TOWARDS
FEDERATION
VESTED INTERESTS AND
STATES RIGHTS
• “Australia's colonies did not federate in the emotional aftermath of
rebellion or the fires of civil war, nor was there a Declaration of
Independence or “self evident truths”, no Bill of Rights or
Gettysburg Address driving the political process
• Federation - when the six Australian colonies joined together under
a federal system of government - was not achieved with a grand
flourish of independence and nationhood but only after several
national conventions and a series of complex compromises and
referenda.”
HENRY PARKES
• In 1889 a British report suggested that
Australia was in danger from foreign
threats and that the colonies needed a
better defence system. Responding to this
Henry Parkes made his famous “
Tenterfield Oration” calling for
Federation
STEPS TO FEDERATION
•In 1898 and 1899 referenda were held in all colonies.
• It was not until the second referenda that a sufficient
•majority was achieved
The Second Commonwealth Convention was held in 1897
with representatives from all states except Queensland.
The outcome was the successful completion of a Constitution.
•In 1893 a People’s Convention on Federation was held at Corowa.
• Dr John Quick suggested that the decision for
• Federation should be decided by the people, not politicians.
• This became known as the Corowa Resolution.
•In 1891, the first Commonwealth Convention was held in Sydney where
• seven delegates from each colony drafted a constitution.
National
Identity
Transport
&
Tariffs
Arguments
For
Federation
Defence
Need for
Immigration
policy
‘Waltzing Matilda”
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Nationalism: By 1901 the majority of the population was Australian-born and
beginning to feel more attached to their colony or Australia than England or
Ireland, the land of their forefathers. They were also starting to feel inferior to
the British, particularly when they were referred to as ‘colonists’ and wanted to
become an independent country which would be respected in the world.
•
Nationalism: The population felt they were one people, one language
and one culture so should be one country rather than a series of British
colonies. This was reflected in newspapers, art, poetry and songs.
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Transport and communication: Travel was difficult between colonies
because of different rail gauges (NSW standard, Qld narrow and Vic broad
gauge used) so travellers had to change trains at borders. Federation would
provide an opportunity to remedy this problem. Telephone and postal services
would be better run if they were federally based rather than colonially based.
The building of the telegraph line linked all capitals and overseas with almost
instant communication, which led to a greater feeling of unity.
Customs and tariffs: At border crossings, as travellers changed trains, they
were taxed with customs duties on goods being brought in and taxes and tariffs
on goods being transported out. Sometimes they were searched by customs
officers
Trade: As different colonies supported two opposing views on trade
(protection or free trade), it made trade between the colonies difficult. A
common policy under a federal government would make interstate trade easier
and more effective, as it would remove colonial rivalry, competition, customs
barriers and trade barriers and would present a united economy to trade with
overseas countries
• Defence: Each colony had its own small
defence force. Federation would mean one
united and, therefore, larger defence force,
and as fear grew about Australia’s isolation,
this became an important issue
• Contract labour and a cheap labour force: Concern about the
indentured Kanaka labour on the Qld cane fields leading to cheap
labour undermining the conditions being fought for by the unions led
to this issue becoming important in the lead-up to Federation. At the
bottom of this argument was the desire for a White Australia for White
Australians.
• Immigration: Each colony had its own immigration policy and these
were not always compatible. NSW and Vic had banned Chinese
immigration but SA had not. A federal government could have one
policy on immigration and thus control the entry of non-white races. At
the bottom of this argument was the desire for a White Australia for
White Australians
“Yellow Trash”
Bulletin Cartoon 1895
Issue of
National
Capital
Fear of
Smaller
Colonies
Public
Apathy
Arguments
Against
Federation
Protection
VS
Free Trade
State
Rivalry
• Distance and size were two issues which arose in
opposition to nationalism, transport and communication. A
united and federated Australia would be larger than the
whole of Europe from Edinburgh to Istanbul. There was no
unified land-based communication system (see problems
with the rail system), and, despite the telegraph, transport
and communication between the colonial capitals relied on
the unreliable sea transport. Western Australia and
Tasmania were particularly concerned about this issue as
they felt the most isolated and, to some extent, ignored.
• Fear of the larger colonies: WA and Tas
also felt that, as the smallest colonies, their
needs and desires would be ignored by the
larger colonies. They already had a colonial
parliament which looked after their interests
so they saw no need to bother with a federal
government that they could not trust to look
after them, as it would be dominated by the
larger colonies
• Defence was also an issue for the antifederalists who feared that the larger states
would take their money but defend only the
heavily populated areas of the east coast
• Protection: The smaller colonies and those colonies with
specialised industries such as Qld (sugar) and WA (the
latest gold discoveries in 1893) were concerned about the
loss of their income from trade in these resources. They
were also worried that the absorption of their benefits
(particularly gold at a time when the NSW and Vic
goldfields were in decline) by the federal government
would take away revenue from the colony.
Free Trade: This was wanted by NSW as it was best for
their agricultural industries to be able to specialise and
trade across all colonies.
• Contract labour: Qld’s whole sugar industry was reliant on the
contract (really slave) labour of the Kanakas or Pacific Islanders, and
the idea of their removal horrified the farmers as there was, to their
mind, no alternative. The colonial government of Qld also realised that
the end of the sugar industry would destroy their economic
independence.
• Trade unions: The unions were generally against Federation, as they
believed that improving working standards and achieving social
legislation was likely to be more effective at a colonial level, colony by
colony, than through a federal government which could be hostile to
their demands.
• The cost of setting up and maintaining a federal system was an issue
for all the colonies to be concerned about and is still not resolved today
HOW AND WHY DID
FEDERATION OCCUR?
• Despite the differences between the colonies the
unifying factors proved stronger. A growing feeling of “
being Australian “, fears of external threats, and a
desire for a common Immigration policy ( a White
Australia ) became paramount by 1900
• As early as 1849 there had been talk of Federation.
Through the efforts of pressure groups, politicians and
significant individuals , organizing conventions to
discuss the issues, Federations came to be a reality.
Pressure Groups
• Australian Natives Association was formed
in the 1870’s with the help of politicians
like Henry Parkes, Alfred Deakin and
Edmund Barton.
Politicians & Individuals
Members of the Federal Conference1890
Sir Henry Parkes;
“Father of Federation”
•
Parkes pursued with enthusiasm his dream of a united Australia, resulting in the intercolonial conference in Melbourne in 1890. In setting forth the issues to be addressed,
such as tariffs, trade and defence, in 1891 Parkes introduced conciliation and
arbitration legislation-the first in the Australian colonies. Parkes made a most
significant contribution to Federation. He presided over the first Federal convention
held in Sydney in 1891. The draft constitution of this convention provided the basis
for the next 10 years of discussion and negotiation between the Colonies. Ill health
forced him to retire from proceedings
• “One people with one destiny..when we shall be bound together by that
crimson thread of kinship..”
•
Extract from the Tenterfield Oration
Opening of the First Australian
Parliament in 1901
The First Ministry 1901
Oxford Street decorated in
preparation for the Federation
parade
Gates to Centennial Park in
preparation for the Parade
Crowds gathered at the Federal Pavilion in
Centennial Park for the swearing in of the First
Australian Governor General
Features of the Constitution
3 arms, 3 levels
• It drew on elements from the United States
Constitution, the British-based Canadian
Constitution (the British North America Act)
and the colonies’ own constitutions.
• There was to be a separation of powers—
the Executive, the Legislative, the Judiciary
Structure
• To solve the problem of the smaller states being
overwhelmed by the larger states there would be:
• an Upper House (the Senate) which had equal
representation from the states regardless of their
size
• a Lower House (the House of Representatives) to
represent the people on the basis of one
representative for every 30 000 citizens
Provisions
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The states and their constitutions would continue to exist, individually and separately.
The federal government would be given specific powers over specified areas of government and
administration (39 areas are listed in Section 51 of the Constitution).
These were generally the areas which affected the whole of Australia, such as defence, taxation,
trade, communication, immigration and foreign affairs.
The political party or coalition of parties with the majority of members in the Lower House would
form the government.
The remaining members would constitute the Opposition.
The governor-general (part of the Executive when combined with the prime minister) would be the
head of state.
Australia is a constitutional monarchy and the official head of state is the Queen of Australia,
Elizabeth II of Great Britain.
In her absence the governor-general carries out her duties on her behalf. His powers are defined by
the Constitution.
The prime minister (the Executive when combined with the governor-general) is not mentioned in the
Constitution although it was always intended that the leader of the majority party/parties in the House
of Representatives would be the head of government, as is the situation in the Westminster or British
system of government.
The prime minister selects a cabinet or group of ministers to advise him.
Each minister is in charge of a government department.
The High Court (the Judiciary) is the highest court in the land.
The High Court interprets the constitution and resolves disputes about its meaning.
It also settles disputes between state governments and the federal government.
It may also reject a law passed by the federal parliament if it decides that the law is contrary to the
Constitution
Separation of Powers
LOCAL
local roads
parking
street lighting
parks
sports ovals
rubbish collection
public swimming pools
public beaches
bus shelters
local building permits
local sub-developments
baby health centres
STATE
state roads
railways
toll ways
freeways
electricity
gas
water
pre-school education
primary education
secondary education
state taxation
land sales
large-scale developments of industry and
commerce
hospitals
retirement villages
nursing homes
police
Aboriginal welfare
FEDERAL
federal roads
aviation
shipping
trade
foreign affairs
immigration
defence
telephony
postal services
tertiary education
federal taxation—customs and duties
income tax
company tax
monetary policies
the mint (production of money)
Aboriginal welfare
Medicare
medicines (PBS
Changing the Constitution
• This can only be done by a referendum
where a majority of voters in a majority of
states must agree to the change for it to be
carried out.
• Only a few of the 41 Referendum proposals
have been agreed to by the voters.