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
- OCTOBER 6, 2003AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Inflicting the death penalty was the ultimate acknowledgement...
Inflicting the death penalty was the ultimate acknowledgement of the failure of civilisation, Australian High Court Justice Michael Kirby said
- SEPTEMBER 26, 2003AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Australian politicians united in welcoming a Nigerian...
Australian politicians united in welcoming a Nigerian appeal court decision to spare Amina Lawal from death by stoning
- SEPTEMBER 10, 2003AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
The Australian government welcomed the conviction and...
The Australian government welcomed the conviction and death sentence imposed on Bali bomber Imam Samudra
- AUGUST 20, 2003AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
"The argument for capital punishment against terrorists...
"The argument for capital punishment against terrorists fails on three counts," said The Australian daily newspaper
- AUGUST 19, 2003AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Federal Liberal MP Alby Schultz said he had no doubt...
Federal Liberal MP Alby Schultz said he had no doubt Australia would again adopt the death penalty if the decision was left up to voters
- AUGUST 19, 2003AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
A Newspoll published in The Australian found that 56...
A Newspoll published in The Australian found that 56 per cent of respondents want the death sentence reintroduced for barbaric acts of terrorism
- AUGUST 12, 2003AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
"If we condone the execution of Amrozi bin Nurhasyim,...
"If we condone the execution of Amrozi bin Nurhasyim, we become no better than any others who employ death as a means to an end," wrote Rob Talbot in response to the death sentence handed down to Bali bomber Amrozi
- AUGUST 7, 2003AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
The following is an edited text of Australian Prime...
The following is an edited text of Australian Prime Minister John Howard's response to the guilty verdict against Bali bomber Amrozi: "Good evening
- AUGUST 7, 2003AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Australia will not make any approach to Indonesia to...
Australia will not make any approach to Indonesia to overturn the decision to impose the death penalty on Bali bomber Amrozi, Prime Minister John Howard said
- AUGUST 7, 2003AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
The desire by families of Bali victims to see convicted...
The desire by families of Bali victims to see convicted bomber Amrozi suffer a painful death was a legitimate response from those who had lost loved ones, spiritual adviser to condemned men, Sister Helen Prejean, said
- JULY 24, 2003AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
The US government promised not to seek the death penalty...
The US government promised not to seek the death penalty for David Hicks, an Australian terrorist suspect captured fighting against US forces in Afghanistan, officials said
- JULY 24, 2003AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
The US government promised not to seek the death penalty...
The US government promised not to seek the death penalty for David Hicks, an Australian terrorist suspect captured fighting against US forces in Afghanistan, officials said