Explaining Australian Politics
Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, October
2014
Humanities and Social Sciences
Dr David Lovell
Professor of Politics
Head, School of Humanities and Social
Sciences
UNSW Australia
1. INSTITUTIONS
1.1 General
Politics is a creative way of managing conflict
Modern governments affect almost every aspect of people’s
lives
taxes
services
makes the rules
much discussed
Australian institutions have been remarkably stable over
the last 114 years, despite enormous change in
Australia
Most Australians are apathetic about politics, except when
it affects them directly, or when they have to vote
(voting is compulsory)
1.2 Constitution
Identifies the rules of the game; hard to change (needs a
referendum of all Australians)
Purpose is to specify the powers of government (to LIMIT
government)
Stress on providing a framework for individuals pursuing
their goals, and less on collective goals
1.3 Federalism
Territorial division of powers between the central
government and the states
Constitution specifies the powers of the central
government, and leaves the rest to the states
Development of federalism has seen the centralisation of
power
1.4 High Court
Established by the Constitution
A ‘referee’ between central government and the states
Can disallow a law if it does not conform to the
High Court of Australia
1.5 Parliament
2 ‘houses’ (House of Representatives and the Senate)
Controlled by political parties (‘decline of Parliament’?)
Government is formed by the party with the largest number
of ‘seats’ in the Representatives
1.6 Cabinet and Prime Minister
PM is head of government (not head of state)
PM is advised by a Cabinet of senior ministers
Rise of ‘prime ministerial’ government
1.7 ‘Responsible government’
Government accountable to the Parliament (compared with US
Presidential system)
Parliament of Australia
The Senate
Australian Prime Minister
Mr Tony Abbott
Leader of the Opposition
Bill Shorten
2. ISSUES
2.1 Immigration and multiculturalism
The challenge of diversity in a political community
25% of Australians today were born overseas
More than 40% of the population of central Sydney
were born in Asia
What is a ‘typical’ Australian?
Refugees/
Boat people/
’Illegal’ immigrants
Annual migrant intake
150,000
Annual refugee intake
20,000
2.2 An Australian Republic?
Australia is a ‘constitutional monarchy’
head of state is the Governor-General, acting on behalf of the Queen of
Australia
role is almost exclusively symbolic – no real political power
A referendum in 1999 decided that Australia would not become a republic
chiefly because the roles of head of state (‘president’?) and head of
government (Prime Minister) were not clarified
Under what circumstances might this change?
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
2.3 Economy versus environment
2.4 Foreign policy
“Australia in the Asian Century”, 2012
government ‘white paper’: centrepiece of foreign affairs strategy
associated with previous, Labor, government (Rudd-Gillard)
more active engagement with Asia as economic powerhouse of 21
Century
(business; education; exchange; defence; trade; cultural understanding)
Australia as a developed country relying on non-industrial exports
Australia reliant on foreign capital for development
“Defence White Paper”, 2013
currently another under development for release in 2015
strategic shifts:
rise of Asia-Pacific, particularly China as economic and military
power
US ‘re-balance’
operation reductions in Afghanistan, Timor-Leste and Solomon
Islands
Global financial crisis
Australia’s biggest trading partner: China
Australia’s biggest security alliance: USA
Thanks for your attention!
Any questions?