Au s t r a l i a Governance institutions Commonwealth Governance Handbook 2014/15 135 Government and politics Last elections: 7 September 2013 Next elections: September 2016 Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove (2014–) Head of government: Prime Minister Tony Abbott Ruling party: Liberal–National coalition Women MPs: 26% Prime Minister John Howard’s Liberal–National coalition was comfortably returned for a third consecutive term in November 2001, winning 81 seats (Liberal Party 68, National Party 13) to Labor Party’s 65. In an election dominated by the issue of Asian immigration, the government’s firm action in August 2001 of denying a shipload of Afghan asylum-seekers entry into the country seemed to have proved decisive. The October 2004 election, which had been thought too close to predict, was again won comfortably by the Liberal–National coalition and Howard was returned to government, winning 85 seats (Liberal Party 73, National Party 12) while the Labor Party took 57. Kevin Rudd became the Labor Party leader in December 2006. In November 2007, after a fiercely fought contest, the Labor Party took 84 seats, the Liberal–National coalition 64 and independent candidates two; Rudd became Prime Minister and immediately signalled a significant shift in domestic and foreign policy by ratifying the Kyoto Protocol on climate change. In September 2008 Quentin Bryce was sworn in as Australia’s 25th Governor-General; she was the first woman to hold the post. Prime Minister Rudd experienced a dramatic fall in popularity and, in June 2010, Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard successfully challenged Rudd for the Labor Party leadership and became Prime Minister, the first woman to hold the post. In the early general election in August 2010, neither Labor (winning 72 out of 150 seats in the lower house) nor the Liberal–National coalition, led by Tony Abbott (73 seats), was able to secure a parliamentary majority. The remaining seats were won by the Green Party (one) and independents (four). After several weeks of negotiations with these members, Gillard was successful in winning the support of the Green Party member and three of the independents, giving the Labor Party a narrow overall majority. In June 2013, when polls suggested the Labor Party would lose the election due in September, Rudd outperformed Gillard in a Labor Party leadership election (57:45). On 27 June he was sworn in as Prime Minister. The Labor government was ousted in the federal election of 7 September 2013. The Liberal–National coalition led by Tony Abbott secured 90 seats and the Labor Party 55. The remaining seats were won by the Green Party (one), Katter’s Australian Party (one), Palmer United Party (one) and independents (two). Liberal Party leader Tony Abbott was sworn in as Prime Minister. On 28 March 2014 former Chief of the Australian Defence Force, Sir Peter Cosgrove, was sworn in as Australia’s 26th Governor-General. Local government Ministry: Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport Association: Australian Local Government Association The Commonwealth of Australia is a federation with six states and two territories. Areas of authority of the federal government are defined in the constitution as defence, foreign policy, immigration, customs and excise, and the post office. Other powers (justice, education, health and internal transport) are the responsibility of the state governments. During World War II, a temporary arrangement was made whereby the federal government would collect income tax and refund the states using an agreed formula. This arrangement became permanent, leaving the states financially dependent on the federal government. The federal Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development is responsible for local government. Local government services are delivered by 565 local authorities under the jurisdiction of the relevant state or territory government. Further information Australian, State, Territory and Local Governments: www.gov.au Commonwealth Secretariat: www.thecommonwealth.org Commonwealth Governance: www.commonwealthgovernance.org Attorney-General’s Department: www.ag.gov.au Australian Communications and Media Authority: www.acma.gov.au Australian Electoral Commission: www.aec.gov.au Australian Local Government Association: www.alga.asn.au Australian Prudential Regulation Authority: www.apra.gov.au Australian Securities and Investments Commission: www.asic.gov.au Australian Securities Exchange: www.asx.com.au Commonwealth Ombudsman: www.ombudsman.gov.au Department of Finance: www.finance.gov.au Department of Industry: www.industry.gov.au Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development: www.regional.gov.au Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet: www.dpmc.gov.au Federal Circuit Court of Australia: www.federalcircuitcourt.gov.au High Court of Australia: www.hcourt.gov.au Parliament of Australia: www.aph.gov.au Reserve Bank of Australia: www.rba.gov.au Standards Australia: www.standards.org.au
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