In 1870 the British withdrew its Military Garrison from its Australian Colonies and each Colony was then responsible for its own defence. (For more on Australia's Defence see Australians At War).  Further to that each colony imposed taxes or levies as any person crossed their respective borders, and it was not uncommon that if a single person crossed the same border any number of times they would have to pay the same tax on the same items over and over again.  This led to much discussion and a movement towards the formation of a Federal Government to include all Colonies.  Two of the great leaders of this movement were Edmund Barton and Alfred Deakin.  Surprisingly, the most populated Colony (New South Wales) was opposed to the movement.  However following a Referendum, it was carried and the move towards the formation of the Commonwealth of Australia was well on its way.

The "Constitution Act", which gave Australia self-government was signed by Queen Victoria on 9th July 1900.  She signed the Act in duplicate and one copy was given to Australia.  Later Queen Victoria also gave the pen, inkstand and desk she had used as a gift to the new Australian Government, and they are now kept in our Parliament House in Canberra.

The map below shows the general movement from the initial Colonies of New South Wales and Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) towards what was the case in 1901.  What it does not show is that in the mid 1920's, another Territory was temporarily formed in the centre of Australia, which was to be called "Central Australia" and its capital was Alice Springs.   However that was short lived, and the whole area that was to be "Central Australia" reverted to the Northern Territory.

The original responsibility for the administration of the Northern Territory was given to South Australia, but it was later handed back to the Commonwealth Government.

On 15th December 1900, John Louis Hope, the Earl of Hopetoun, arrived in Australia to become our first Governor General.   His first main duty was to appoint a Prime Minister and for reasons that have never been made clear, he appointed Sir William Lyne to the position.  Lyne however had been an opponent of Federation and was unable to form a Government.   The Governor General then appointed Edmund Barton, who was to become Australia's first Prime Minister.  Barton had no problems gathering support to form a government.

On 1st January 1901. in Sydney's Centennial Park, at 1.00 pm Lord Hopetoun took the Oath of Allegiance, and the Commonwealth of Australia was born.  Australia was now one nation consisting of six States and a number of Territories.

In March 1901, the first Federal elections were held and Barton was confirmed as Prime Minister.  On 4th May 1901, the Federal Government was sworn into office.  There was much argument between Sydney and Melbourne as to who should be the capital and host the Federal Government.  The Federal Government settled this debate by choosing the location of Canberra to be the Federal capital in 1913, but it was not until 1927 that Canberra was ready to host the Federal government.   Until that time, Melbourne was used as the seat of government. (much to the consternation of those in Sydney)

The makeup of the Australian government is that there are two Houses of Parliament.  At a Federal level they are called "The House Of Representatives" and "The Senate".  Each State also has its own State Government and in that instance they have "Legislative Assembly" and Legislative Council". (Except Queensland, which only has a "Legislative Assembly").  In addition to the Federal and State governments, Australia also has a local level of government, usually known as the "Local Council", or "Local Shire" and led by a Mayor or Shire or Council Chairman.  All members of the three levels of government are elected.  Voting in Australia is compulsory, and all citizens over the age of 18 are required to vote.

There have been a number of various Political parties in Australian Politics, but the main three are, (1) Australian Labor Party, (2) Liberal Party and (3) National (formerly Country Party) Party.  A number of other minor parties also exist, and they do have some input because of the way the Senate is set up.  It has been a standard practice for the Liberal Party and the National Party to form a Coalition.  Generally speaking, the Liberal/National Coalition is right winged, and the Labor Party is left winged, although both parties have members who are more left or right winged than the general party guidelines.

It is interesting to note that in 1933, Western Australia held a Referendum to secede from the Commonwealth of Australia, but the British Crown refused to accept the results in 1935.

With the advent of Federation, the new government took charge of immigration policy, and with the exception of the thousands who came to Australia during the gold rush years of the 19th century (many of whom returned home when the gold petered out), the majority of immigrants to Australia from 1901 until the end of World War II in 1945, were from Great Britain.

In the late 1940's Australia embarked on a plan to increase our population through a large immigration scheme, but there were many conditions attached.  It was generally known as "The White Australia Policy" and only persons from European backgrounds would be permitted to come to Australia.  Asians and Middle Eastern people were excluded and the "Yellow Peril" was much feared.  In fact, in the late 1940's the Australian Communist Party was banned, and any sympathisers could be arrested.  Many people came to Australia from European nations, especially the Southern parts of Europe including, Greece, Italy, Germany and many others.  (I was one of them).  Because the Australian Government actually subsidised their costs these became know as "Ten Quid Migrants" (Ten Quid means Ten Pounds, which was the cost that the person migrating had to pay)  They have since gone on to make Australia their home and many have more relatives in Australia now, than they do in their country of birth.  This practice of the "White Australia Policy" was to continue until about the 1970's.  Since then Australia has basically opened its doors to the world, and a modern Australia has people of all races.  I personally have no issue with that, but I have made my feelings on that matter known in another part of this site under "Other Writings", titled "Multiculturalism".