View source for States and territories of Australia

{{Short description|Second level of government in Australia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use Australian English|date=October 2013}}
{{Infobox subdivision type
| name = States and territories of Australia
| map = Australia states and territories labelled.svg
| territory = [[Australia]]
| current_number = [[#States and territories|16]] (6 [[#States|states]], 3 [[#Internal territories|internal territories]], and 7 [[#External territories|external territories]])
| population_range = Least populous state:{{bulleted list|[[Tasmania]]<br />541,071}} Most populous state:{{bulleted list|[[New South Wales]] <br />8,166,369}} Least populous territories:{{bulleted list|[[Ashmore and Cartier Islands]]<br />0 (uninhabited)|[[Heard Island and McDonald Islands]]<br />0 (uninhabited)}} Most populous territory:{{bulleted list|[[Australian Capital Territory]]<br />431,215}}
| area_range = Smallest state:{{bulleted list|[[Tasmania]]<br />{{Convert|68,401|km2|abbr=on}}}}Largest state:{{bulleted list|[[Western Australia]]<br />{{Convert|2,527,013|km2|abbr=on}}}}Smallest territory:{{bulleted list|[[Cocos (Keeling) Islands]]<br />{{Convert|14|km2|abbr=on}}}}Largest territories:{{bulleted list|[[Northern Territory]]<br />{{Convert|1,347,791|km2|abbr=on}}|''[[Australian Antarctic Territory]]''{{efn|The ''[[Australian Antarctic Territory]]'' covers nearly 5.9 million square kilometres, about 42% of [[Antarctica]], but this claim is only recognised by [[France]], [[New Zealand]], [[Norway]], and the [[United Kingdom]].<ref>[https://www.mawsons-huts.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Mawson-FactFile06-Antarctic-Territory-and-Treaty.pdf Antarctic Territory claims and The Antarctic Treaty System]</ref> [[Territorial claims in Antarctica|Antarctic territorial claims]] are generally [[Antarctic Treaty System|unrecognised]] by the [[United Nations|international community]].|name="AAT"}}<br />{{Convert|5,896,500|km2|abbr=on}}}}
| subdivision = [[Local government in Australia|Local government areas and unincorporated areas]]
}}

The '''states and territories''' are the national subdivisions and second level of government of [[Australia]].<ref name= "parl" /> The states are partially [[sovereignty|sovereign]], [[administrative division]]s that are [[autonomous administrative division|self-governing]] [[polity|polities]], having ceded some sovereign rights to the [[Australian Government|federal government]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Twomey |first=Anne |author-link=Anne Twomey (academic) |date=January 2008 |title=The States, the Commonwealth and the Crown: The Battle for Sovereignty |url=https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Senate/Powers_practice_n_procedures/pops/pop48/battlesovereignty |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=Parliament of Australia |language=en-AU}}</ref> They have their own [[state constitutions in Australia|constitutions]], [[Parliaments of the Australian states and territories|legislatures]], [[Premiers and chief ministers of the Australian states and territories|executive governments]], [[Judiciary of Australia#State and territory courts and tribunals|judiciaries]] and [[state police#Australia|law enforcement agencies]] that administer and deliver [[public policy|public policies]] and programs. Territories can be [[autonomous administrative division|autonomous]] and administer local policies and programs much like the states in practice, but are still legally subordinate to the federal government.<ref name="diffst">{{Cite web|url=https://peo.gov.au/understand-our-parliament/your-questions-on-notice/questions/whats-the-difference-between-a-territory-and-a-state-parliament#:~:text=The%20main%20difference%20between%20state,not%20have%20their%20own%20constitutions.|title=What's the difference between a territory and a state parliament?|access-date=30 June 2024|publisher=Parliamentary Education Office|language=en}}</ref>

Australia has six [[federated state]]s:  [[New South Wales]] (including [[Lord Howe Island]]), [[Queensland]], [[South Australia]], [[Tasmania]] (including [[Macquarie Island]]), [[Victoria (state)|Victoria]], and [[Western Australia]]. Australia also has ten [[federal territory|federal territories]],<ref name="actsinterpretationact">Section 2B, [[Acts Interpretation Act 1901]]</ref> out of which three are ''internal territories'': the [[Australian Capital Territory]], the [[Jervis Bay Territory]], and the [[Northern Territory]]<ref name="actsinterpretationact" /> on the [[mainland Australia|Australian mainland]]; and seven are ''external territories'': the [[Ashmore and Cartier Islands]], the ''[[Australian Antarctic Territory]]'',{{efn|name="AAT"}} [[Christmas Island]], the [[Cocos (Keeling) Islands]], the [[Coral Sea Islands]], [[Heard Island and McDonald Islands]], and [[Norfolk Island]]<ref name="actsinterpretationact" /> that are offshore [[dependent territory|dependent territories]]. Every state and internal territory (except the Jervis Bay Territory) is [[self-governance|self-governing]] with its own independent [[executive (government)|executive government]], [[legislature]], and [[judiciary|judicial system]], while the rest only have [[local government]] status overseen by [[Australian Government#Departments|federal departments]].<ref name="diffst" /><ref name=":extterr">{{Cite web|url=https://www.alrc.gov.au/publication/legal-risk-in-international-transactions-alrc-report-80/10-external-territories/|title=10. External territories|date=15 July 2010 |access-date=2024-01-04|publisher=Australian Law Reform Commission|language=en}}</ref>

State and territory governments may legislate on matters concerning their citizens, subject to the limits of the [[Constitution of Australia|federal constitution]] (notably [[Section 51 of the Constitution of Australia|section 51]] and [[Section 109 of the Constitution of Australia|section 109]]). Each state and internal territory (except Jervis Bay Territory) has its own [[legislature]], although the [[Parliament of Australia|Federal Parliament]] can override territorial legislation. The federal [[High Court of Australia]] acts as a final [[appellate court|court of appeal]] for all matters, and has the authority to override any state judiciary.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Court System in Western Australia |url=https://www.supremecourt.wa.gov.au/C/court_system_in_western_australia.aspx |access-date=1 July 2024 |website=www.supremecourt.wa.gov.au |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Chapter III. The Judicature. |url=https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Senate/Powers_practice_n_procedures/Constitution/chapter3 |access-date=1 July 2024 |website= |publisher=Parliament of Australia |language=en-AU}}</ref> While all states and internal territories have their own judicial system (subject to appeal to the High Court), most external territories are subject to the judiciary and legislature of either a state or internal territory.<ref name=":extterr" /> Excluding the Heard Island and McDonald Islands and the Australian Antarctic Territory (which are governed by the [[Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water]]), the external territories are governed by the federal [[Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Territories of Australia|url=https://www.regional.gov.au/territories/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209001818/https://www.regional.gov.au/territories/|archive-date=2021-02-09|access-date=2021-01-29|website=Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications}}</ref> [[Norfolk Island Legislative Assembly|Norfolk Island had its own legislature]] from 1979 to 2015.<ref name=norfolk/>

Each state is a successor to a historical [[#Background and overview|British colony]], and each has its own constitution. The [[Australian Capital Territory]] (ACT) and [[Northern Territory]]<ref name= "ntstat" >{{Cite web |date=31 January 2023 |title=Why Isn't the Northern Territory a State? |url=https://www.abc.net.au/btn/high/why-isnt-the-northern-territory-a-state/101943378 |access-date=30 June 2024 |website=www.abc.net.au |language=en-AU}}</ref> for the most part operate indistinguishably from the states (for example, both have representation in the Parliament since 1948 and in the Senate since 1975),<ref>{{Cite web| title=Territory Representation in the Commonwealth Parliament|url= https://www.google.com/urlsa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjYtYfUrPeHAxVEO7kGHYx6D0IQFnoECAoQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.aph.gov.au%2Fabout_parliament%2Fsenate%2Fpowers_practice_n_procedures%2Fpops%2Fpop64%2Fc07&usg=AOvVaw1CJ0wdpYw_ds-LVLlc5Lhl&opi=89978449 |format=PDF| website=aph.gov.au|access-date=15 August 2024}}</ref><ref name=":parlmrep">{{Cite web| title=Representation of Commonwealth Territories in the Senate |url=https://www.aph.gov.au/about_parliament/senate/powers_practice_n_procedures/pops/pop64/c07 |access-date=30 June 2024|website= |publisher=Parliament of Australia |language=en-AU}}</ref> even though they do not have constitutional status as states and territorial legislation can be overridden.

== Geography ==
{{Main|Geography of Australia}}
Surrounded by the [[Indian Ocean|Indian]], [[Pacific Ocean|Pacific]], and [[Southern Ocean|Southern]] oceans, Australia is separated from [[Maritime Southeast Asia]] and [[New Guinea]] by the [[Arafura Sea]], the [[Timor Sea]], and the [[Torres Strait]], from [[Island Melanesia]] by the [[Coral Sea]], and from [[New Zealand]] by the [[Tasman Sea]]. The world's [[Australia (continent)|smallest continent]], Australia is also [[list of countries and dependencies by area|the sixth-largest country by land area]] and sometimes considered [[list of islands by area|the world's largest island]]. Australia has a [[mainland Australia|mainland]] coastline of {{convert|32994|km|mi}}<ref name="gsa">{{cite web|url=http://www.ga.gov.au/scientific-topics/national-location-information/dimensions/border-lengths#heading-1|title=Border Lengths – States and Territories|access-date=18 August 2016|date=2004|work=[[Geoscience Australia]]|publisher=Commonwealth of Australia}}</ref> and claims an [[exclusive economic zone of Australia|exclusive economic zone]] of about {{convert|8200000|sqkm|sqmi}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ga.gov.au/scientific-topics/national-location-information/dimensions/oceans-and-seas |title=Oceans and Seas |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=7 June 2023 |website= Geoscience Australia|publisher=Australian Government |access-date=7 November 2023 |quote=}}</ref>

=== Borders ===
{{Main|Territorial evolution of Australia}}
* [[Australian Capital Territory#Creation of the territory|Australian Capital Territory borders]]
* [[Black–Allan Line|New South Wales borders]]
* [[Northern Territory borders]]
* [[Queensland borders]]
* [[South Australian borders]]
* [[Boundary Islet|Tasmanian borders]]
* [[South Australia–Victoria border dispute|Victorian borders]]
* [[Western Australian borders]]

== States and territories ==
{{anchor|Table}}

{{Australia states imagemap}}

At [[Federation of Australia|Federation]] in 1901, what is now the [[Northern Territory]] was within South Australia, what are now the [[Australian Capital Territory]] and [[Jervis Bay Territory]] were within New South Wales, and the [[Coral Sea Islands]] were part of Queensland. [[Ashmore and Cartier Islands]] was accepted by Australia in 1934<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2008C00341 |title = Ashmore and Cartier Islands Acceptance Act 1933|website = Federal Register of Legislation| date=4 July 2008 }}</ref> and was annexed to the Northern Territory prior to adoption of the [[Statute of Westminster 1931|Statute of Westminster]] in 1942, deemed effective from 1939; it has thus become part of Australia.

===States===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|+ style="text-align:center;background:#BFD7FF" |States of Australia{{efn|Unless provided, references and details on data provided in the table can be found within the individual state and territory articles.}}
|-
! class="unsortable" |[[List of Australian flags#States and territories|Flag]]
! scope="col" width="110" |State
! scope="col" width="030" |Postal
! scope="col" width="030" |[[ISO 3166-2:AU|ISO]]<ref name="ReferenceA">[[ISO 3166-2:AU]] ([[ISO 3166-2]] codes for the states and territories of Australia)</ref>
![[List of Australian capital cities|Capital]]
!Population<br />(June 2024)<ref name="ABSQPOP">{{cite web |url=https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/national-state-and-territory-population/latest-release | title = National, state and territory population | access-date = 17 September 2021 | publisher= [[Australian Bureau of Statistics]] | date = 17 September 2021}}</ref>
!Area (km<sup>2</sup>)<ref name="GAarea">{{cite web|title=Area of Australia – States and Territories|url=http://www.ga.gov.au/scientific-topics/national-location-information/dimensions/area-of-australia-states-and-territories|website=[[Geoscience Australia]]: National Location Information|date=15 May 2014 |access-date=2 November 2016}}</ref>
!Population Density (/km<sup>2</sup>)
!No. members in [[Australian House of Representatives|House of Reps.]]<ref name="Commonwealth Parliament">{{Cite web|url=https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/House_of_Representatives/Powers_practice_and_procedure/Practice7/HTML/Chapter3/Number_of_Members|title=Number of Members|website=Parliament of Australia |language=en-AU|access-date=2020-04-19}}</ref>
![[Governors of the Australian states#Current state governors|Governor]]
! colspan="2" |[[Premiers and Chief Ministers of the Australian states and territories#Current state premiers|Premier]]<br />(Party)
!State Government
|- style="text-align:center"
|{{flagg|pxx|New South Wales|size=100px}}|| style="text-align:left" |'''[[New South Wales]]'''|| NSW || AU-NSW || style="text-align:left" |[[Sydney]]|| style="text-align:right" |{{nts|8511151}}|| style="text-align:right" | 800,150
|10.49
| 47
| style="text-align:left" |[[Margaret Beazley]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Australian Labor Party}}" |
| style="text-align:left" |[[Chris Minns]] ([[New South Wales Labor Party|Labor]])
|[[Government of New South Wales]] 
|- style="text-align:center"
|{{flagg|pxx|Victoria|size=100px}}|| style="text-align:left" |'''[[Victoria (state)|Victoria]]'''|| VIC || AU-VIC || style="text-align:left" |[[Melbourne]]|| style="text-align:right" |{{nts|7012962}}|| style="text-align:right" | 227,416
|30.18
| 38
| style="text-align:left" |[[Margaret Gardner]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Australian Labor Party}}" |
| style="text-align:left" |[[Jacinta Allan]]<br />([[Victorian Labor Party|Labor]])
|[[Victoria State Government|Victorian Government]]
|- style="text-align:center"
|{{flagg|pxx|Queensland|size=100px}}|| style="text-align:left" |'''[[Queensland]]'''|| QLD || AU-QLD || style="text-align:left" |[[Brisbane]]|| style="text-align:right" |{{nts|5608666}}|| style="text-align:right" | 1,729,742
|3.18
| 30
| style="text-align:left" |[[Jeannette Young]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Party of Australia}}" |
| style="text-align:left" |[[David Crisafulli]] ([[Liberal National Party of Queensland|Liberal National]])
|[[Queensland Government]]
|- style="text-align:center"
|{{flagg|pxx|Western Australia|size=100px}}|| style="text-align:left" |'''[[Western Australia]]'''|| WA || AU-WA || style="text-align:left" |[[Perth]]{{efn|Perth was defined as the capital by statute in 2016: [http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/wa/consol_act/copa2016155 City of Perth Act 2016 (WA)] in [[Australasian Legal Information Institute|AustLII]].}}|| style="text-align:right" |{{nts|2981752}}|| style="text-align:right" | 2,527,013
|1.15
| 16
| style="text-align:left" |[[Chris Dawson (governor)|Chris Dawson]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Australian Labor Party}}" |
| style="text-align:left" |[[Roger Cook (politician)|Roger Cook]]<br />([[Western Australian Labor Party|Labor]])
|[[Government of Western Australia]]
|- style="text-align:center"
|{{flagg|pxx|South Australia|size=100px}}|| style="text-align:left" |'''[[South Australia]]'''|| SA || AU-SA || style="text-align:left" |[[Adelaide]]|| style="text-align:right" |{{nts|1882722}}|| style="text-align:right" | 984,321
|1.89
| 10
| style="text-align:left" |[[Frances Adamson]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Australian Labor Party}}" |
| style="text-align:left" |[[Peter Malinauskas]] ([[South Australian Labor Party|Labor]])
|[[Government of South Australia]]
|- style="text-align:center"
|{{flagg|pxx|Tasmania|size=100px}}|| style="text-align:left" |'''[[Tasmania]]'''|| TAS || AU-TAS || style="text-align:left" |[[Hobart]]|| style="text-align:right" |{{nts|575959}}|| style="text-align:right" | 68,401
|8.89
| 5
| style="text-align:left" |[[Barbara Baker]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Party of Australia}}" |
| style="text-align:left" |[[Jeremy Rockliff]]<br />([[South Australian Liberal Party|Liberal]])
|[[Tasmanian Government]]
|}

===Territories===
====Internal territories====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|+ style="text-align:center;background:#BFD7FF" |Internal territories of Australia{{efn|Unless provided, references and details on data provided in the table can be found within the individual state and territory articles.}}
|-
! class="unsortable" |[[List of Australian flags#States and territories|Flag]]
! scope="col" width="110" |Territory
! scope="col" width="030.0" |Postal
! scope="col" width="030" |[[ISO 3166-2:AU|ISO]]<ref name="ReferenceA" />
![[List of Australian capital cities|Capital]]<br />(or ''largest settlement'')
!Population<br />(June 2024)<ref name="ABSQPOP" />
!Area (km<sup>2</sup>)<ref name="GAarea" />
!Population Density (/km<sup>2</sup>)
!No. members in [[Australian House of Representatives|House of Reps.]]<ref name="Commonwealth Parliament" />
![[Governors of the Australian states#Current administrators of the territories|Administrator]]
! colspan="2" |[[Premiers and Chief Ministers of the Australian states and territories#Current chief ministers of the territories|Chief Minister]]<br />(Party)
!Territory Government
|- style="text-align:center"
|{{flagg|pxx|Australian Capital Territory|size=100px}}|| style="text-align:left" |'''[[Australian Capital Territory]]'''|| ACT || AU-ACT || style="text-align:left" |[[Canberra]]|| style="text-align:right" |{{nts|475644}}|| style="text-align:right" | 2,358
|198.97
| 3
| {{n/a|''None''}}
| style="background-color: {{party color|Australian Labor Party}}" |
| style="text-align:left" |[[Andrew Barr]]<br />([[ACT Labor Party|Labor]])
|[[Government of the Australian Capital Territory|ACT Government]]
|- style="text-align:center"
|{{flagg|pxx|Northern Territory|size=100px}}|| style="text-align:left" |'''[[Northern Territory]]'''|| NT || AU-NT || style="text-align:left" |[[Darwin, Northern Territory|Darwin]]|| style="text-align:right" |{{nts|255559}}|| style="text-align:right" | 1,347,791
|0.19
| 2
|[[Hugh Heggie]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Country Liberal Party}}" |
| style="text-align:left" |[[Lia Finocchiaro]]<br />([[Country Liberal Party|Country Liberal]])
|[[Northern Territory Government]]
|- style="text-align:center"
|{{n/a|''None''}}|| style="text-align:left" |'''[[Jervis Bay Territory]]'''|| ACT || {{n/a}} || style="text-align:left" | [[Jervis Bay Village]]|| style="text-align:right" |{{nts|405}}|| style="text-align:right" | 67
|6.04
|{{n/a|''{{small|Part of ACT's [[Division of Fenner]]}}''}}
| colspan="4" {{n/a|''{{small|Administered by the [[Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts]]}}''}}
|}

====External territories====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|+ style="text-align:center;background:#BFD7FF" |External territories of Australia{{efn|Unless provided, references and details on data provided in the table can be found within the individual state and territory articles.}}
|-
! scope="col" width="110" class="unsortable" |[[List of Australian flags#States and territories|Flag]]
! scope="col" width="110" |Territory
! scope="col" width="030" |Postal
! scope="col" width="030" |[[ISO 3166-2:AU|ISO]]<ref name="ReferenceA" />
![[List of Australian capital cities|Capital]]<br />(''or largest settlement'')
!Population<br />(Jun 2018)<ref name="ABSQPOP" />
!Area (km<sup>2</sup>)<ref name="GAarea" />
!Population Density (/km<sup>2</sup>)
!No. members in [[Australian House of Representatives|House of Reps.]]
![[Governors of the Australian states#Current administrators of the territories|Administrator]]
!Head of Local Government
!Local Government
|- style="text-align:center"
|{{flagg|pxx|Norfolk Island|size=100px}}|| style="text-align:left" |'''[[Norfolk Island]]'''
|NSW|| NF || style="text-align:left" |[[Kingston, Norfolk Island|Kingston]]|| style="text-align:right" |{{nts|2601}}|| style="text-align:right" | 35
|74
|{{n/a|''{{small|Part of ACT's [[Division of Bean]]}}''}}
|George Plant
|{{small|Lead Administrator}}<br>Scott Mason<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nirc.gov.au/Your-council/About-Council |title=About Council |date= |publisher=Norfolk Island Regional Council |access-date=27 June 2025}}</ref>
|[[Norfolk Island Regional Council]]
|- style="text-align:center"
|{{flagg|pxx|Christmas Island|size=100px}}|| style="text-align:left" |'''[[Christmas Island]]'''
| WA || CX || style="text-align:left" |[[Flying Fish Cove]]|| style="text-align:right" |{{nts|1938}}|| style="text-align:right" | 135
|14
|rowspan=2 {{n/a|''{{small|Part of NT's [[Division of Lingiari]]}}''}}
|rowspan=2|[[Farzian Zainal]]
|{{small|Shire President}}<br>[[Gordon Thomson (Christmas Island administrator)|Gordon Thompson]]
|[[Shire of Christmas Island]]
|- style="text-align:center"
|{{flagg|pxx|the=yes|Cocos (Keeling) Islands|size=100px}}|| style="text-align:left" |'''[[Cocos (Keeling) Islands]]'''
| WA || CC || style="text-align:left" |[[West Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands|West Island]]|| style="text-align:right" |{{nts|547}}|| style="text-align:right" | 14
|39
|{{small|Shire President}}<br>Aindil Minkom<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meet the Council |url=https://shire.cc/en/your-council/meet-the-council.html |access-date=2022-04-04 |publisher=Shire of Cocos Keeling Islands}}</ref>
|[[Shire of Cocos (Keeling) Islands]]
|- style="text-align:center"
|rowspan=4 {{n/a|''None''}}|| style="text-align:left" |'''''[[Australian Antarctic Territory]]'''''{{efn|name="AAT"}}|| TAS || AQ{{efn|Under the definitions in ISO 3166-1, the AAT is covered by the [[Antarctica]]n ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code "AQ".}}
| style="text-align:left" | None<br />''([[Davis Station]])''|| style="text-align:right" |{{nts|60}}{{efn|No permanent population, research station with fluctuating staff numbers.}}|| style="text-align:right" | 5,896,500
|0.0000102
| rowspan=4 {{n/a}}
| rowspan=4 colspan=3 {{n/a|''None''}}
|- style="text-align:center"
|style="text-align:left" |'''[[Coral Sea Islands]]'''
| QLD || {{n/a}} || style="text-align:left" | None<br />''([[Willis Island]])''|| style="text-align:right" | 4{{efn|No permanent population, weather monitoring station generally with four staff.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-29/willis-island-bom-weather-observers-survive-life-remote-outpost/9577688 |title=How Willis Island weather observers survive life working at the remote outpost off Queensland |newspaper=ABC News |date=28 March 2018 |access-date=14 July 2020 |archive-date=31 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031210550/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-29/willis-island-bom-weather-observers-survive-life-remote-outpost/9577688 |url-status=live }}</ref>}}|| style="text-align:right" | 780,000{{efn|Most of which is [[ocean]].}}
|0.000005
|- style="text-align:center"
|style="text-align:left" |'''[[Ashmore and Cartier Islands]]'''|| colspan=2 {{n/a}} || style="text-align:left" | None<br />''([[anchorage (maritime)|offshore anchorage]])''|| style="text-align:right" |{{nts|0}}|| style="text-align:right" | 199
|0
|- style="text-align:center"
| style="text-align:left" |'''[[Heard Island and McDonald Islands]]'''
| TAS || HM || style="text-align:left" | None<br />''([[Atlas Cove]])''|| style="text-align:right" |{{nts|0}}|| style="text-align:right" | 372
|0
|}

Each external territory is regulated by an Act of the federal Parliament. These Acts contain the majority of provisions determining the legal and political structure applying in that external territory. Under s 122 of the Australian Constitution the federal Parliament has plenary power to make laws for all territories including all external territories.<ref name= "section122" />
The Cocos (Keeling) Islands [[1984 Cocos (Keeling) Islands status referendum|voted for integration]] in 1984. Together with Christmas Island, these two territories comprise the [[Australian Indian Ocean Territories]]. Commonwealth laws apply automatically to the territories unless expressly stated otherwise<ref name=":extterr"></ref> and residents of both external territories are associated with Northern Territory for federal elections. They are, thus, constitutionally part of Australia.

The Heard Island and McDonald Islands, although uninhabited, are treated as constitutionally part of Australia by the central government.<ref>{{cite web |title=Frequently asked questions |url=http://heardisland.antarctica.gov.au/about/frequently-asked-questions |website=heardisland.antarctica.gov.au |date=28 February 2005 |language=en-AU}}</ref>

Norfolk Island's status is controversial, with the present ({{as of|2018|lc=y}}) 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.<ref name=norfolk>{{cite web |last1=Davey |first1=Melissa |title='We're not Australian': Norfolk Islanders adjust to shock of takeover by mainland |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/may/21/were-not-australian-norfolk-islanders-adjust-to-shock-of-takeover-by-mainland |website=The Guardian |date=21 May 2015}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable collapsible" text-align:center"
|+class=nowrap|Integration of territories with small populations
! rowspan=2|Territory !! rowspan=2|Ref. !! rowspan=2|Subject to laws of !! rowspan=2|Subject to courts of !! colspan=2|Part of electorate of
|-
! for [[Australian House of Representatives|House]] !! for [[Australian Senate|Senate]]
|-
|[[Christmas Island]]||<ref>[https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C1958A00041 Christmas Island Act 1958], Federal Register of Legislation. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110074853/https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C1958A00041 |date=10 January 2017 }}</ref> || rowspan=2 colspan=2|[[Western Australia]]{{Cref|a}} || rowspan=2|[[Division of Lingiari]] || rowspan=2|[[Northern Territory]]
|-
|[[Cocos (Keeling) Islands]]||<ref>[https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C1955A00034 Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act 1955], Federal Register of Legislation. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220522185622/https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C1955A00034 |date=22 May 2022 }}</ref>
|-
|[[Jervis Bay Territory]]||<ref>[https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C1915A00019 Jervis Bay Territory Acceptance Act 1915], Federal Register of Legislation. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403050743/https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C1915A00019 |date=3 April 2022 }}</ref> || colspan=2|[[Australian Capital Territory]]{{Cref|a}} || [[Division of Fenner]] || rowspan=2|[[Australian Capital Territory]]
|-
|[[Norfolk Island]]||<ref>[https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C2004A02035 Norfolk Island Act 1979], Federal Register of Legislation. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220522185603/https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C2004A02035 |date=22 May 2022 }}</ref><br><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2023C00532 |title=Norfolk Island Applied Laws Ordinance 2016 |date=28 June 2023 |publisher=Federal Register of Legislation}}</ref><br><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2023C00201 |title=Norfolk Island Applied Laws and Service Delivery (Queensland) Ordinance 2021 |date=4 February 2023 |publisher=Federal Register of Legislation}}</ref> || [[Norfolk Island]]{{Cref|b}}<br>[[New South Wales]]{{Cref|a}}<br>[[Queensland]]{{Cref|a}}|| [[Norfolk Island]] || [[Division of Bean]]
|-
|[[Ashmore and Cartier Islands]]||<ref>[https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C1933A00060 Ashmore and Cartier Islands Acceptance Act 1933], Federal Register of Legislation. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220522185614/https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C1933A00060 |date=22 May 2022 }}</ref> || colspan=2|[[Northern Territory]] || rowspan=4 colspan=2 {{n/a|''(no permanent population)''}}
|-
|[[Australian Antarctic Territory]]||<ref>[https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C1954A00042 Australian Antarctic Territory Act 1954], Federal Register of Legislation. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220522185607/https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C1954A00042 |date=22 May 2022 }}</ref> || rowspan=2 colspan=2|[[Australian Capital Territory]]
|-
|[[Heard Island and McDonald Islands]]||<ref>[https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C1953A00007 Heard Island and McDonald Islands Act 1953], Federal Register of Legislation. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220522185611/https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C1953A00007 |date=22 May 2022 }}</ref>
|-
|[[Coral Sea Islands]]||<ref>[https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/F2006B00277 Application of Laws Ordinance 1973 (Coral Sea Islands)], Federal Register of Legislation. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105114631/https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/F2006B00277 |date=5 November 2021 }}</ref><ref>[https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C1969A00058 Coral Sea Islands Act 1969], Federal Register of Legislation. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220522185626/https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C1969A00058 |date=22 May 2022 }}</ref> || [[Australian Capital Territory]] || [[Norfolk Island]]
|}

;Notes

{{Cnote2 Begin|liststyle=disc}}
{{Cnote2|a|a) Residents of the territory are not represented in the parliament or assembly that makes these laws, or in the government that appoints judges to these courts.}}
{{Cnote2|b|b) Laws passed by the [[Norfolk Island Legislative Assembly]] while it existed from 1979 to 2015 remain in effect unless modified or repealed by the federal government.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.norfolkisland.gov.nf/policy-and-governance/norfolk-island-legislation |title=Norfolk Island Legislation |publisher=Norfolk Island Regional Council}}</ref>}}
{{Cnote2 End}}

===Former territories===
==== Internal ====
Two internal territories established by the Australian federal government under Section 122 of the [[Constitution of Australia]] no longer exist:

*[[Central Australia (territory)|Central Australia]] (1926–1931), consisting of the area of the current [[Northern Territory]] south of the [[20th parallel south]]<ref name="ling">{{cite web |last1=Ling |first1=Ted |title=Dividing the Territory, 1926–31 |url=http://guides.naa.gov.au/records-about-northern-territory/part1/chapter3/3.3.aspx |website=Commonwealth Government Records about the Northern Territory |publisher=National Archives of Australia |access-date=28 September 2018}}</ref>
*[[North Australia (territory)|North Australia]] (1926–1931), consisting of the area of the current Northern Territory north of the 20th parallel south<ref name="ling" />

==== External ====
Two present-day [[Oceania|Oceanic]] countries, [[Papua New Guinea]] (PNG) and [[Nauru]], were administered by the federal government of Australia as ''[[de facto]]'' or ''[[de jure]]'' external territories for differing periods between 1902 and 1975.

===== Papua and New Guinea (1883–1975) =====
*[[Territory of Papua]]:
** 1883–1902: A ''de facto'' part of [[Queensland]] (''de jure'' British territory in 1888–1900)
** 1902–1949: An external territory of Australia
*[[Territory of New Guinea]]: 1920–1949, under a [[League of Nations mandate]]. The territory was previously known as [[German New Guinea]] between 1884 and 1914; it was formally under Australian military occupation in 1914–1920).

Following [[World War II]], the ''[[Papua and New Guinea Act 1949]]'' placed the Territory of New Guinea in an "administrative union" with the Territory of Papua, and the combined [[Territory of Papua and New Guinea]] was created. However, both territories remained technically distinct for some administrative and legal purposes. Following the passage of the ''[[Papua New Guinea Independence Act 1975]]'', the combined entity eventually was given independence as the Independent State of Papua New Guinea.

=====Nauru (1920–1968)=====
Nauru was previously under the [[German colonial empire]] as part of the [[German New Guinea]].  Following [[World War I]], the Australian government received a [[League of Nations]] [[history of Nauru|mandate for Nauru]]. After World War II, the Territory of Papua, Territory of New Guinea and Nauru were all controlled by the Australian government as [[United Nations trust territories]]. Following the passage of the ''[[Nauru Independence Act 1967]]'', Nauru was granted independence in 1968.

== Statistics ==
The majority of Australians live in the [[eastern states of Australia|eastern coastal mainland states]] of [[New South Wales]], [[Queensland]], [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], and the [[Australian Capital Territory]], which collectively forms 79% of the entire population of Australia (more than three-quarters of all Australians). Most of the major [[center of population|population centres]] are located east and south of the [[Great Dividing Range]] on the [[coastal plain]]s and their associated [[hinterland]] regions.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right"
|- style="text-align:center"
! rowspan=2 | State / territory
! colspan=3 | Mainland area<ref name="GAarea"/>
! colspan=3 | Total land area<ref name="GAarea"/>
! colspan=3 | Marine area<ref name="GAarea"/>
! colspan=3 | Total area
|-
! km<sup>2</sup> || sq&nbsp;mi || Rank
! km<sup>2</sup> || sq&nbsp;mi || Rank
! km<sup>2</sup> || sq&nbsp;mi || Rank
! km<sup>2</sup> || sq&nbsp;mi || Rank
|-
| style="text-align:left" | {{Flag|New South Wales}} || {{convert|801137|km2|sqmi|disp=table}}  || 5 || {{convert|801150|km2|sqmi|disp=table}}  || 5 || {{convert|8802|km2|sqmi|disp=table}}    || 7 || {{convert|809952|km2|sqmi|disp=table}}  || 7
|-
| style="text-align:left" | {{Flag|Victoria}} || {{convert|227038|km2|sqmi|disp=table}}  || 6 || {{convert|227444|km2|sqmi|disp=table}}  || 6 || {{convert|10213|km2|sqmi|disp=table}}   || 6 || {{convert|237657|km2|sqmi|disp=table}}  || 6
|-
| style="text-align:left" | {{Flag|Queensland}} || {{convert|1723030|km2|sqmi|disp=table}} || 2 || {{convert|1792742|km2|sqmi|disp=table}} || 2 || {{convert|121994|km2|sqmi|disp=table}}  || 1 || {{convert|1914736|km2|sqmi|disp=table}} || 1
|-
| style="text-align:left" | {{Flag|Western Australia}} || {{convert|2523924|km2|sqmi|disp=table}} || 1 || {{convert|2527013|km2|sqmi|disp=table}} || 1 || {{convert|115740|km2|sqmi|disp=table}}  || 2 || {{convert|2642753|km2|sqmi|disp=table}} || 2
|-
| style="text-align:left" | {{Flag|South Australia}} || {{convert|979651|km2|sqmi|disp=table}}  || 4 || {{convert|984321|km2|sqmi|disp=table}}  || 4 || {{convert|60032|km2|sqmi|disp=table}}   || 4 || {{convert|1044353|km2|sqmi|disp=table}} || 4
|-
| style="text-align:left" | {{Flag|Tasmania}} || {{convert|64519|km2|sqmi|disp=table}}   || 7 || {{convert|68401|km2|sqmi|disp=table}}   || 7 || {{convert|22357|km2|sqmi|disp=table}}   || 5 || {{convert|90758|km2|sqmi|disp=table}}   || 5
|-
| style="text-align:left" | {{Flag|Australian Capital Territory}} || {{convert|2358|km2|sqmi|disp=table}} || 8 || {{convert|2358|km2|sqmi|disp=table}}    || 8 || — || — || 8 || {{convert|2358|km2|sqmi|disp=table}}    || 8
|-
| style="text-align:left" | {{Flag|Northern Territory}} || {{convert|1334404|km2|sqmi|disp=table}} || 3 || {{convert|1347791|km2|sqmi|disp=table}} || 3 || {{convert|71839|km2|sqmi|disp=table}}   || 3 || {{convert|1419630|km2|sqmi|disp=table}} || 3
|}


{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right"
|- style="text-align:center"
! rowspan=2 | State / territory 
! rowspan=2 | Abbreviation
! colspan=3 | Land area<ref name="GAarea"/>
! colspan=2 | {{ubl|Population|({{CensusAU|2021}})}}
! colspan=3 | Population density
! colspan=2 | {{ubl|% of population|in capital}}
! rowspan=2 | Notes
|-
! km<sup>2</sup>  || sq&nbsp;mi  || Rank 
! Number || Rank 
! /km<sup>2</sup> || /sq&nbsp;mi  || Rank 
! %  || Rank 
|-
| style="text-align:left" | {{Flag|New South Wales}}|| align="center" | NSW || {{convert|801150|km2|sqmi|disp=table}}  
| {{nts|5}}|| {{nts|8072163}}|| {{nts|1}}|| {{convert|9.62|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table}}  
| {{nts|3}}|| 63.0%  || {{nts|5}}||<ref>{{Census 2021 AUS|id=1|name=New South Wales|accessdate=15 June 2023|quick=on}}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:left" | {{Flag|Victoria}}|| align="center" | VIC ||  {{convert|227444|km2|sqmi|disp=table}} 
| {{nts|6}}||  {{nts|6503491}}|| {{nts|2}}||  {{convert|26.56|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table}} 
| {{nts|2}}||  71.0%  || {{nts|4}}||<ref>{{Census 2021 AUS|id=2|name=Victoria|accessdate=15 June 2023|quick=on}}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:left" | {{Flag|Queensland}}|| align="center" | QLD || {{convert|1729742|km2|sqmi|disp=table}} 
| {{nts|2}}|| {{nts|5156138}}|| {{nts|3}}|| {{convert|2.79|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table}}  
| {{nts|5}}|| 46.0%  || {{nts|7}}||<ref>{{Census 2021 AUS|id=3|name=Queensland|accessdate=15 June 2023|quick=on}}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:left" | {{Flag|Western Australia}}|| align="center" | WA || {{convert|2527013|km2|sqmi|disp=table}} 
| {{nts|1}}|| {{nts|2660026}}|| {{nts|4}}|| {{convert|1.03|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table}} 
| {{nts|7}}|| 73.4%   || {{nts|3}}||<ref>{{Census 2021 AUS|id=5|name=Western Australia|accessdate=15 June 2023|quick=on}}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:left" | {{Flag|South Australia}}|| align="center" | SA || {{convert|984321|km2|sqmi|disp=table}}  || {{nts|4}} || {{nts|1781516}}|| {{nts|5}} || {{convert|1.74|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table}}  || {{nts|6}} || 73.5%  || {{nts|2}} ||<ref>{{Census 2021 AUS|id=4|name=South Australia|accessdate=15 June 2023|quick=on}}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:left" | {{Flag|Tasmania}}|| align="center" | TAS || {{convert|68401|km2|sqmi|disp=table}}  || {{nts|7}} || {{nts|557571}}|| {{nts|6}} || {{convert|7.58|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table}} || {{nts|4}} || 41.0%  || {{nts|8}} ||<ref>{{Census 2021 AUS|id=6|name=Tasmania|accessdate=15 June 2023|quick=on}}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:left" | {{Flag|Australian Capital Territory}}|| align="center" | ACT || {{convert|2358|km2|sqmi|disp=table}}  
| {{nts|8}}|| {{nts|453890}}|| {{nts|7}}|| {{convert|167.6|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table}}  
| {{nts|1}}||  99.6%  || {{nts|1}}||<ref>{{Census 2021 AUS|id=8|name=Australian Capital Territory|accessdate=15 June 2023|quick=on}}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:left" | {{Flag|Northern Territory}}|| align="center" | NT || {{convert|1347791|km2|sqmi|disp=table}}  
| {{nts|3}}|| {{nts|232605}}|| {{nts|8}}|| {{convert|0.18|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table}} 
| {{nts|8}}|| 54.0%  || {{nts|6}}||<ref>{{Census 2021 AUS|id=7|name=Northern Territory|accessdate=15 June 2023|quick=on}}</ref>
|}

== Background and overview ==

{{Further|History of Australia|Territorial evolution of Australia}}
[[File:Australia history.gif]]

The states originated as separate [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|British]] colonies prior to [[Federation of Australia|Federation]] in 1901.<ref name= "parl" /> The [[Colony of New South Wales]] was founded in 1788 and originally comprised much of the Australian mainland, as well as [[Lord Howe Island]], [[Colony of New Zealand|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 [[History of Western Australia#British Colony|Colony of Western Australia]] (initially established as the smaller [[Swan River Colony]] in 1829), the [[History of South Australia#The Proclamation of South Australia .281836.29|Province of South Australia]] (1836), the [[Colony of New Zealand]] (1840),<ref>A.H. McLintock (ed), ''An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand'', 3 vols, Wellington, NZ:R.E. Owen, Government Printer, 1966, vol 3 p. 526.'</ref> the [[Victoria (Australia)#Colonial Victoria|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. The two territory governments (the Australian Capital Territory [ACT] and the Northern Territory [NT]), were created by legislation of the Federal Parliament—the NT in 1978 and the ACT in 1988.<ref name= "parl" />

The legislative powers of the states are protected by the [[Constitution of Australia|Australian constitution]], section 107,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Saving of Power of State Parliaments |url=https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:constitution/constitu/constitution107.doc |access-date=2 July 2024 |website= |publisher=Parliament of Australia}}</ref> and under the principle of [[Federalism in Australia|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 [[Government of Australia|Commonwealth government]]; laws for territories are determined by the Australian Parliament.<ref name= "section122">{{Cite web |title= Government of territories|url=https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;db=CONSTITUTION;id=constitution%2Fconstitu%2Fconstitution122.doc;query=Id%3Aconstitution%2Fconstitu%2Fconstitution107.doc|access-date=2 July 2024 |website= |publisher=Parliament of Australia}}</ref>

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.<ref name="diffst" /> 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.<ref name="diffst" /> 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 [[Governors of the Australian states|governor]], appointed by [[Monarchy of Australia|the monarch]] (currently King [[Charles III]]), which by convention he does on the advice of the state premier.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What Does A State Governor Do? |url=https://www.moadoph.gov.au/explore/stories/democracy/what-does-a-state-governor-do |access-date=1 July 2024 |website=www.moadoph.gov.au}}</ref> The Administrator of the Northern Territory, by contrast, is appointed by the [[Governor-General of Australia|governor-general]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=21 October 2021 |title=The Administrator |url=https://nt.gov.au/about-government/the-administrator |access-date=1 July 2024 |website=nt.gov.au |language=en}}</ref> The Australian Capital Territory has neither a governor nor an administrator. Instead, since the enacted of the ''Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 (Cth)'', the functions of the head of the Executive – commissioning government, proroguing parliament and enacting legislation – are exercised by the Assembly itself and by the [[Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory|chief minister]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 (Cth) |url=https://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item-sdid-117.html |access-date=1 July 2024 |website=www.foundingdocs.gov.au}}</ref>

[[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'',<ref>[https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2004C00038 Jervis Bay Territory Acceptance Act 1915 (Cth)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706171906/https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2004C00038 |date=6 July 2017 }}.</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |title= Jervis Bay Territory Governance and Administration |url= http://www.regional.gov.au/territories/jervis_bay/governanceadministration.aspx |quote= Although the Jervis Bay Territory is not part of the Australian Capital Territory, the laws of the ACT apply, insofar as they are applicable and, providing they are not inconsistent with an Ordinance, in the Territory by virtue of the 'Jervis Bay Acceptance Act 1915' |publisher= The Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport |access-date= 17 January 2013}}</ref> 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 Fenner]] (named the [[Division of Fraser (Australian Capital Territory)|Division of Fraser]] until 2016) 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.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Hayward|first=Philip|date=2021|title=Australia's oddest jurisdiction : the continuous anomaly of Jervis Bay Territory|url=https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/74983|journal=Small States & Territories|language=en|volume=4|issue=1|pages=157–170}}</ref>

The external territory of [[Norfolk Island]] possessed a degree of self-government from 1979 until 2015.<ref name=norfolk/>

Each state has a [[bicameral]] parliament, except Queensland, which abolished its upper house in 1922.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Overview {{!}} Queensland Parliament |url=https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Visit-and-learn/History/Overview |access-date=30 June 2024 |website=www.parliament.qld.gov.au}}</ref><ref name= "parl" >{{Cite web |last=Manager |first=Web |date=2022-05-23 |title=Australian levels of government |url=https://www.parliament.act.gov.au/visit-and-learn/resources/factsheets/australian-levels-of-government |access-date=30 June 2024 |website=www.parliament.act.gov.au |language=en}}</ref> 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 [[instant-runoff voting|preferential voting]]. The upper house is called the "legislative council" and is generally elected from multi-member constituencies using proportional representation. Along with Queensland, the three self-governing territories, the ACT, the Northern Territory, and Norfolk Island, each have [[unicameral]] legislative assemblies.<ref name= "parl" /> The legislative assembly for the ACT is the only parliament with responsibility for both state/territory and local government functions.<ref name= "parl" />

The head of government of each state is called the "premier", appointed by the state's governor.<ref name= "governorst">{{Cite journal |last=Twomey |first=Anne |date=September 2011 |title=Changing the Leader — the Constitutional Conventions concerning the Resignation of Prime Ministers and Premiers |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.22145/flr.39.3.1 |journal=Federal Law Review |language=en |volume=39 |issue=3 |pages=330–331 |doi=10.22145/flr.39.3.1 |issn=0067-205X|url-access=subscription }}</ref> 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.<ref name= "governorst" /> 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.

The term ''interstate'' is used within Australia to refer to a number of events, transactions, registrations, travel, etc. which occurs across borders or outside of the particular state or territory of the user of the term. Examples of use include motor vehicle registration,<ref>{{cite web|website=sa.gov.au|publisher=Government of South Australia|url=https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/driving-and-transport/registration/vehicle-registration/driving-an-interstate-registered-vehicle|title=Interstate-registered vehicles|access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref> travel,<ref>{{cite web|website=Public Transport Victoria|url=https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/more/travelling-on-the-network/interstate-travel/|title=Interstate travel|access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref> applications to educational institutions out of one's home state.<ref>{{cite web|website=VTAC|url=https://www.vtac.edu.au/applying/courses/interstate.html|title=Applying interstate|access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref>

There are very few urban areas bifurcated by state or territory borders. The Queensland-New South Wales border runs through [[Coolangatta]] (Queensland) and [[Tweed Heads, New South Wales|Tweed Heads]] (New South Wales) and splits [[Gold Coast Airport]].  [[Oaks Estate]], a contiguous residential of [[Queanbeyan]], was excised out of New South Wales when the Australian Capital Territory was established in 1909.  Some [[urban area|Urban Centres and Localities]] reported by the [[Australian Bureau of Statistics]] include some agglomerations of cities spreading across state borders, including [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]]–Tweed Heads, [[Canberra]]–Queanbeyan, [[Albury, New South Wales|Albury]]–[[Wodonga, Victoria|Wodonga]] (New South Wales-Victoria) and [[Mildura, Victoria|Mildura]]–[[Wentworth, New South Wales|Wentworth]] (Victoria-New South Wales)

=== Timeline ===
*1788 – [[British Empire]] establishes the [[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 – The British Empire establishes the [[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.[[File:Exploration map of Australia, Tallis, 1851.jpg|thumb|Map of Australia, 1851]]
*1851 – Southeastern mainland Australia becomes the independent colony of [[Victoria (Australia)|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, Queensland, 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 McDonald Islands|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 (territory)|Central Australia]].
*1930 – The 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 [[Empire of Japan]] 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 [[British Ceylon|Colony of Ceylon]].
*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.
*1979 – Norfolk Island gains self-government with certain Commonwealth control.
*1989 – The Australian Capital Territory gains self-government with certain Commonwealth control. Jervis Bay becomes independent of the ACT, becoming the [[Jervis Bay Territory]].
*2015 – Norfolk Island loses self-government with full Commonwealth control.

===Comparative terminology===
{| class=wikitable
|- 
!rowspan="2"| Entity
!rowspan="2"| Type of entity
!rowspan="2"| Tie to the monarch
!rowspan="2"| Domestic administrator
!rowspan="2"| Head of government
!rowspan="2" | Upper House of Parliament
!rowspan="2" | Lower House of Parliament
!colspan="2" | Member of Parliament
|-
! Upper house
! Lower house<ref group=note>The abbreviations MLA and MHA were previously the acceptable term for members of lower houses in states that now use MP.</ref>
|- 
| {{rh}} | [[Parliament of Australia|Commonwealth of Australia]]
| style="text-align:center"| Federal government
| style="text-align:center"| Direct
| style="text-align:center"| Governor-general
| style="text-align:center"| Prime minister
| style="text-align:center"| Senate
| style="text-align:center"| House of Representatives
| style="text-align:center"| Senator
|rowspan="5" style="text-align:center"| {{abbr|MP|Member of Parliament}}
|- 
| {{rh}} | [[Parliament of South Australia|South Australia]]
|rowspan="6" style="text-align:center"| [[Federated state]]
|rowspan="6" style="text-align:center"| Direct (established by the ''[[Australia Act 1986]]'')
|rowspan="6" style="text-align:center"| Governor
|rowspan="6" style="text-align:center"| Premier
|rowspan="5" style="text-align:center"| Legislative Council
|rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"| House of Assembly
|rowspan="5" style="text-align:center"| {{abbr|MLC|Member of the Legislative Council}}
|- 
| {{rh}} | [[Parliament of Tasmania|Tasmania]]
|- 
| {{rh}} | [[Parliament of New South Wales|New South Wales]]
|rowspan="6" style="text-align:center"| Legislative Assembly
|- 
| {{rh}} | [[Parliament of Victoria|Victoria]]
|- 
| {{rh}} | [[Parliament of Western Australia|Western Australia]]
| style="text-align:center"| {{abbr|MLA|Member of the Legislative Assembly}}
|- 
| {{rh}} | [[Parliament of Queensland|Queensland]]
| {{n/a|N/A (abolished&nbsp;1922)}}
| rowspan="6" {{n/a}}
| style="text-align:center"| MP
|- 
| {{rh}} | [[Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly|Australian Capital Territory]]
|rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"| Self-governing territory
| style="text-align:center"| Indirect (through the governor-general acting as "administrator")
| style="text-align:center"| Assembly and chief minister
|rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"| Chief minister
|rowspan="5" {{n/a}}
|rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"| MLA
|- 
| {{rh}} | [[Northern Territory Legislative Assembly|Northern Territory]]
|rowspan="4" style="text-align:center"| Indirect (through the governor-general)
|rowspan="4" style="text-align:center"| Administrator
|-
| {{rh}} | [[Shire of Christmas Island|Christmas Island]]
|rowspan="3" style="text-align:center"| External territory
|rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"| Shire president
|rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"| Shire Council
|rowspan="3" style="text-align:center"| Councillor
|-
| {{rh}} | [[Shire of Cocos|Cocos (Keeling) Islands]]
|-
| {{rh}} | [[Norfolk Island]]
|style="text-align:center"| Mayor
|style="text-align:center"| Regional Council<ref group=note>Between 1979 and 2015 Norfolk Island was a self-governing external territory with its own legislature, the [[Norfolk Island Legislative Assembly]], until this was abolished by the Commonwealth Parliament.</ref>
|-
|rowspan="1" colspan="9"| Note: <references group=note />
|-
|}

== Politics ==
[[File:States of Australia (governing political parties).svg|thumb|Map showing the jurisdictions of Australia and their governing political parties as of October 2024.
{{legend|#cd1f26|Labor}}{{legend|#17407e|Liberal / CLP}}]]
=== Governors and administrators ===
{{Main|Governors of the Australian states}}
{|class="wikitable sortable"
!Post
!Incumbent
!Appointed
|-
| [[Governor of New South Wales]]
| {{sort|Beazley, Margaret|[[Margaret Beazley]]}}
| {{dts|2 May 2019}}
|-
| [[Governor of Victoria]]
| [[Margaret Gardner]]
| 9 August 2023
|-
| [[Governor of Queensland]]
| {{sort|Young|[[Jeannette Young]]}}
| {{dts|1 November 2021}}
|-
| [[Governor of Western Australia]]
| {{sort|Dawson, Chris|[[Chris Dawson (governor)|Chris Dawson]]}}
| {{dts|15 July 2022}}
|-
| [[Governor of South Australia]]
| {{sort|Warner|[[Frances Adamson]]}}
| {{dts|7 October 2021}}
|-
| [[Governor of Tasmania]]
| {{sort|Warner|[[Barbara Baker]]}}
| {{dts|16 June 2021}}
|-
| [[Administrator of the Northern Territory]]
| {{sort|Heggie|[[Hugh Heggie]]}}
| {{dts|2 February 2023}}
|-
| [[Administrator of Norfolk Island]]
| George Plant
| {{dts|26 May 2023}}
|-
| [[Administrator of the Australian Indian Ocean Territories]]
| [[Farzian Zainal]]
| {{dts|26 May 2023}}
|}

=== Premiers and chief ministers ===
{{Main|Premiers and chief ministers of the Australian states and territories}}
{|class="wikitable sortable"
!Post
!Incumbent
!colspan="2" |Political party
!Appointed
|-
| [[Premier of New South Wales]]
| {{sortname|Chris|Minns}} {{post-nominals|country=AUS|MP}}
| style="background-color: {{party color|Australian Labor Party}}" |
|style="text-align:center"| [[Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch)|Labor]]
| {{dts|25 March 2023}}
|-
| [[Premier of Victoria]]
| {{sortname|Jacinta|Allan}}  {{post-nominals|country=AUS|MP}}
| style="background-color: {{party color|Australian Labor Party}}" |
| style="text-align:center" | [[Australian Labor Party (Victorian Branch)|Labor]]
| {{dts|27 September 2023}}
|-
| [[Premier of Queensland]]
| {{sortname|David|Crisafulli}} {{post-nominals|country=AUS|MP}}
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal National Party of Queensland}}" |
|style="text-align:center"| [[Liberal National Party of Queensland|Liberal National]]
| {{dts|28 October 2024}}
|-
| [[Premier of Western Australia]]
| {{sortname|Roger|Cook|Roger Cook (politician)}} {{small|[[Western Australian Legislative Assembly|MLA]]}}
| style="background-color: {{party color|Australian Labor Party}}" |
| style="text-align:center" | [[Australian Labor Party (Western Australian Branch)|Labor]]
| {{dts|8 June 2023}}
|-
| [[Premier of South Australia]]
| {{sortname|Peter|Malinauskas}} {{post-nominals|country=AUS|MP}}
| style="background-color: {{party color|Australian Labor Party}}" |
|style="text-align:center"| [[Australian Labor Party (South Australian Branch)|Labor]]
| {{dts|21 March 2022}}
|-
| [[Premier of Tasmania]]
| {{sortname|Jeremy|Rockliff}} {{post-nominals|country=AUS|MP}}
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Party of Australia}}" |
|style="text-align:center"| [[Liberal Party of Australia (Tasmanian Division)|Liberal]]
| {{dts|8 April 2022}}
|-
| [[Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory]]
| {{sortname|Andrew|Barr}} {{small|[[Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly|MLA]] }}
| style="background-color: {{party color|Australian Labor Party}}" |
|style="text-align:center"| [[Australian Labor Party (Australian Capital Territory Branch)|Labor]]
| {{dts|11 December 2014}}
|-
| [[Chief Minister of the Northern Territory]]
| {{sortname|Lia|Finocchiaro}} {{small|[[Northern Territory Legislative Assembly|MLA]]}}
| style="background-color: {{party color|Country Liberal Party}}" |
|style="text-align:center"| [[Country Liberal Party|Country Liberal]]
| {{dts|28 August 2024}}
|}

=== Parliaments ===
{{Main|Parliaments of the Australian states and territories}}
* [[Parliament of New South Wales]]
* [[Parliament of Victoria]]
* [[Parliament of Queensland]]
* [[Parliament of Western Australia]]
* [[Parliament of South Australia]]
* [[Parliament of Tasmania]]
* [[Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly]]
* [[Northern Territory Legislative Assembly]]

==Supreme courts==
{{Main|Australian court hierarchy}}
* [[Supreme Court of New South Wales]]
* [[Supreme Court of Victoria]]
* [[Supreme Court of Queensland]]
* [[Supreme Court of Western Australia]]
* [[Supreme Court of South Australia]]
* [[Supreme Court of Tasmania]]
* [[Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory]]
* [[Supreme Court of the Northern Territory]]
* [[Supreme Court of Norfolk Island]]

==Police forces==
{{Main|Law enforcement in Australia}}
*[[New South Wales Police Force]]
*[[Victoria Police]]
*[[Queensland Police Service]]
*[[Western Australia Police Force]]
*[[South Australia Police]]
*[[Tasmania Police]]
*[[ACT Policing|Australian Capital Territory Policing]] (performed by [[Australian Federal Police]])
*[[Northern Territory Police Force]]
*[[Law enforcement in Norfolk Island]], also provided by Australian Federal Police

== State and territory codes ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!rowspan="2"| State/territory
!rowspan="2"| Abbrev.
!colspan="3"| [[Call sign]]s
!colspan="2"| Postal
!rowspan="2" style="width:120px"| [[Telephone numbers in Australia]]
!colspan="2"| [[Time zone]]
|- style="background:#efefef"
!style="width:60px"| [[AM radio|AM]]/[[FM radio|FM]]
!style="width:60px"| TV
!style="width:60px"| [[Amateur radio|Amateur]]
!style="width:60px"| Abbrev.
!style="width:60px"| Postcode
!style="width:60px"| Std
!style="width:60px"| [[Daylight saving time|Summer]]
|-
| New South Wales
| NSW
| 2xx(x) || xx(x)Nn || VK2xx
| NSW
| 1nnn,<ref group="nb" name="PO&c" /> 2nnn || {{nowrap|+61 2 xxxx xxxx}}<ref group="nb" name="exceptions">Some exceptions apply to numbers in this state's [[Telephone numbers in Australia#Geographic numbers|number range]].</ref> || +10 (+{{frac|9|1|2}} +{{frac|10|1|2}})<ref group="nb" name="NSWTime">The state of New South Wales observes Australian Eastern Standard Time except for [[Broken Hill]] and the surrounding region, which observes Australian Central Standard Time and Lord Howe Island which is 30 minutes ahead of Australian Eastern Standard Time.</ref>|| +11 (+{{frac|10|1|2}})<ref group="nb" name="NSWSummerTime">Broken Hill and surrounding region observe Australian Central Summer Time. Lord Howe Island adopts Australian Eastern Summer Time.</ref>
|-
| Victoria
| Vic
| 3xx(x) || xx(x)Vn || VK3xx
| VIC
| 3nnn, 8nnn<ref group="nb" name="PO&c" /> || +61 3 xxxx xxxx<ref group="nb" name="exceptions" /> || +10 || +11
|-
| Queensland
| Qld
| 4xx(x) || xx(x)Qn || VK4xx
| QLD
| 4nnn, 9nnn<ref group="nb" name="PO&c" /> || +61 7 xxxx xxxx || colspan="2" | +10
|-
| Western Australia
| WA
| 6xx(x) || xx(x)Wn || VK6xx
| WA
| 6nnn || +61 8 9xxx xxxx<br />+61 8 6xxx xxxx || colspan="2" | +8
|-
| South Australia
| SA
| 5xx(x) || xx(x)Sn || VK5xx
| SA
| 5nnn || +61 8 8xxx xxxx<br />+61 8 7xxx xxxx || +{{frac|9|1|2}} || +{{frac|10|1|2}}
|-
| Tasmania
| Tas
| 7xx(x) || xx(x)Tn || VK7xx
| TAS
| 7nnn || +61 3 6xxx xxxx || +10 || +11
|-
| Australian Capital Territory
| ACT
| 1xx(x)<ref group=nb name=ACT>A number of broadcast stations in the ACT have call signs allocated as if ACT were part of New South Wales.</ref> || xx(x)Cn<ref group=nb name=ACT/> || VK1xx<ref group=nb name=ACT/>
| ACT
| 02nn,<ref group=nb name=PO&c>This is used for some PO box and large users only.</ref> 26nn, 29nn || +61 2 62xx xxxx<br/>+61 2 61xx xxxx || +10 || +11
|-
| Northern Territory
| NT
| 8xx(x) || xx(x)Dn || VK8xx
| NT
| 08nn || +61 8 89xx xxxx ||colspan="2"| +{{frac|9|1|2}}
|-
!colspan="10"| External territories
|-
| Christmas Island
|
| 6xx(x) || xx(x)Wn || VK9xx
| WA
| 6798 || +61 8 9164 xxxx || colspan="2" | +7
|-
| Norfolk Island
|
| 2xx(x) || xx(x)Nn || VK2xx
| NSW
| 2899 || +672 3 xx xxx || +11 || +12
|-
| Cocos Island
|
| 6xx(x) || xx(x)Wn || VK9xx
| WA
| 6799 || +61 8 9162 xxxx ||colspan="2"| +{{frac|6|1|2}}
|-
| Australian Antarctic Territory
| AAT
|colspan="2"| none 
| VK0xx
| TAS
| 7151 || +672 1
|colspan="2"| +6 to +8
|-
|colspan="10" style="text-align:left"| <references group=nb/>
|}

== See also ==
{{Portal|Australia}}
* [[Australian regional rivalries]]
* [[ISO 3166-2:AU]], the ISO codes for the states and territories of Australia
* [[List of adjectival and demonymic forms of place names#Australian states and territories|List of adjectival and demonymic forms of Australian states and territories]]
* [[List of Australian states and territories by Human Development Index]]
* [[Proposals for new Australian states]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

{{States and territories of Australia}}
{{Articles on first-level administrative divisions of Oceanian countries}}
{{Australia topics}}

{{Authority control}}

<!--Categories-->
[[Category:States and territories of Australia| ]]
[[Category:Australia geography-related lists]]
[[Category:Administrative divisions in Oceania|Australia 1]]
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[[Category:Lists of subdivisions of Australia|States and territories]]
[[Category:Subdivisions of Australia]]
[[Category:Federalism in Australia]]