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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 OppositionThe Liberal Party of Australia 55 seats
The Nationals 10 seats
Independents 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)
