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
JUNE 27, 2014AustraliaDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM: AUSTRALIAN MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR HEROIN POSSESSION
State-controlled media say a court in southern Vietnam has sentenced an Australian citizen to death for
- JANUARY 1, 2014AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was formally abolished in Australia in 1985.
The death penalty was formally abolished in Australia in 1985.
- JANUARY 1, 2013AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was formally abolished in Australia in 1985.
The death penalty was formally abolished in Australia in 1985.
- DECEMBER 28, 2012AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
the two Australians on death row in Indonesia appear to have received a one-year reprieve
the two Australians on death row in Indonesia appear to have received a one-year reprieve
NOVEMBER 9, 2012AustraliaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: AUSTRALIAN NURSE FREED FROM DEATH ROW
The lawyer for Australian nurse Emma Louise L'Aiguille accused of drug trafficking in Malaysia
- JANUARY 1, 2012AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was formally abolished in Australia in 1985.
The death penalty was formally abolished in Australia in 1985.
JULY 7, 2011AustraliaDEATH PENALTYINDONESIA: BALI NINE RINGLEADER LOSES DEATH APPEAL
An Australian drug smuggler sentenced to death in Indonesia, one of the "Bali Nine" gang
- MAY 11, 2011AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
INDONESIA DROPS DEATH SENTENCE FOR AUSTRALIAN DRUG SMUGGLER
Indonesia's Supreme Court overturned the death sentence for convicted Australian heroin smuggler Scott Anthony Rush, 25, giving him life imprisonment instead.
- JANUARY 6, 2011AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
AUSTRALIAN ESCAPES EXECUTION IN AFGHANISTAN
a former Australian soldier convicted of murder in Afghanistan had his January 2009 death sentence commuted to a 20-year jail term.
- JANUARY 1, 2011AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was formally abolished in Australia in 1985.
The death penalty was formally abolished in Australia in 1985.
- SEPTEMBER 21, 2010AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
AUSTRALIANS APPEAL DEATH SENTENCES IN INDONESIA
Australians Andrew Chan, 26, and Myuran Sukumaran, 29, appealed their death sentences at the Denpasar district court in Indonesia.
- MARCH 11, 2010AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
AUSTRALIA BANS DEATH PENALTY
the Australian Federal Parliament passed laws that permanently abolished the death penalty in any state or territory in Australia.