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 12, 2001AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said the US would...
US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said the US would not let any coalition members' objections to the death penalty get in the way of punishing al-Qaeda or Taliban members
- DECEMBER 1, 2001AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Attorney General, Daryl Williams is working on legislation...
Attorney General, Daryl Williams is working on legislation which will profoundly alter Australia's criminal justice system
- NOVEMBER 23, 2001AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Australian woman accused of drug smuggling is facing...
Australian woman accused of drug smuggling is facing the possible death penalty in Vietnam in a case which could strain diplomatic relations between Canberra and Hanoi
- NOVEMBER 16, 2001AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
US President George W
US President George W
- NOVEMBER 15, 2001AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Eight Western aid workers, locked in Afghan prisons...
Eight Western aid workers, locked in Afghan prisons and fearing for their lives, were freed by anti-Taliban fighters and spirited to safety aboard U
- NOVEMBER 14, 2001AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Two American escapees recaptured in Geelong will not...
Two American escapees recaptured in Geelong will not face the death penalty if they are extradited from Australia
- NOVEMBER 9, 2001AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Australian, US and German special forces may mount...
Australian, US and German special forces may mount a risky operation to rescue the eight western aid workers being held hostage by the Taliban in Afghanistan
- NOVEMBER 8, 2001AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Libya, a former state sponsor of terrorism, is backing...
Libya, a former state sponsor of terrorism, is backing the US-led war on terror and trying to free eight Western aid workers on trial for their lives in Afghanistan
- NOVEMBER 8, 2001AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
After committing one of the most heinous crimes this...
After committing one of the most heinous crimes this country has seen, Katherine Mary Knight, 45, became the first woman marked never to be released from jail
- NOVEMBER 8, 2001AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Libya, a former state sponsor of terrorism, is backing...
Libya, a former state sponsor of terrorism, is backing the US-led war on terror and trying to free eight Western aid workers on trial for their lives in Afghanistan
- NOVEMBER 5, 2001AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
The German foreign ministry said that it was urgently...
The German foreign ministry said that it was urgently trying to contact eight aid workers accused by the Taliban of spreading Christianity among Afghans
- OCTOBER 23, 2001AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Afghanistan's Supreme Court said it cannot hold regular...
Afghanistan's Supreme Court said it cannot hold regular sessions in the trial of eight foreign aid workers accused of promoting Christianity due to chaos amid the U