Australia Yearbook - 2001

66 Year Book Australia 2001
2.9 GOVERNORS OF THE STATES—June 2000
State
Governor
New South Wales
His Excellency the Honourable Gordon Samuels, AC, QC
Victoria
His Excellency the Honourable Sir James Gobbo, AC, QC
Queensland
His Excellency Major-General Peter Arnison, AO
Western Australia
His Excellency Lieutenant-General John Murray Sanderson, AC, AM
South Australia
His Excellency Sir Eric Neal, AC, CVO
Tasmania
His Excellency the Honourable Sir Guy Green, AC
Source: Department of the Parliamentary Library.
State government
The fact of Australia having a federal system of
government means that significant powers are
held by the State and Territory Governments.
Each State experienced a period of colonial
self-government prior to the achievement of
Federation.
State Governors
The Governor is the representative of the
Sovereign, appointed by the Sovereign on the
advice of the relevant State Premier. The
Governor exercises the executive power of his or
her State on the advice of the Premier. Other
powers and functions are similar to the powers
exercised at the Commonwealth level by the
Governor-General.
In addition, Governors have been invested with
various statutory functions by State Constitutions
and the Commonwealth Australia Act 1986, as
well as under the Acts of the Parliaments of the
States. Governors may administer the prerogative
of mercy by the reprieve or pardon of criminal
offenders, and may remit fines and penalties due
to the Crown in right of their State.
In the performance of his/her functions generally,
the Governor of a State acts on the advice of
Ministers of State for that State.
The Governor also has what are referred to as
‘reserve powers’. These may be used without the
advice of the Premier, but are used only in times
of political uncertainty.
State Parliaments
Five of the six Australian States have a bicameral
Parliament. In Queensland there is a single
house. The lower houses in New South Wales,
Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia are
entitled Legislative Assembly. In South Australia
and Tasmania the term is House of Assembly. The
title of all upper houses is Legislative Council.
The members of the Parliaments of each State are
elected by the residents of that State using either
the alternative vote (preferential voting) or the
single transferable vote variant of proportional
representation.
The state of the parties in each of the State and
Territory Parliaments is set out in table 2.12.
The extent of State legislative powers is defined
by the Commonwealth and State Constitutions,
and includes education, police, public health,
public transport, agriculture, roads and the
overseeing of local government.
State Governments
Each State is governed by a Ministry headed by a
Premier. The State Cabinet, chaired by the
Premier, is the centre of political and
administrative power in each State.
Each State has a formal Opposition, with the
same role as at the Commonwealth level, headed
by an Opposition Leader.
Tables 2.10 and 2.11 set out the State Premiers
and Opposition Leaders.
2.10 PREMIERS, States—June 2000
State
Premier
New South Wales The Hon. R. J. Carr, MP (ALP)
Victoria
The Hon. S.P. Bracks, MP (ALP)
Queensland
The Hon. P. Beattie, MP (ALP)
Western Australia
The Hon. R. Court, MP (LP)
South Australia
The Hon. J.W. Olsen, MP (LP)
Tasmania
The Hon. J.A. Bacon, MP (LP)
Source: Department of the Parliamentary Library.