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
- NOVEMBER 10, 1999AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
On November 10, UN Ambassador Penny Wensley, speaking...
On November 10, UN Ambassador Penny Wensley, speaking on item 116a, question of human rights, at the Third Committe of the General Assembly, singled out two issues on which progress seems halting at best
- JULY 1, 1999AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
In July, the murder of Rockhampton schoolgirl Keyra...
In July, the murder of Rockhampton schoolgirl Keyra Steinhardt was used to highlight the need for the reintroduction of the death penalty
- APRIL 28, 1999AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Australia was a cosponsor of the resolution on the...
Australia was a cosponsor of the resolution on the death penalty approved by the UN Commission on Human Rights on April 28 (1999/61)
- APRIL 1, 1999AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
In April, Australia and Iraq were involved in an extradition...
In April, Australia and Iraq were involved in an extradition case
- MARCH 1, 1999AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
In March, the House debated a proposal, introduced...
In March, the House debated a proposal, introduced in 1998 by opposition Justice Spokesman Lawrence Springborg and known as "truth in sentencing" in a bid to ensure that serious violent offenders serve 100% of their jail terms
- MARCH 1, 1999AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
In March, Jean Yusuf Chahin, who lives in a modest...
In March, Jean Yusuf Chahin, who lives in a modest suburban home in western Sydney, arrived in Australia two years ago on a holiday visa
- MARCH 1, 1999AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
The same month, the One Nation Party ran a controversial...
The same month, the One Nation Party ran a controversial advertisement, which advocated a referendum on the death penalty, in the last week of the state election campaign
- JANUARY 1, 1999AustraliaDEATH 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, 1999AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
On January 1, One Nation leader Bill Feldman confirmed...
On January 1, One Nation leader Bill Feldman confirmed his party would introduce a Private Member's Bill to force a referendum on capital punishment in Queensland (see 1999 Report)