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
- JANUARY 28, 2002AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
An Aborigine elder is seeking the permission of Australia's...
An Aborigine elder is seeking the permission of Australia's highest court to have a police officer killed with a spear for putting out a sacred fire
- JANUARY 18, 2002AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
There has been speculation - it is nothing more - that...
There has been speculation - it is nothing more - that David Hicks, the Australian captured in battle against the Taliban and al-Qa'ida, could be condemned to death by US military tribunal
- JANUARY 18, 2002AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
David Hicks, a 26-year-old Autralian captured fighting...
David Hicks, a 26-year-old Autralian captured fighting with al-Qaeda forces in Afghanistan in December 2001, has been transferred to a US marine base at Cuba's Guantanamo Bay
- JANUARY 18, 2002AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
David Hicks, a 26-year-old Autralian captured fighting...
David Hicks, a 26-year-old Autralian captured fighting with al-Qaeda forces in Afghanistan in December 2001, has been transferred to a US marine base at Cuba's Guantanamo Bay
- JANUARY 14, 2002AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
In total, there are seven men still behind bars in...
In total, there are seven men still behind bars in Western Australia who were originally sentenced to death
- JANUARY 11, 2002AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Young Liberals state convention in Queensland was to...
Young Liberals state convention in Queensland was to discuss a motion for capital punishment for murderers and child sex offenders
- JANUARY 1, 2002AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Australia abolished the death penalty for ordinary...
Australia abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1984 and for wartime crimes in 1985
- JANUARY 1, 2002AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
The last Australian to be legally executed was Michael...
The last Australian to be legally executed was Michael Denis McAuliffe, 38, who was hanged in Malaysia in 1993
- DECEMBER 14, 2001AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
[captured Taliban fighter] David Hicks is unlikely...
[captured Taliban fighter] David Hicks is unlikely ever to be tried for treason
- DECEMBER 13, 2001AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Treason was the worst possible crime against Australia,...
Treason was the worst possible crime against Australia, but the Adelaide man caught fighting for the Taliban should not face the death penalty, RSL president Peter Phillips said
- DECEMBER 13, 2001AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
There wide support for David Hick's [an Australian...
There wide support for David Hick's [an Australian captured fighting with the Taliban] execution
- DECEMBER 12, 2001AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Terrorist David Hicks, 26-year-old Adelaide man, captured...
Terrorist David Hicks, 26-year-old Adelaide man, captured in Afghanistan by Northern Alliance troops, could be guilty of treason