PRESENTATION TOPIC
“Australian Politics: Structures, historical and
current trends”
Wayne Muller
Griffith University
2nd July 2008
Presentation Structure
• (1) Introductory Points
• (2) Key Attributes of the Australian Political
System
• (3) Current Trends in Australian Politics
(1) Introductory Points
• Australia and the USA as two of the world’s
“functioning democracies”.
• Concept of many forms of democracy, and the
idealistic rhetoric of “democracy” contrasted
with the harsh realities and pragmatism of
“politics”.
• Australia’s political system is unique but at the
same time is highly derivative.
Introductory Points
• Australia as a “Washminster” system- aspects
of the British and American systems. Eg
Cabinet and Prime Minister derived from
Westminster; Senate with a set number of
members from each state derived from
Washington.
• The American system evolved from a War of
Independence whereas the Australian system
was negotiated with “mother England”.
Introductory Points
• The interrelationship between politics
and religion is limited in Australia
because of our highly secular society.
• The muted nature of nationalism,
patriotism and active political
engagement in Australia. (Sport as the
exception?)- Flag, anthem, Australia Day
-> Reasons.
Introductory Points
• Both America and Australia were created out of a “new
vision” in reaction to the “old world”. The USA placed
emphasis on the freedoms, rights and opportunities of
the individual and Australia placed a strong emphasis
on collective well being (“mateship”, “a working man’s
paradise”, etc)- maybe the latter is in decline.
• Common terminology of Australian and American
systems- BUT some terms are used very differently-Eg
“Liberal”, “Governor”, “Supreme Court”.
(2) Key Attributes of the Australian
Political System
• (1) A “Constitutional Monarchy”
• The Monarchy:
– The “strange” reality
– The “Head of State”- The Monarch and the Governor General
and Governors
– Towards a Republic? The 1999 referendum
• The Constitution:
–
–
–
–
–
A written document based upon “colonial compromise”.
Change by referendum only- Rules for successful referenda
Only 8 referenda ever successful
The Constitution and the High Court
Contains no Bill of Rights
Key Attributes of the Australian Political
System
• (2) A Federal System of Government
–
–
–
–
Similar to the USA
The 1890s and the issues and the process
Three levels of government- national, state and local
Levels of responsibility- Section 51 of the
Constitution versus political realities
– Challenges of the federal system: Eg party politics,
duplication and overlap of roles, and “buck passing”
– Tensions between centralisation and
decentralisation- questions of “states rights” versus
national government “power of the purse”.
The Seat of Power?
Key Attributes of the Australian Political
System
• (3) A “Representative Democracy”
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Bicameral (except for Queensland)
House of Representatives/ Senate (National)
Legislative Assembly/ Legislative Council (States)
Single member electorates for lower houses (except
Tasmanian state lower house)
Proportional representation in the Senate
Cabinet Government/ Prime Ministerial
Responsibility
The executive government
Cabinet secrecy and cabinet solidarity
Key Attributes of the Australian Political
System
• (4) The Electoral Process
– The political parties- Liberal, National, Aust Labor
Party, Democrats, Greens, etc.
– Voting is by secret ballot and compulsory
– Reasons for, and debates over compulsory voting
– Variable term parliaments (nominally 3 or 4 or 6
years)- fixed terms in some states.
– Principle of “The separation of powers”: legislative/
executive/ judicial/ monitorial
House of Representatives 2008
• The Government (ALP)
83 seats
• The Coalition Opposition
The Liberal Party of Australia
The Nationals
Independents
55 seats
10 seats
2 seats
Senate in Previous Parliament
Composition of the Senate from 1st July 208
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Australian Labor Party
32
Liberal Party
32
National Party
5
Australian Greens
5
Family First
1
Independent (N Xenophon) 1
TOTAL
76
Key Attributes of the Australian Political
System
– Preferential voting system (compulsory/
optional)
– Complexities of, and debates over the
preferential system
(3) Current Trends in Australian Politics
• (1) Diminishing roles of government- both scope and
funding
• (2) The privatisation agenda
• (3) The “retreat from welfare”- mutual obligation
• (4) Economic policy ascendant over social policy- the
rise of the “aspirational voter”
• (5) Industrial relations and workforce “reform”“Workchoices”- currently being dismantled
• (6) Reform of the tax system- Income Tax cuts and the
politics of the GST.
(3) Current Trends in Australian Politics
• (7) The role of interest groups and lobby groups
• (8) The future of the National Health Scheme
“Medicare”
• (9)The aging population and a national superannuation
scheme
• (10) Centrist trends in the relative roles of the Federal
and State governments ***
• (11) Foreign policy- especially links to the USA
(military and economic) and economic engagement
with Asia.
• (12) Immigration/ refugees/ border protection/
terrorism- Eg “The Pacific Solution”
(3) Current Trends in Australian Politics
• Some recent Federal elections:
– 1996- The end of 13 years of continuous Labor Government
(Coalition Government)
– 1999- The “GST” election (Coalition Government)
– 2001- The “Terrorism and refugees” election
(Coalition Government)
– 2004- The “Economic management and interest rates” election
(Coalition Government)
– Nov 2007 The “Industrial Relations” election (Labor
Government)