Australian Government Structure and Roles

Structure of Government in Australia

• Australia has three main governments: Federal, State, and Local
• Federal Government handles whole country's affairs, State Government handles individual state's affairs, and Local Government handles local issues

Federal Government

• Decides on matters that affect the whole country, such as:
  • Immigration
  • Foreign affairs
  • Economic management
  • Industrial relations
  • Defence
  • Education
• The prime minister is the political leader of the federal government
• The Governor-General represents the British monarchy as head of state
• Senior members of the Cabinet make the most important decisions

State Government

• Controls matters that affect citizens within their individual state, such as:
  • Public housing
  • Conservation
  • Public roads and railways
  • Health
  • Education
  • Law and order
  • Public transport
• The head of the state government is the Premier, and the head of the state is the Governor
• All state governments, except QLD, have two houses of parliament: Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council

Local Government

• Around 550 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Australia
• The head of a LGA is called a mayor
• Operate under state government legislation and can only make rules (by-laws) on local issues
• Income comes from land rates
• Responsibilities include:
  • Recreational facilities
  • Local roads
  • Libraries
  • Recycling
  • Child care

NSW Courts Ranking

Inferior Court: Local Court

• Presided over by a magistrate
• Deals with:
  • Less serious criminal offences (summary offences)
  • Civil cases involving damages up to $100,000
• Can imprison an offender for up to two years per offence, maximum of five years
• Hears bail applications, search and arrest warrants, and AVOs

Intermediate Court: District Court

• Presided over by a judge
• Deals with:
  • More serious criminal offences (indictable offences)
  • Civil cases involving damages up to $750,000
  • Motor vehicle accidents
• A jury of 12 people is used to reach a verdict

Superior Court: Supreme Court

• Most senior court
• Deals with:
  • Most serious civil and criminal cases (e.g. treason, murder, serious sexual assault)
• Can impose a wide range of sentences
• Presided over by the Chief Justice

Federal Courts

• Handle matters involving federal law, including:
  • Family law
  • Taxation
  • Immigration
  • Copyright
  • Companies

High Court

• Deals with:
  • Appeals from state or territory Supreme Courts
  • Cases concerning interpretations of the constitution
• Can create laws or out rule laws
• Final verdicts can affect the entire country
• Made up of seven judges: the Chief Justice and six Justices

Special Courts

Children's Court

• Deals with criminal cases concerning children and young people who committed offences under the age of 18

Coroner's Court

• Deals with cases of deaths by unnatural causes, figuring out dates, time, information, etc.

Family Court

• Deals with family law matters