About Australia
Australia is the 6th largest country in the world,
and about the same size as the 48 mainland states of the USA. And whilst
it is also 50% larger than Europe, it has the lowest population density
in the world at jjust 2 people per square kilometre. Australia is the
only nation to govern an entire continent and its outlying islands. The
mainland is the largest island and the world’s smallest, flattest
continent.
Australia has 6 states; New South Wales, Queensland,
South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia. It also has
2 major mainland territories; the Northern Territory and the
Australian Capital Territory (ACT). In most respects these two territories
function as states, but the Commonwealth Parliament can override any legislation
of their parliaments. By contrast, federal legislation only overrides state
legislation in certain areas that are set out in Section 51 of the Australian
Constitution; state parliaments retain all residual legislative powers,
including powers over education, police, the judiciary, roads, public transport,
and local government as these do not fall under the provisions listed in
Section 51. |