration in Australia
How the executive, legislature and administrative state are organised, and which body is responsible for what.
The three branches
- Head of State — The Sovereign, represented by the Governor-General
- Acts on ministerial advice.
- Executive — Prime Minister and Cabinet
- Responsible to the House of Representatives.
- Legislative — Parliament: House of Representatives and Senate
- 151 members; 76 senators, 12 per state.
- Judicial — Chapter III courts
- Federal judges hold office to age 70.
How legislation is made
Bills pass both chambers and receive Royal Assent. A persistent deadlock can trigger a double dissolution and, ultimately, a joint sitting.
Enforcement institutions
- Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions
- Prosecutes federal offences.
- Australian Federal Police
- Federal policing and national security.
- ASIC and ACCC
- Corporate, consumer and competition regulators.
Government bodies and regulators
- executiveAttorney-General’s DepartmentCentral policy agency for law, justice and integrity.
- executiveDepartment of Home AffairsAdministers migration, citizenship and border policy.
- executiveAustralian Taxation OfficeAdministers the tax and superannuation systems.
- independentOffice of the Australian Information CommissionerRegulates privacy and freedom of information.
- independentFair Work OmbudsmanEducates and enforces workplace entitlements.
- independentAustralian Securities and Investments CommissionRegulates companies, financial services and consumer credit.
- independentAustralian Human Rights CommissionNational human rights institution and discrimination conciliator.
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