I.

AUSTRALIA'S POLITICAL SYSTEM

There are many different political systems in the world. The Constitution is the
highest legal document of each country that stipulates the type of regime or political
institution of that country. Australia's political system is built on the liberal democratic
tradition, which emphasizes religious tolerance as well as freedom of expression and
association. Its institutions and procedures are based on British and North American
models, but they are totally unique to Australia. The Commonwealth of Australia was
founded on Federation Day, January 1, 1901, when six former British colonies, known
commonly as the Australian States, agreed to form a union. The Australian
Constitution, which went into effect on January 1, 1901, establishes the basis for
Australia's political system.
Leadership in Australia is governed by three interrelated forces:
● Legislative: Federal Parliament
● Executive: Executive Council (Governor, Prime Minister and Ministers)
● Judiciary: Supreme Court of Australia and Federal Courts

Australia’s Political System

(Source: https://www.abc.net.au/ra/federasi/tema1/aus_pol_chart_e.pdf)
 ● THE CONSTITUTION
The Constitution of Australia originates from two traditions of bourgeois
democracy in Britain and the United States, according to which state power is divided
into three powers: legislative, executive and judiciary.
The Constitution of Australia is the supreme law, while the other laws are of
lesser value, which is the difference with the Constitution of England or Switzerland
because the Constitution of this country is always changing, so the relations All other
matters related to the Constitution are subject to the interpretation of the Supreme
Court.
The Constitution of Australia can only be changed when both houses of
Parliament approve to hold a referendum and obtain the consent of the majority of the
electorate as well as the approval of standard of most states (4/6 states).

● AUSTRALIA’S CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY

The Commonwealth of Australia is a constitutional monarchy. This refers to a

country with a queen or king as its head of state, whose powers are constrained by the
Constitution. Queen Elizabeth II is Australia's head of state. Despite the fact that she is
also Queen of the United Kingdom, the two roles are now legally and constitutionally
distinct.

In reality, the Queen has no influence and is only a figurehead in the Australian
policy system. The Queen is formally represented in Australia by a Governor General
whom she selects on a nomination from the Prime Minister of Australia. The Queen
does not play a role in the Governor General's daily responsibilities.

● THE GOVERNOR GENERAL AND STATE GOVERNORS

While recognized as the Queen's representative, the Governor General is not

subject to the Queen's or the British Government's direction, oversight, or veto.

According to the Constitution, the Governor-powers General's and duties include

calling, proroguing, and dissolving Parliament, assenting to Bills, appointing
Ministers, establishing Departments of State, and appointing judges.

By convention, however, the Governor-General acts exclusively on the advise of

Ministers in almost all affairs, and the nominee to the post is chosen on the advice of
the Government. The six state governors serve comparable functions in their
respective states.

● THE COMMONWEALTH OR NATIONAL GOVERNMENT

The House of Representatives (Lower House) and the Senate are the two
chambers of the National Parliament (Upper House). Trade, taxation, immigration,
citizenship, social security, labor relations, and international affairs are all under their
authority. Before becoming law, legislation must be approved by both chambers of
Parliament.

The majority of legislation is initiated by the House of Representatives. It now

has 148 members, each of whom represents approximately 80,000 votes. The
Government is formed by the political party or parties with the most seats in the
House of Representatives.

The Senate is sometimes known as the “house of review”.' Proposed legislation is

usually evaluated clause by clause and referred to committees. One of the Senate's
first responsibilities was to ensure that all states were treated equally. As a result, each
state elects 12 senators, and each territory elects two senators.

● STATE AND TERRITORY GOVERNMENT

State and Territory Governments are in charge of authorities that are not
governed by the Commonwealth Government. Every State and Territory has its own
Parliament and its own Constitution Act (which it can modify), but they are also
bound by the national constitution.

Except for Queensland, all members of parliament are bicameral, having an

Upper and Lower House. Each Territory's Parliament has only one House.

State and Territory administrations are in charge of issues such as public health,
education, infrastructure, publicly owned use, security, fire, and emergency services,
and local authority within their respective states or territories.

● LOCAL GOVERNMENT
In Australia, there are roughly 900 local government entities. Local government
powers differ from State to State and are the competence of state governments. Some
local governments run transportation and energy businesses. Most levy taxes and
receive money from higher levels of government. Town planning, building code
enforcement, local roads, water, sewerage, and drainage, waste and sanitary services,
and community recreational facilities are typical duties of local authorities.

● RELATIONS BETWEEN LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT

In several areas where states and territories are formally responsible, including as
education, transportation, healthcare, and enforcement agencies, the Commonwealth
and state governments work together.
Income tax is levied at the federal level, and disputes between the levels of
government over access to wealth are a recurring element of Australian politics.
● BRITISH AND AMERICAN FEATURES IN THE AUSTRALIAN
POLITICAL SYSTEM
➢ State form according to the Westminster model
 In terms of state form, like in Britain, the Australian government follows a
constitutional monarchy. Parliament consists of: the Queen (represented by the
Governor General), the Senate and the House of Commons. The Governor-General
appointed by the Queen is the Queen's representative to the Commonwealth of
Nations, with powers at the behest of the Queen, within the limits of the powers the
Constitution confers upon the Queen. However, the role of the Governor-General is
only a formality, and the real power is in the hands of the Prime Minister.
In addition, the mechanism of government formation by members of the majority
party in the Parliament is also a feature of the Westminster model when the executive
and legislative branches are not as separate as the US presidential system. However,
the fact that the Senate represents the states and territories while the House of
Representatives represents the constituencies divided by population. This structure is
said to be modeled after the US Congress.
➢ American style federalism and decentralization
In the American style, the state is structured, applying federalism -
decentralization - legislative and executive powers are divided among the states. The
local state is organized according to administrative units called decentralized
organizations; while organizing the local state according to the state, called a form of
decentralization, that is, the central state only exercises the right to supervise the
observance of the law by local state agencies, while the jurisdiction of the territories
territory (city-level units, county-level units, etc.) are regulated by the laws of the
states.
Australia consists of 6 states and 2 territories. Australia's local government
organization consists of two levels: state and grassroots. At the state level, the
organizational structure of power is almost a copy of the central state power system.
The Legislative Council (parliament) is the highest authority in the state, headed by
the Governor, whose function is to consider, draft and pass laws related to the state,
elect the state premier. . The Council consists of two houses: the Senate and the House
of Representatives. Delegates of the council are elected directly by the people, for a
term of 3 years (for the House of Representatives), 4 years for the Senate.
Another "American feature" in the Australian political system is the existence of
a strong Senate. Unlike the Senate in Commonwealth countries, which exist only for
the sake of possession, the Australian Senate has a very large role in law-making and
oversight. In particular, the most effective supervisory body in the Australian political
system is the Senate (National and State Senate). In fact, under Australia's electoral
system, Australian voters tend to vote for members of small parties to the Senate and
large parties to the House of Commons. This results in the ruling party not always
having a majority in the Senate. Therefore, the Senate can perform the role of the
House of Supervisors.
II. POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS
● Liberal Party of Australia
The Australian Liberal Party is a major political party in Australia. It was formed
after the 1943 federal elections, replacing the Australian Unity Party in opposition to
the Australian Labor Party in government elections. The Liberal Party collaborated
with the Australian National Party to form the Australian Coalition.
John Howard resigned as Liberal Party leader on November 24, 2007, after the
Liberal Party suffered a crushing defeat in the election. A large number of the party's
delegates were also sacked. Former deputy leader Peter Costello has chosen to
withdraw his name and not run for leader. On November 29, Malcolm Turnbull and
Brendan Nelson ran for this position. Brendan Nelson was chosen as the new leader
with 45 votes , whereas Malcolm Turnbull had 42 votes.
After losing the 2007 Australian Federal Election, the Liberal Party was in
disarray. Brendan Nelson attempted to bolster the Party's ranks, but his efforts
eventually eroded his credibility. Malcolm Turnbull succeeded Brendan Nelson as
leader of the Liberal Party on September 16, 2008.

● Labor Party

The Australian Labor Party is a major political party in Australia. Along with the
Liberal/National Coalition, it is one of the two largest political parties at the federal
and state levels across Australia.

The Labor Party is also Australia's oldest political party and has been in constant
federal politics from the first electoral elections following the foundation of the
Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. Electoral failure In 2013, in Congress and the
federal administration, the party was driven into opposition. Under Bill Shorten's
leadership, the Labor Party has gained at least 69 parliamentary seats since the 2016
election.

● Australian National Party

The Country Party, which originally represented rural voters, was renamed the
National Country Party in 1975 and subsequently the National Party in 1982. In a
conflict with the Labor Party, they formed the Coalition group with the Liberal Party.
The National Party had little influence in the inter-party bloc in New South Wales and
Victoria at the federal level, but it was a dominant force in Queensland from 1957
until 1989.

The term The Nationals was taken up by the 2003 electoral campaign, while the
official name remained Australia's National Party. The name was usually dubbed The
Nationals. The National Party leader is the adjoining leader of the Coalition according
to Coalition protocol. Warren Truss is now in existence.

III. OPPORTUNITIES AND RISKS

1. OPPORTUNITIES
● Democratic freedom

Australian society is a society founded on the tradition of liberal democracy, in

which the basic rights of each individual are inviolable. At a time of global tensions
and growing uncertainty, Australia remains steadfast as a model of a nation that is
inclusive, equitable, dynamic, and celebrating diversity. In an age when many are
worried about the rise of terrorism and extremism, there is no better time than now to
reaffirm the unwavering commitment to democracy, opportunity and common value.
The Australian Government is committed to the security of the country and the
freedom of people. In its manifesto Multicultural Australia – Solidarity, Strength,
Success, the Government has identified the values that have helped people succeed in
the past and will help them thrive in the future.

● Benefits of multi-party

The multi-party system allows for more diverse viewpoints in parliament, which
bodes good for the country. The establishment of numerous political parties allows for
more people to represent the public in parliament.

Another benefit of a one-party system is that it eliminates the possibility of a

dictator. In a multi-party democracy, no single party is powerful enough to foster the
rise of a dictator. They're all competing for the electorate's faith.
 Every political party's ideology serves as the backbone, highlighting the goals
that the party aspires to attain. A multi-party system enables for a variety of beliefs to
coexist. As a result, the people can vote for any political party that meets their needs
and wants.

● US, UK and Australia establish trilateral security partnership

The United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia have had close and trusted
relationships for many years. The fact that Washington, London, and Canberra have
agreed to build AUKUS is the culmination of months of deliberations between the
three nations' leaders and military commanders. With the establishment of a trilateral
security partnership in the Indo-Pacific, known as AUKUS, the US and UK will
provide Australia with the technology and the ability to deploy nuclear-powered
submarines. .

2. RISKS
● Global crime

The strains that globalisation places on national borders are said to be particularly
acute in a country with a high quality of life, a wide territory, and a tiny population,
such as Australia. Economic richness and opportunity, as well as political stability,
have made Australia an appealing destination for people with lower living standards.
The high standard of living in Australia also creates a profitable market for illicit
commodities such as drugs.

For its limited population and enormous geography, Australia has vast swaths of
uninhabited territory. As improvements in the global networks of crime organizations
involved in people and drug smuggling make inaccessible places more accessible, this
circumstance may appear to facilitate the arrival of unauthorised personnel. These
conditions also facilitate the smuggling of wild wildlife and ancient treasures out of
Australia.

● Treaties
 Given concerns that Australia's signing and ratification of treaties usurps national
sovereignty, one might respond by reminding critics that it is national governments
that participate in the treaties. Thus, treaty-making constitutes an enforcement rather
than a decline of sovereignty. The same goes for entering into international treaties
and institutions that prescribe desirable domestic political conditions as well as with
treaties and institutions that dictate desirable domestic economic policy such as the
WTO.

● A danger to National border integrity

It is undeniable that the emergence of global criminal networks poses a danger to

the Australian government's ability to enforce its national boundaries. However,
Australia suffers from a lack of a huge country like the United States to patrol its
borders.

The problem of global crime, like the problems posed to governments by

economic globalisation, has been addressed by Australian security forces through
collaboration with other national security authorities. National security services have
altered their approach to securing national boundaries. Rather than spending resources
unilaterally to police borders against outer dangers, governments are increasingly
opting to fund local education and policing programs in the nations where undesired
people, goods, and information originate.

● Inadequacies in multi-party government

In most cases, a multi-party system wastes government resources. Much-needed

human and material resources are diverted away from the critical goal of national
development and towards fruitless political rivalry.

A multi-party system frequently results in political strife and disagreement

among citizens. Opposition leaders are oppressed, suppressed, and detained as a result
of these unhealthy rivalries. It has also been even said the multi-party government
rewards corruption among parliamentarians during the passage of bills. In a multi-
party democracy, the inability of the ruling party to win a clear majority in parliament
allows for bribery and corruption to enact legislation.

In addition, it may lead to Political Instability: Unhealthy rivalry, frequent

political realignment, and coalition politics make a country's government weak and
unstable. It can also harm the government's worldwide reputation and lower the
country's esteem.

● Australia-China tension

Since 2018, when Australia became the first country to publicly prohibit Chinese
tech giant Huawei from establishing 5G networks in the country, the bilateral
relationship between China and Australia has been strained. In 2020, Australia
requested for an international investigation into the origins of the COVID-19
epidemic, which started in the Chinese city of Wuhan and stoked tensions between the
two countries.

Despite the fact that China is Australia's largest commercial partner, political ties
between the two countries are at an all-time low. The decision to halt the economic
discussion mechanism indicates that China is preparing for a new round of battle with
Australia, in which concessions will be difficult to come by.

REF:

https://www.abc.net.au/ra/federasi/tema1/aus_pol_chart_e.pdf

https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary
_Library/pubs/rp/rp0001/01RP27

https://www.qdnd.vn/quoc-te/doi-song/my-anh-va-australia-thiet-lap-quan-he-doi-tac-
an-ninh-3-ben-671478

https://bscholarly.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-multi-party-system/