Why federation happened

Resource Sheet 2. Resource Sheet 3. What were some of the arguments presented by Tasmanians for and against Federation?

Resource Sheet 4. What happened in the referendums on Federation? Resource Sheet 5. If you had been a Tasmanian voter, would you have been in favour of Federation? Resource Sheet 6. The idea behind Federation was that it would benefit all six colonies, and that there would be a federal defence force able to protect every part of the nation. But, for Federation to become a reality, an Australian Constitution had to be written. The Constitution would explain how the new nation would be governed.

During the s, Premiers and delegates from all Australian colonies came together in special meetings, called conventions, to discuss, debate and draft a Constitution for the Commonwealth of Australia. Once they reached agreement, the Constitution would be put to the people of each colony in a vote, called a referendum. This Act granted permission to the six Australian colonies, which were still then subject to British law, to form their own Commonwealth government in accordance with the Constitution.

The text of the Constitution which was clause 9 of the Act was written by representatives of the six colonies during a series of conventions in the s, and accepted by a referendum in each colony.

Under the Constitution, the reigning British monarch is also the Australian monarch, and therefore Australia's head of state. The Constitution grants the monarch certain governing powers that place them above all other levels of the government. Because of the large distance between Australia and Britain, the monarch is permitted to appoint a Governor-General who can exercise the monarch's powers in their absence. The birth of our nation is often referred to as 'federation'.

This is because the Constitution created a 'federal' system of government. Under a federal system, powers are divided between a central government and several regional governments. In Australia, power was divided between the federal government and the governments of the six colonies, which were renamed 'states' by the Constitution. Specific areas of legislative power were given to the federal government, including taxation, defence, foreign affairs and postal and telecommunications services.

Federation was a remarkable political achievement. Colonies had jostled to protect their interests. New South Wales had competed with Victoria for influence, and the smaller colonies had feared their interests would be ignored by the larger colonies.

But consensus had been reached. The British monarch remained the head of state, but Australia was now largely self-governing, though it retained close ties to Britain and its empire.

Australians remained British citizens until the Nationality and Citizenship Act provided for separate Australian citizenship. The six states felt that they belonged together because they shared not only a continent, but also a British background. Federation achieved an independence of sorts for Australia. However, the desire for independence does not seem to have been the main driver of the Federation movement; it was more a desire for unification.

Exploring Democracy, Museum of Australian Democracy. Federation fact sheet, Australian Electoral Commission. Federation of Australia, National Library of Australia. The National Museum of Australia acknowledges First Australians and recognises their continuous connection to country, community and culture.

Defining Moments Federation. See our classroom resource. Defining Moments: Australian Federation It also called for an Australasian convention where parliamentary representatives from the colonies would develop a constitution which would provide for a federal government and a federal parliament: The opportunity has arisen for the consideration of this great subject and I believe that the time is at hand … when this thing will be done.

Tom Keneally British approval As the colonies were under British rule, Federation would only come about if the British Parliament passed the necessary legislation. Federation as a Defining Moment Federation was a remarkable political achievement. Curriculum subjects. Year levels. In our collection. Commemorative mug for the Federation of Australia in Souvenir china mug printed with 'Rose and Waratah' pattern green decorations, designed by John Slater and John Shorter.

Explore Defining Moments. Eureka Stockade.