Division of

Power

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 Division of Power

• Division of powers refers to the vesting of powers within

different levels of government.

• Australia has three levels of law-making—often referred to

as the three levels of government— that work together to

provide us with the services we need.

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 Three Levels of Government
In Australia there are 3 levels of government:

1. The federal government

2. State & territory governments

3. Local governments

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 Responsibilities
 The Federal Government – responsible for those things that
affect the whole nation

 State & Territory Governments – responsible for issues that

affect that specific state or territory

 Local Governments – responsible for services in your local

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neighbourhood
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 Australian Constitution

• Section 51 of the Australian Constitution details the powers of the federal

Parliament to make laws in relation to national matters. These laws are

administered—put into action—by the Australian Government.

• Issues not listed in section 51 are the responsibility of state governments.

• Under section 109 of the Constitution, if a state Parliament and the federal

Parliament pass conflicting laws on the same subject, then the federal law overrides
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the state law