Lesson 8

🏢 Three levels of government

Who leads each level, and what each one looks after.

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Federal, state and local

Australia has three levels of government. The Australian Government, also called the Federal or Commonwealth Government, is led by the Prime Minister; its Cabinet of senior ministers is the key decision-making body. Each state government is led by a Premier, and each territory government by a Chief Minister. In each state, a Governor represents the Head of State. Local councils are led by a Mayor or Shire President, and councillors are the elected members of a local council.

Remember

Who does what

The Australian Government is responsible for national matters such as defence, immigration, foreign affairs and the currency. State and territory governments look after schools, hospitals and health services, and state roads. Local governments look after rubbish collection, local roads, parks, and street signs and traffic controls.

Remember

Practice questions

Who is the leader of a state government in Australia?

  1. The Prime Minister
  2. The Premier
  3. The Chief Minister
  4. The Governor

Answer: The Premier. The leader of a state government is the Premier.

Who is the leader of a territory government in Australia?

  1. The Premier
  2. The Governor-General
  3. The Chief Minister
  4. The Mayor

Answer: The Chief Minister. The leader of a territory government is the Chief Minister.

What is the Cabinet in the Australian Government?

  1. The group of all citizens who vote.
  2. The key decision making body of government made up of ministers with the most important portfolios.
  3. The judges of the High Court of Australia.
  4. The police force of the Commonwealth.

Answer: The key decision making body of government made up of ministers with the most important portfolios. Ministers with the most important portfolios make up the Cabinet, which is the key decision making body of government.

Which of the following is a responsibility of local governments?

  1. Defence and foreign affairs
  2. Hospitals and police
  3. Rubbish collection and local roads
  4. Taxation and immigration

Answer: Rubbish collection and local roads. Local governments are responsible for rubbish collection, local roads, parks, and other local community services.

What is the role of the Governor in each state?

  1. The leader of the state government
  2. The representative of the Head of State in each state
  3. The head of the local council
  4. The leader of the Opposition

Answer: The representative of the Head of State in each state. In each state, there is a Governor who represents the King in a role that is similar to the Governor-General.

What is the Australian Government also called?

  1. The Federal Government or Commonwealth Government
  2. The State Government
  3. The Local Government
  4. The Territory Government

Answer: The Federal Government or Commonwealth Government. The Australian Government is also called the Federal Government or the Commonwealth Government.

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