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
- FEBRUARY 15, 2006AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
INDONESIA. LAST AUSTRALIANS JAILED FOR LIFE IN BALI DRUG TRIAL
three Australians were jailed for life for their roles in a heroin smuggling ring on Indonesia's Bali island, the last in a series of tough verdicts against a group of nine young Australians.
- FEBRUARY 15, 2006AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
INDONESIA. INDONESIA DEFENDS DEATH PENALTY AGAINST AUSTRALIANS
Indonesia said the death penalty rendered on two Australian drug mules was taken under the country's judiciary system that others must respect.
- FEBRUARY 15, 2006AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
AUSTRALIA. DOWNER CONFIDENT OF SAVING BALI NINE
Australia remains confident Indonesia will grant clemency to two members of the Bali Nine sentenced to death, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said.
- FEBRUARY 15, 2006AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
AUSTRALIA. PM WARNS AGAINST BALI NINE CLEMENCY HOPE
Australian Prime Minister John Howard said his close relations with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono would not necessarily give the Bali Nine ringleaders an easy route out of death row.
- FEBRUARY 14, 2006AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
INDONESIA. TWO AUSTRALIANS SENTENCED TO DEATH IN BALI DRUGS TRIAL
an Indonesian court sentenced two young Australian men to die by firing squad for attempting to smuggle heroin from the resort island of Bali, verdicts that could strain ties with Canberra.
- FEBRUARY 14, 2006AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
AUSTRALIA. AUSTRALIA ASKED INDONESIA TO SPARE BALI NINE DEATH PENALTY – FOREIGN MINISTER
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer told Australia's parliament he wrote to the Indonesian government asking that the death sentence not be imposed on the "Bali Nine" heroin smugglers.
- FEBRUARY 14, 2006AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
AUSTRALIA. HOWARD TO LOBBY OVER DEATH PENALTY
death sentences imposed by an Indonesian court on two Australians found guilty of heroin trafficking triggered a flurry of diplomatic activity in Australia, with Prime Minister John Howard promising to lobby Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
- JANUARY 30, 2006AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
AUSTRALIA. FALUN GONG COMPLAINS AGAINST BAN ON PROTESTS OUTSIDE CHINESE EMBASSY
human rights lawyer Bernard Collaery told the Supreme Court in the Australian Capital Territory that a ban on Falun Gong demonstrations was threatening the right of ordinary Australians to protest against the death penalty.
- JANUARY 26, 2006AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
INDONESIA. DEATH PENALTY SOUGHT FOR BALI NINE 'RINGLEADER'
Prosecutors in Bali asked judges in Denpasar District Court to sentence Australian national Andrew Chan to death if they found him guilty of organising the so-called Bali nine heroin trafficking conspiracy.
- JANUARY 25, 2006AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
AUSTRALIA. UN OFFICIAL URGES MORE ACTION ON DEATH PENALTY
UN official Philip Alston criticised the Australian Federal Government over what he said was its failure to stop the death penalty being imposed against Australians overseas. Alston made the comment as Indonesian prosecutors recommended that at least one
- JANUARY 25, 2006AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
INDONESIA. DEATH SOUGHT FOR ALLEGED ‘BALI 9’ RINGLEADER
Indonesian prosecutors demanded the death sentence for Myuran Sukumaran, a 25 year old Australian accused of organizing the "Bali 9" drug smuggling ring.
- JANUARY 1, 2006AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was formally abolished in Australia in 1985.
The death penalty was formally abolished in Australia in 1985.