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
- DECEMBER 30, 2002AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
An end of year survey conducted by the Herald Sun revealed...
An end of year survey conducted by the Herald Sun revealed that the majority of Victorians of all ages were in favour of the death penalty being re-introduced for crimes of terrorism
- DECEMBER 24, 2002AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
The Vietnamese community in Australia said that the...
The Vietnamese community in Australia said that the federal government should take a tough stand to force Vietnam to stop the firing squad in the case of Le My Linh, an Australian woman convicted on drug offences
- DECEMBER 24, 2002AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Amnesty International spoke out against the death sentence...
Amnesty International spoke out against the death sentence imposed in Vietnam on Le My Linh, 43, an Australian convicted on August 28 of trafficking 888 grams of heroin and 209 grams of diazepam
- DECEMBER 23, 2002AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
"I am disappointed that on 23 December the People's...
"I am disappointed that on 23 December the People's Supreme Court in Ho Chi Minh City upheld the death sentence imposed on Australian citizen, Le My Linh, following her conviction for 'transporting' heroin," read a statement issued by Australian Foreign A
- DECEMBER 23, 2002AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
A Vietnamese court rejected an appeal by Le My Linh,...
A Vietnamese court rejected an appeal by Le My Linh, 43, an Australian woman of Vietnamese origin, who is facing the death penalty for drug trafficking
- DECEMBER 18, 2002AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
The Indonesian police investigation chief Made Mangku...
The Indonesian police investigation chief Made Mangku Pastika said that the Perpetrators of the Bali bombing would not be found innocent when they faced judgment in February 2003
- DECEMBER 11, 2002AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Australia said it was "pleased" with a first round...
Australia said it was "pleased" with a first round of discussions in Tehran with Iran on thorny human rights issues, saying the talks would continue
- NOVEMBER 15, 2002AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Magistrate Lisa Hannan has ordered the extradition...
Magistrate Lisa Hannan has ordered the extradition to Singapore of a British businessman, Michael McCrea, accused of a grisly double murder and ordered him to remain in custody pending receipt of a Singaporean surrender warrant
- NOVEMBER 13, 2002AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Attending the Miss World contest in Nigeria this month...
Attending the Miss World contest in Nigeria this month would be a bold statement against the treatment of women in the country, according to Australia's representative Nicole Gazal
- OCTOBER 18, 2002AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Prime Minister John Howard promised no mercy for the...
Prime Minister John Howard promised no mercy for the Bali bombers
- SEPTEMBER 25, 2002AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
The plight of a mother sentenced to death by stoning...
The plight of a mother sentenced to death by stoning for adultery in Nigeria drew bipartisan condemnation from female MPs in the New South Wales parliament
- SEPTEMBER 25, 2002AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Australia is maintaining diplomatic pressure on Vietnam...
Australia is maintaining diplomatic pressure on Vietnam to waive the death penalty against an Australian woman convicted of drug trafficking