Australia
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- federal parliamentary democracy
- CONSTITUTION
- July 9, 1900, in effect from January 1, 1901
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- based on English common law
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- bicameral, Senate and House of Representatives
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- High Court, judges appointed by the Governor-General High Court of Australia, each of the 6 states and 2 territories and Norfolk Island have a Supreme Court. The High Court is the final court of appeal for territorial courts.
RELIGIONS
26% Catholics; 21% Anglicans; 21% other Christians; 1% minorities (including Aboriginals)
From the country
- FEBRUARY 17, 2005AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
a small but rowdy group of demonstrators protested at the trial of Schapelle Leigh Corby...
a small but rowdy group of demonstrators protested at the trial of Schapelle Leigh Corby, an Australian accused of smuggling marijuana into Indonesia's Bali resort, demanding that she be sentenced to death.
- FEBRUARY 1, 2005AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Singapore's premier said he would consider a bid for clemency from Australia
Singapore's premier said he would consider a bid for clemency from Australia
- JANUARY 1, 2005AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was formally abolished in Australia in 1985.
The death penalty was formally abolished in Australia in 1985.
- NOVEMBER 7, 2004AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Tran Van Thanh, a 39 year old Australian man of Vietnamese...
Tran Van Thanh, a 39 year old Australian man of Vietnamese origin, was sentenced to death by firing squad by the Ho Chi Minh City's People's Court in Vietnam after being convicted of drug trafficking
- NOVEMBER 7, 2004AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
The Australian government said it would seek clemency...
The Australian government said it would seek clemency for Tran Van Thanh, an Australian man of Vietnamese origin who was facing the firing squad in Vietnam on drug charges
- OCTOBER 21, 2004AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Amnesty International and the Australian government...
Amnesty International and the Australian government urged Singapore to spare the life of Nguyen Tuong Van, an Australian man sentenced to hang for heroin trafficking
- OCTOBER 20, 2004AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
A Singapore court upheld the death sentence for a 24-year-old...
A Singapore court upheld the death sentence for a 24-year-old Australian man of Vietnamese origin found guilty of smuggling 400 grams (14 ounces) of heroin while in transit at the island's main airport
- SEPTEMBER 22, 2004AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
The Australian Government rejected claims it would...
The Australian Government rejected claims it would extradite terror suspects to the US where they could face the death penalty
- SEPTEMBER 22, 2004AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
The Australian Government rejected claims it would...
The Australian Government rejected claims it would extradite terror suspects to the US where they could face the death penalty
- JULY 26, 2004AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Australian national Nguyen Tuong Van made a brief appearance...
Australian national Nguyen Tuong Van made a brief appearance in a Singapore court as his lawyer appealed against a mandatory death sentence handed to him for trafficking in heroin
- JULY 25, 2004AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Murderers and terrorists should be sentenced to death,...
Murderers and terrorists should be sentenced to death, according to an overwhelming majority of people who responded to the Sunday Mail law and order survey
- JULY 2, 2004AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Australian Prime Minister John Howard said executing...
Australian Prime Minister John Howard said executing Saddam Hussein won't make him a martyr and backed the death penalty for the former dictator - if that's what the Iraqi people wanted