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
- JULY 10, 2002AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
A Thai court handed two Thai hill tribesmen the death...
A Thai court handed two Thai hill tribesmen the death sentences after finding them guilty of murdering an Australian tourist and raping his female companion in early 2000
- JUNE 28, 2002AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Frank and Laurel Gilford finally put to rest the demons...
Frank and Laurel Gilford finally put to rest the demons associated with the murder of Mr Gilford's sister Yvonne in Saudi Arabia in 1996 as the new children's day surgery unit at the Women's and Children's Hospital [in Adelaide, Australia] was inaugurated
- JUNE 24, 2002AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Scot businessman Michael McCrae, 44, is wanted by authorities...
Scot businessman Michael McCrae, 44, is wanted by authorities in Singapore after the bodies of his chauffeur and a mystery woman were found in a luxury car
- MAY 27, 2002AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Australia held inaugural talks with Vietnam on human...
Australia held inaugural talks with Vietnam on human rights and raised concerns about the treatment of dissidents and Australians facing possible death sentences in Vietnam
- MAY 20, 2002AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Two men believed to be among the world's biggest drug...
Two men believed to be among the world's biggest drug barons were extradited to stand trial for allegedly smuggling cannabis into the US
- MAY 20, 2002AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Two men believed to be among the world's biggest drug...
Two men believed to be among the world's biggest drug barons were extradited to stand trial for allegedly smuggling cannabis into the US
- MAY 12, 2002AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Maryama, a young woman from Iran, where she risks being...
Maryama, a young woman from Iran, where she risks being stoned to death for pornographic videos, can stay with her family in an Australian detention centre or sign a form which may see her deported to Iran
- MAY 11, 2002AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
A motion that the congress recommend the State Government...
A motion that the congress recommend the State Government reintroduce capital punishment for premeditated serious crimes, such as murder and sexual assault, was shot down
- APRIL 12, 2002AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Cold-blooded killer Mark Valera's life sentence was...
Cold-blooded killer Mark Valera's life sentence was not harsh enough, NSW Supreme Court of Appeal Justice Roderick Meagher suggested
- APRIL 2, 2002AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
An Australian woman has escaped the death penalty but...
An Australian woman has escaped the death penalty but will spend five years in a Middle East jail after being found guilty on drugs charges
- MARCH 31, 2002AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Australia is negotiating with Iran to return more than...
Australia is negotiating with Iran to return more than 200 asylum seekers who have been refused refugee status in Australia
- MARCH 21, 2002AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer told Parliament...
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer told Parliament a television program used to support the treason claim against Zimbabwe's Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai is extremely unconvincing