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 8, 2007AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
AUSTRALIA: LABOR CAMPAIGNS AGAINST DEATH PENALTY FOR BALI BOMBERS
the Australian Labor Party attacked Prime Minister John Howard for supporting the death penalty for the Bali bombers as it launched a campaign to stop all executions in Asia.
- SEPTEMBER 18, 2007AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
VIETNAM: AUSTRALIAN SENTENCED TO DEATH IN VIETNAM
a Vietnamese court handed the death penalty to an Australian man it found guilty of trafficking almost one kilogram of heroin.
- JANUARY 1, 2007AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was formally abolished in Australia in 1985.
The death penalty was formally abolished in Australia in 1985.
- NOVEMBER 17, 2006AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
VIETNAM. AUSTRALIAN CONVICTED OF SMUGGLING SPARED DEATH PENALTY
Trinh Huu, an Australian national convicted of drug smuggling, was spared death by firing squad when the Vietnamese government granted him clemency.
- NOVEMBER 6, 2006AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
AUSTRALIA WELCOMES SADDAM HUSSEIN'S DEATH SENTENCE
Australia welcomed a death sentence meted out to former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, saying that it is a sign of democratic hope for Iraq.
- OCTOBER 26, 2006AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
AUSTRALIA. ABORIGINAL CHILD KILLER JAILED AFTER COURT REJECTS TRIBAL DEATH PENALTY
Terrence Dann, an Aboriginal man, was sentenced to life in prison for hanging his two young stepchildren after a court refused his plea to return home and face a tribal death penalty.
- SEPTEMBER 29, 2006AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
UNITED STATES. AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL HICKS WILL NOT BE EXECUTED, BUT NO TIME FRAME ON HIS TRIAL
it was reported that the US government had given assurances to Australia’s Attorney-General Philip Ruddock that David Hicks would not face the death penalty, but the US had still given no timeframe on when his trial was due.
- SEPTEMBER 7, 2006AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
AUSTRALIA ANGERED BY BALI DRUG DEATH SENTENCES
an Indonesian court decision to sentence four young Australians to death for heroin smuggling, overturning their earlier jail terms, sparked an angry political reaction in Australia.
- SEPTEMBER 7, 2006AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
INDONESIA. DEATH SENTENCE FOR BALI 9 DEFENDANT A FIRST, LAWYER
there was no legal precedent for the death sentence imposed on Australian drug smuggler Scott Rush...
- SEPTEMBER 6, 2006AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
INDONESIA. DEATH SENTENCE FOR FOUR OF ‘BALI NINE’
Indonesia's Supreme Court has increased the sentences for four Australians convicted of drug smuggling in Bali to the death penalty, officials said.
- AUGUST 26, 2006AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
AUSTRALIA. NO DEATH PENALTY FOR GUANTANAMO INMATE
Australia has received assurances the United States will not seek the death penalty for Australian Guantanamo Bay inmate David Hicks if it brings new charges against him, Australian Attorney General Philip Ruddock.
- JULY 11, 2006AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
AUSTRALIA. PRESS ASIA TO END DEATH PENALTY, LABOUR PARTY
Australia's Labor party demanded Australia press regional nations to abolish the death penalty, as three Bali bombers and two Australian drug smugglers sat on death row in Asia.