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
- OCTOBER 19, 2001AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Taliban judges are expected to issue a verdict next...
Taliban judges are expected to issue a verdict next week in the trial of eight foreigners held in jail in Kabul since August on charges of spreading Christianity, their lawyer said
- OCTOBER 19, 2001AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Prime Minister John Howard backed executing Osama bin...
Prime Minister John Howard backed executing Osama bin Laden if he were captured and convicted
- OCTOBER 16, 2001AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Two alleged Mexican drug smugglers would not be extradited...
Two alleged Mexican drug smugglers would not be extradited from Australia if it meant they would face the death penalty in the US
- OCTOBER 16, 2001AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Two alleged Mexican drug smugglers would not be extradited...
Two alleged Mexican drug smugglers would not be extradited from Australia if it meant they would face the death penalty in the US
- OCTOBER 9, 2001AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Australian Prime Minister John Howard rang the families...
Australian Prime Minister John Howard rang the families of two aid workers on trial in Afghanistan after an apparent slip of the tongue in which he said they were guilty of no more than preaching Christianity
- OCTOBER 7, 2001AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Australia refused to consider any deal with Afghanistan...
Australia refused to consider any deal with Afghanistan to halt threats against the ruling Taliban in exchange for the release of eight foreign aid workers charged with promoting Christianity
- OCTOBER 4, 2001AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
The judge presiding over the trial of two Australian...
The judge presiding over the trial of two Australian aid workers in Kabul has been named as an associate of Osama bin Laden and placed on a Reserve Bank of Australia financial blacklist
- SEPTEMBER 21, 2001AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Eight foreign aid workers arrested and detained in...
Eight foreign aid workers arrested and detained in Afghanistan for allegedly preaching Christianity were moved to a safer location ahead of an expected U
- SEPTEMBER 20, 2001AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Aid workers who have fled Afghanistan fear their imprisoned...
Aid workers who have fled Afghanistan fear their imprisoned colleagues Peter Bunch and Diana Thomas could be used as pawns in any military stand-off between Afghanistan and the United States
- AUGUST 7, 2001AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the...
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the government will do all it can to secure the release of two Australian aid workers, Diana Thomas and Peter Bunch, arrested in Afghanistan on August 6
- JUNE 13, 2001AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Prime Minister John Howard said that Australia was...
Prime Minister John Howard said that Australia was unlikely ever to reintroduce the death penalty
- JUNE 4, 2001AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
The mother of a boy who was found murdered in a cane...
The mother of a boy who was found murdered in a cane paddock near Innisfail in 1993 has said she does not support the reintroduction of capital punishment