May 9: Australia’s First National Parliament (1901)
Prayer Idea
Pray for the people and government of Australia.
History Note
The British established several independent colonies in Australia during the 1700s and 1800s. Each colony had its own system of government, transportation system, postage stamps, and taxes. Australian leaders began working toward creating a federation—one government for all of Australia.
After most voters agreed to a new national government in 1899, a delegation of Australians went to London in 1900 to get support from the British Parliament. Parliament passed and Queen Victoria signed the necessary legislation, and the new Commonwealth of Australia was proclaimed on January 1, 1901. The first federal election was held in March, and the new Australian Parliament met in Melbourne for the first time on May 9. The Australian Parliament originally had a Senate with 36 members and a House of Representatives with 75 members.
On May 9, 1927, the Australian Parliament began meeting in a new Parliament House in Canberra, which had become the capital of Australia. That building is now called Old Parliament House, because Queen Elizabeth II officially opened New Parliament House on May 9, 1988.
Today the country of Australia has six states—New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania—and two internal territories—the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory. Each Australian state elects 12 senators to six-year terms. Each territory elects two senators to three-year terms. There are a total of 76 seats in the Senate.
The House of Representatives has 150 electorates spread among the states and territories based on the number of enrolled voters. Voters elect Representatives to three-year terms. However, the Prime Minister can request that the Governor-General of Australia dissolve the House before the end of the three-year term and call for new elections. This is a common event in Australia.
Parliament House in Canberra, Australia. Photo by Dan Breckwoldt / Shutterstock.com.
Learn More
Watch this video about the Australian Parliament.
Find other resources at Homeschool History.
