The Constitution OF Australia
Key Points from the Video
The Constitution is a set of strict rules for how the government should run the country.
The Constitution is a set of strict rules for how the government should run the country.
The Constitution was written Before we became a Federation
Before 1901 Australia was not a nation...it was a group of 6 British colonies that were like 6 separate countries that were controlled by England.
Representives from the colonies got together in the 1890’s ...they decided it would be much better and easier to run Australia as one country ..not 6!..and by Australians..not the English
They formed a group ( called a committee ) to write up a Constitution for the rules that would apply to all Australians
They formed a group ( called a committee ) to write up a Constitution for the rules that would apply to all Australians
Once the rules had been decided on...it was time to ask the people if they wanted a country where the colonies would have rules that applied to everyone.
The idea was put to the people to vote either Yes or No in a Referendum.
The idea was put to the people to vote either Yes or No in a Referendum.
The people voted yes..and so on the 1st of January 1901...we became the Federation of Australia!!
Because we became one big nation..we needed one set of rules that would apply to everyone
It’s called
THE CONSTITUTION OF AUSTRALIA
Because we became one big nation..we needed one set of rules that would apply to everyone
It’s called
THE CONSTITUTION OF AUSTRALIA
Today the Federal Government ( comes from the word Federation) still uses the Constitution when laws are made or issues are discussed that affect us all
The Constitution governs how the Federal parliament operates.
It doesn’t say how each State is run...that is up to each State’s Parliaments.
The Constitution governs how the Federal parliament operates.
It doesn’t say how each State is run...that is up to each State’s Parliaments.
The High Court. The biggest Court in Australia
Since it was written in 1900, there have been times when people wanted to change the Constitution...to do this they have to go before the high court who are only ones who are allowed to change it.
To change the Constitution...you have to have a Referendum ...a Yes or No vote.
The Constitution has only been changed
8 out of 44 tries
The Constitution has only been changed
8 out of 44 tries
The Federation of AustrALIA
On Federation Day ( January 1st 1901) ...100,000 people gathered at Centennial Park in Sydney.
It was an exciting day because a representative of the Queen of England had come to announce that we had become a Nation.
The 6 British colonies would join as one federated nation and would not be governed by England anymore.
It was an exciting day because a representative of the Queen of England had come to announce that we had become a Nation.
The 6 British colonies would join as one federated nation and would not be governed by England anymore.
Because we had to govern ourselves...we needed one person to lead the country. We needed a Prime minister.
Edward Barton was sworn in as our nations first Prime minister
Edward Barton was sworn in as our nations first Prime minister
Why did want to become Federated?
Before 1901, when Australia was made up of 6 British colonies each colony was like a separate country
Each colony had had its own government
Each colony had its own defence force ( Army, Navy, Airforce)
Each colony had its own railway system
If you wanted goods ( food, wool, wood, steel etc ) from another colony you had to pay taxes
Each colony had had its own government
Each colony had its own defence force ( Army, Navy, Airforce)
Each colony had its own railway system
If you wanted goods ( food, wool, wood, steel etc ) from another colony you had to pay taxes
It just made living on one block of land difficult
People started imagining how much better it would be if they had
ONE government to deal with things that concerned all Australians
ONE defence force ( Army, Navy and Airforce)
ONE railway system so you didn’t have to change trains to travel around the country
NO taxes for sharing goods between the colonies.
ONE government to deal with things that concerned all Australians
ONE defence force ( Army, Navy and Airforce)
ONE railway system so you didn’t have to change trains to travel around the country
NO taxes for sharing goods between the colonies.
The ConstITUTION was written as a rule book for living as
ONE single Nation
The Constitution Committee was made up from people from all of the 6 colonies. Together they wrote the Constitution in the late 1890’s before the vote on Federation
In 1901 when the Constitution had finally been written everybody voted in a referendum. The people voted YES ..they wanted a single nation
Permission was given by the Queen and British Government for us to become a Federation
Permission was given by the Queen and British Government for us to become a Federation
January the 1st 1901
the Queen’s Governor General announced
the Federation of
the Nation Of Australia
There were celebrations all over the country.
Here are the members of our first parliament as a new nation
Voting in Australia
Liberal party Leader: Scott Morrison |
Labor Party Leader: Bill Shorten |
Nationals Party Leader: Richard Di NatalE |
Katter Party Leader: Bob Katter |