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Australian states and territories
Category	States (6) Internal territories (3) External territories (7)
Location	Commonwealth of Australia
Populations	0 (Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Heard and McDonald Islands) – 7,704,300 (NSW)
Areas	10 km2 (3.9 sq mi) (Coral Sea Islands) – 5,896,500 km2 (2,276,700 sq mi) (Australian Antarctic Territory)
Subdivisions	Local government areas Cadastral divisions

The states and territories are the first-level administrative divisions of the Commonwealth of Australia. They are the second level of government in Australia, located between the federal and local government tiers.

The country comprises six states: New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania. They retain a degree of sovereignty, being the successors of the previous Australian colonies. The states each have their own parliaments, able to legislate over certain residual and concurrent power areas.

Two of the three internal territories, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), function in reality as states themselves. The ACT and Northern Territory each possess their own level of self-government through their respective legislative assemblies, but instead derive their power from the Commonwealth, theoretically revocable at any time. The third internal territory, the Jervis Bay Territory, is a territory in its own right and is the product of Australia's complex relationship with its capital city. Rather than having the same level of autonomy as the states and the two other internal territories, Jervis Bay instead has services provided by arrangement from New South Wales and the ACT.

Australia also consists of seven external territories. These do not comprise the Australia proper, but are nevertheless under Australian sovereignty. Only three of the external territories have a permanent population, and as a result, they are all directly administered by the federal Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities (or the Department of the Environment and Energy in the case of the Australian Antarctic Territory). Norfolk Island was partially self-governing, until this was revoked in 2015.

Geographic Australia

The term geographic Australia is used by the Australian government to describe the area covered by demographic statistics such as national population figures. This area comprises Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands in addition to the six states and three mainland territories; Norfolk Island is the only territory with a permanent population that is not part of geographic Australia.^[1]

States, territories, and external territories

Reference map for states and territories of Australia

States and territories of Australia^{[n 1]}

Flag	State/territory name	Abbrev	ISO[2]	Postal	Type	Capital (or largest settlement)	Population[3][4]	Area (km²)[5]
	New South Wales	NSW	AU-NSW	NSW	State	Sydney	7006795590000000000♠7,955,900	800,628
	Queensland	Qld	AU-QLD	QLD	State	Brisbane	7006482700000000000♠4,827,000	1,723,936
	South Australia	SA	AU-SA	SA	State	Adelaide	7006170650000000000♠1,706,500	978,810
	Tasmania	Tas	AU-TAS	TAS	State	Hobart	7005518500000000000♠518,500	64,519
	Victoria	Vic	AU-VIC	VIC	State	Melbourne	7006643000000000000♠6,430,000	227,010
	Western Australia	WA	AU-WA	WA	State	Perth[n 2]	7006261370000000000♠2,613,700	2,526,786
	Australian Capital Territory	ACT	AU-ACT	ACT	Territory	Canberra	7005397397000000000♠397,397	2,280
[n 3]	Jervis Bay Territory	JBT		JBT	Territory	(Jervis Bay Village)	7002391000000000000♠391	72
	Northern Territory	NT	AU-NT	NT	Territory	Darwin	7005244000000000000♠244,000	1,335,742
[n 3]	Ashmore and Cartier Islands				External	(Offshore anchorage)	5000000000000000000♠0	199
[n 3]	Australian Antarctic Territory	AAT	AQ[n 4]		External	Davis Station	7002120000000000000♠120[n 5]	5,896,500
	Christmas Island		CX		External[n 6]	Flying Fish Cove	7003207200000000000♠2,072	135
	Cocos (Keeling) Islands		CC		External[n 6]	West Island/Pulu Panjang	7002596000000000000♠596	14
[n 3]	Coral Sea Islands				External	(Willis Island)	7000400000000000000♠4[n 7]	10
[n 3]	Heard Island and McDonald Islands	HIMI	HM		External	(Atlas Cove)	5000000000000000000♠0	372
	Norfolk Island		NF		External[n 6]	Kingston	7003230200000000000♠2,302	35

All states, (internal) territories and the external territory of Coral Sea Islands were part of Australia at federation and are constitutionally part of the Commonwealth. Northern Territory was part of South Australia, Australian Capital Territory and Jervis Bay Territory were part of New South Wales, and Coral Sea Islands was part of Queensland. Ashmore and Cartier Islands was accepted by Australia in 1934^[6] and annexed to Northern Territory prior to the adoption of the Statute of Westminster in 1942 and, as such, is deemed to form part of Australia proper.

Cocos (Keeling) Islands voted for integration in 1984. Together with Christmas Island, Commonwealth laws apply automatically to the territory unless expressly stated otherwise^[7] and residents of both external territories are associated with Northern Territory for federal elections. They are, thus, constitutionally part of Australia.

Uninhabited Heard and McDonald Island is treated as constitutionally part of Australia by the central government.^[8]

The constitutional status of the Australian Antarctic Territory is unclear, with successive governments treating it either as a separate territory (as in the United Kingdom and Norway) or an integral part of the country (as in New Zealand and France). As of 2018^[update], the present government appears to take the view that it is not constitutionally part of Australia.^[9]

Norfolk Island's status is controversial, with the present (as of 2018^[update]) government taking measures to integrate the territory into Australia proper (including representation in parliament and compulsory voting). The Norfolk Islanders have not formally consented to this change in constitutional status and assert that they are not Australian.^[10]

Defunct territories

Three territories established by the federal government under section 122 of the Constitution of Australia no longer exist:

• 
  Central Australia (1926–1931), consisting of the area of the current Northern Territory south of the 20th parallel south^[11]


• 
  North Australia (1926–1931), consisting of the area of the current Northern Territory north of the 20th parallel south^[11]


• 
  Territory of Papua (1905–1975)

Additionally, two other areas were administered by Australia as de facto external territories.

• 
  Territory of Nauru (1920–1968)


• 
  Territory of New Guinea (1920–1975)

Both New Guinea and Nauru were originally German territories, but were occupied by Australian forces during World War I and subsequently made League of Nations mandates. They later became United Nations trust territories. The Papua and New Guinea Act 1949 placed the Territory of New Guinea in an "administrative union" with the Territory of Papua. The Territory of Papua and New Guinea was eventually given independence as Papua New Guinea in 1975. Nauru was granted independence in 1968.

Background and overview

The states originated as separate British colonies prior to Federation in 1901. The Colony of New South Wales was founded in 1788 and originally comprised much of the Australian mainland, as well as Lord Howe Island, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, and Van Diemen's Land, in addition to the area currently referred to as the state of New South Wales. During the 19th century, large areas were successively separated to form the Colony of Tasmania (initially established as a separate colony named Van Diemen's Land in 1825), the Colony of Western Australia (initially established as the smaller Swan River Colony in 1829), the Province of South Australia (1836), the Colony of New Zealand (1840),^[12] the Victoria Colony (1851) and the Colony of Queensland (1859). Upon Federation, the six colonies of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania became the founding states of the new Commonwealth of Australia.

Legislative powers of the states are protected by the Australian constitution, section 107, and under the principle of federalism, Commonwealth legislation only applies to the states where permitted by the constitution. The territories, by contrast, are from a constitutional perspective directly subject to the Commonwealth Government; laws for territories are determined by the Australian Parliament.^[13]

Most of the territories are directly administered by the Commonwealth Government, while two (the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory) have some degree of self-government although less than that of the states. In the self-governing territories, the Australian Parliament retains the full power to legislate, and can override laws made by the territorial institutions, which it has done on rare occasions. For the purposes of Australian (and joint Australia-New Zealand) intergovernmental bodies, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory are treated as if they were states.

Each state has a governor, appointed by the Queen, which by convention she does on the advice of the state Premier. The Administrator of the Northern Territory, by contrast, is appointed by the Governor-General. The Australian Capital Territory has neither a Governor nor an Administrator, but the Governor-General exercises some powers that in other jurisdictions are exercised by the Governor of a state or Administrator of a territory, such as the power to dissolve the Legislative Assembly.

Jervis Bay Territory is the only non-self-governing internal territory. Until 1989, it was administered as if it were a part of the ACT, although it has always been a separate territory. Under the terms of the Jervis Bay Territory Acceptance Act 1915,^[14] the laws of the ACT apply to the Jervis Bay Territory insofar as they are applicable and providing they are not inconsistent with an Ordinance.^[15] Although residents of the Jervis Bay Territory are generally subject to laws made by the ACT Legislative Assembly, they are not represented in the Assembly. They are represented in the Parliament of Australia as part of the Electoral Division of Fraser in the ACT and by the ACT's two Senators. In other respects, the territory is administered directly by the Federal Government through the Territories portfolio.

The external territory of Norfolk Island possessed a degree of self-government from 1979 until 2015.

Each state has a bicameral parliament except Queensland, which abolished its upper house in 1922. The lower house is called the Legislative Assembly, except in South Australia and Tasmania, where it is called the House of Assembly. Tasmania is the only state to use proportional representation for elections to its lower house; all others elect members from single member constituencies, using preferential voting. The upper house is called the Legislative Council and is generally elected from multi-member constituencies using proportional representation. The three self-governing territories, the ACT, the Northern Territory, and Norfolk Island, each have unicameral Legislative Assemblies.

The head of government of each state is called the premier, appointed by the state's Governor. In normal circumstances, the Governor will appoint as premier whoever leads the party or coalition which exercises control of the lower house (in the case of Queensland, the only house) of the state Parliament. However, in times of constitutional crisis, the Governor can appoint someone else as Premier. The head of government of the self-governing internal territories is called the chief minister. The Northern Territory's chief minister, in normal circumstances whoever controls the Legislative Assembly, is appointed by the administrator.

Timeline

• 1788 – British Empire establishes Colony of New South Wales across central and eastern mainland Australia, the island of Tasmania, both islands of New Zealand and Norfolk Island.


• 1803 – The Coral Sea Islands are claimed by New South Wales


• 1825 – The island of Tasmania becomes the independent colony of Van Diemen's Land. New South Wales extends its borders further west in mainland Australia.


• 1829 – British Empire establishes Swan River Colony in western mainland Australia


• 1832 – Swan River Colony is renamed the colony of Western Australia
  


• 1836 - The Colony of South Australia is established


• 1841 – The islands of New Zealand become the independent colony of New Zealand. Much of eastern Antarctica is annexed by Britain as Victoria Land.


• 1844 – New South Wales transfers Norfolk Island to Van Diemen's Land


• 1846 – Northern central and eastern Australia briefly become the independent Colony of North Australia, then are returned to New South Wales.


• 1851 – Southeastern mainland Australia becomes the independent colony of Victoria
  


• 1856 – Van Diemen's Land is renamed the colony of Tasmania. Norfolk Island becomes the independent colony of Norfolk Island, however it is to be administered by the same Governor as New South Wales.


• 1857 – Much of southern central mainland Australia becomes the independent colony of South Australia. The Cocos (Keeling) Islands are annexed by Britain.


• 1859 – Northeastern mainland Australia and Coral Sea Islands become the independent colony of Queensland
  


• 1860 – A pocket of New South Wales territory remaining in southern central mainland Australia is transferred to South Australia


• 1862 – Some of New South Wales' northern central mainland Australian territory is transferred to Queensland


• 1863 – New South Wales' remaining northern central mainland Australian territory is transferred to South Australia


• 1878 – Britain annexes Ashmore Island


• 1883 – Queensland annexes southeastern New Guinea


• 1884 – Southeastern New Guinea becomes the independent Territory of Papua
  


• 1886 – The Cocos (Keeling) Islands are to be administered by the same Governor as the Straits Settlements
  


• 1888 – Christmas Island is annexed by Britain and incorporated into the Straits Settlements


• 1897 – Norfolk Island is officially reintegrated into New South Wales


• 1901 – New South Wales, Tasmania, Western Australia, Victoria and South Australia federate into the Commonwealth of Australia. Queensland transfers the Coral Sea Islands to the federal government, creating a federal external territory.


• 1902 – Britain transfers Papua to Australia as an external territory


• 1903 – The Cocos (Keeling) Islands are incorporated into the Straits Settlements


• 1909 – Britain annexes Cartier Island


• 1910 – Britain claims Heard Island and the McDonald Islands
  


• 1911 – The state of South Australia transfers control of northern central mainland Australia to the federal government, creating the Northern Territory. A small pocket of New South Wales around the city of Canberra is transferred to the federal government (who are seated within it), creating the Federal Capital Territory.


• 1913 – New South Wales transfers Norfolk Island to the federal government, making it a federal external territory


• 1915 – A small pocket of New South Wales around Jervis Bay is transferred to the federal government and incorporated into the Federal Capital Territory


• 1920 – Following the defeat of the German Empire in World War I, the League of Nations establishes an Australian mandate in northeastern New Guinea, it becomes the external Territory of New Guinea
  


• 1923 – Another conquered German territory, the island of Nauru, is established as an Australian mandate and external territory by the League of Nations, this time as a co-mandate with Britain and New Zealand


• 1927 – The Northern Territory is split into two territories – North Australia and Central Australia
  


• 1930 – Remaining territory in eastern Antarctica is annexed by Britain as Enderby Land
  


• 1931 – North Australia and Central Australia are reincorporated as the Northern Territory. Britain recognises Australia as possessors of the uninhabited Ashmore and Cartier Islands, making them an external federal territory.


• 1933 – Britain transfers Victoria Land and Enderby Land to Australia, creating the Australian Antarctic Territory, with ongoing limited international recognition


• 1938 – The Federal Capital Territory is renamed the Australian Capital Territory
  


• 1942 – The Japanese Empire conquers Nauru from Australia, Britain and New Zealand as part of World War II. Japan also conquers much of the Straits Settlements, including Christmas Island. The Cocos (Keeling) Islands are not conquered and are transferred to the Colony of Ceylong.


• 1946 – The United Nations, the successor to the League of Nations, renews its mandate of New Guinea to Australia


• 1947 – Following the defeat of Japan in World War II, the United Nations returns Nauru to Australia, Britain and New Zealand as a joint mandate. Christmas Island returns to Britain and is incorporated into the Colony of Singapore. The Cocos (Keeling) Islands are also transferred to Singapore.


• 1949 – Papua and New Guinea are incorporated into the singular Territory of Papua and New Guinea. Britain transfers Heard Island and the McDonald Islands to Australia, creating a federal external territory.


• 1955 – Britain transfers the Cocos (Keeling) Islands to Australia, they become an external territory


• 1958 – Britain transfers Christmas Island to Australia, it becomes an external territory


• 1966 – The Republic of Nauru is established, ending Australian/British/New Zealander control of the island


• 1975 – Papua and New Guinea becomes the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, ending British/Australian control


• 1978 – Northern Territory gains self-government with certain Commonwealth control.


• 1989 – Jervis Bay becomes independent of the ACT, becoming the Jervis Bay Territory
  


• 1993 – Australian Capital Territory gains self-government with certain Commonwealth control.


• 2015 – Norfolk Island loses self-government with full Commonwealth control.

Comparative terminology

Governors and administrators of states and territories

Premiers and chief ministers of states and territories

State and territorial parliaments

• Parliament of New South Wales


• Parliament of Queensland


• Parliament of South Australia


• Parliament of Tasmania


• Parliament of Victoria


• Parliament of Western Australia


• Northern Territory Legislative Assembly


• Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly

State and territory supreme courts

• Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory


• Supreme Court of New South Wales


• Supreme Court of the Northern Territory


• Supreme Court of Queensland


• Supreme Court of South Australia


• Supreme Court of Tasmania


• Supreme Court of Victoria


• Supreme Court of Western Australia


• Supreme Court of Norfolk Island

State and territory police forces

• 
  Australian Capital Territory Police (performed by Australian Federal Police)


• New South Wales Police


• Northern Territory Police


• Queensland Police


• South Australia Police


• Tasmania Police


• Victoria Police


• Western Australia Police

State and territory borders

• Australian Capital Territory border


• New South Wales borders


• Northern Territory borders


• Queensland borders


• South Australian borders


• Tasmanian borders


• Victorian borders


• Western Australia border

Statistics

State / territory	Abbreviation	Land area[5][16]			Population (2016 census)		Population density			% of population in capital		Notes
		km2	sq mi	Rank	Number	Rank	/km2	/sq mi	Rank	%	Rank
Australian Capital Territory	ACT	2,280	880	7000800000000000000♠8	7005395200000000000♠395,200	7000700000000000000♠7	167.6	434	7000100000000000000♠1	99.6%	7000100000000000000♠1	[17]
New South Wales	NSW	800,628	309,124	7000500000000000000♠5	7006770430000000000♠7,704,300	7000100000000000000♠1	9.62	24.9	7000300000000000000♠3	63.0%	7000500000000000000♠5	[18]
Northern Territory	NT	1,335,742	515,733	7000300000000000000♠3	7005244000000000000♠244,000	7000800000000000000♠8	0.18	0.47	7000800000000000000♠8	54.0%	7000600000000000000♠6	[19]
Queensland	QLD	1,723,936	665,615	7000200000000000000♠2	7006482700000000000♠4,827,000	7000300000000000000♠3	2.79	7.2	7000500000000000000♠5	46.0%	7000700000000000000♠7	[20]
South Australia	SA	978,810	377,920	7000400000000000000♠4	7006170650000000000♠1,706,500	7000500000000000000♠5	1.74	4.5	7000600000000000000♠6	73.5%	7000200000000000000♠2	[21]
Tasmania	TAS	64,519	24,911	7000700000000000000♠7	7005518500000000000♠518,500	7000600000000000000♠6	7.58	19.6	7000400000000000000♠4	41.0%	7000800000000000000♠8	[22]
Victoria	VIC	227,010	87,650	7000600000000000000♠6	7006603910000000000♠6,039,100	7000200000000000000♠2	26.56	68.8	7000200000000000000♠2	71.0%	7000400000000000000♠4	[23]
Western Australia	WA	2,526,786	975,598	7000100000000000000♠1	7006261370000000000♠2,613,700	7000400000000000000♠4	1.03	2.7	7000700000000000000♠7	73.4%	7000300000000000000♠3	[24]

Distance table

Distance in kilometres from the corresponding city on the X-Y axis.

State and territory codes

See also

• 
  ISO 3166-2:AU, the ISO codes for the states and territories of Australia.


• Australian regional rivalries


• List of Australian demonyms


• List of proposed states of Australia

Notes

References

External links

• Local government in Australia less powerful than in other countries