| AUSTRALIA Commonwealth of Australia Commonwealth of Australia Joined United Nations: 1 November 1945 Human Rights as assured by their constitution Updated 01 August 2012 |
Section 41 - Rights of electors of States
No adult person who has or acquires a right to vote at elections for the more numerous House of the Parliament of a State
shall, while the right continues, be prevented by any law of the Commonwealth from voting at elections for either House of the
Parliament of the Commonwealth.
Section 51 - Legislative powers of the Parliament
The Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws for the peace, order, and good government of the
Commonwealth with respect to:-
(xxxi.) The acquisition of property on just terms from any State or person for any purpose in respect of which the Parliament
has power to make laws:
Section 80 - Trial by jury
The trial on indictment of any offence against any law of the Commonwealth shall be by jury, and every such trial shall be held
in the State where the offence was committed, and if the offence was not committed within any State the trial shall be held at
such place or places as the Parliament prescribes.
Section 92 - Trade within the Commonwealth to be free
On the imposition of uniform duties of customs, trade, commerce, and intercourse among the States, whether by means of
internal carriage or ocean navigation, shall be absolutely free.
But notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, goods imported before the imposition of uniform duties of customs into any
State, or into any Colony which, whilst the goods remain therein, becomes a State, shall, on thence passing into another State
within two years after the imposition of such duties, be liable to any duty chargeable on the importation of such goods into the
Commonwealth, less any duty paid in respect of the goods on their importation
Section 116 - Commonwealth not to legislate in respect of religion
The Commonwealth shall not make any law for establishing any religion, or for imposing any religious observance, or for
prohibiting the free exercise of any religion, and no religious test shall be required as a qualification for any office or public trust
under the Commonwealth.
Section 117 - Rights of residents in States
A subject of the Queen, resident in any State, shall not be subject in any other State to any disability or discrimination which
would not be equally applicable to him if he were a subject of the Queen resident in such other State.
No adult person who has or acquires a right to vote at elections for the more numerous House of the Parliament of a State
shall, while the right continues, be prevented by any law of the Commonwealth from voting at elections for either House of the
Parliament of the Commonwealth.
Section 51 - Legislative powers of the Parliament
The Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws for the peace, order, and good government of the
Commonwealth with respect to:-
(xxxi.) The acquisition of property on just terms from any State or person for any purpose in respect of which the Parliament
has power to make laws:
Section 80 - Trial by jury
The trial on indictment of any offence against any law of the Commonwealth shall be by jury, and every such trial shall be held
in the State where the offence was committed, and if the offence was not committed within any State the trial shall be held at
such place or places as the Parliament prescribes.
Section 92 - Trade within the Commonwealth to be free
On the imposition of uniform duties of customs, trade, commerce, and intercourse among the States, whether by means of
internal carriage or ocean navigation, shall be absolutely free.
But notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, goods imported before the imposition of uniform duties of customs into any
State, or into any Colony which, whilst the goods remain therein, becomes a State, shall, on thence passing into another State
within two years after the imposition of such duties, be liable to any duty chargeable on the importation of such goods into the
Commonwealth, less any duty paid in respect of the goods on their importation
Section 116 - Commonwealth not to legislate in respect of religion
The Commonwealth shall not make any law for establishing any religion, or for imposing any religious observance, or for
prohibiting the free exercise of any religion, and no religious test shall be required as a qualification for any office or public trust
under the Commonwealth.
Section 117 - Rights of residents in States
A subject of the Queen, resident in any State, shall not be subject in any other State to any disability or discrimination which
would not be equally applicable to him if he were a subject of the Queen resident in such other State.
On 9 July 1900, the Parliament of the United Kingdom passed "an Act to Constitute the
Commonwealth of Australia", further cited as the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution
Act. This Act established the status of Australia as a full and free member state of the
Commonwealth and details the separation of powers; however, it enumerates few human
rights safeguards as specified in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights of which
Australia is a signatory, though it has been amended eight times, the last time of which was
in 1977. There is no "Bill of Rights" in effect for Australia though the subject has been one of
political debate for years. Australia views its federal parliamentary system of government as
providing adequate safeguards to protect humans rights and is a signatory to the
International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights. For a complete version of that text, click
here. Following are those specific articles of the Australia Constitution assuring human
rights. For a full English translation of Australia's constitution, click here.
Commonwealth of Australia", further cited as the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution
Act. This Act established the status of Australia as a full and free member state of the
Commonwealth and details the separation of powers; however, it enumerates few human
rights safeguards as specified in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights of which
Australia is a signatory, though it has been amended eight times, the last time of which was
in 1977. There is no "Bill of Rights" in effect for Australia though the subject has been one of
political debate for years. Australia views its federal parliamentary system of government as
providing adequate safeguards to protect humans rights and is a signatory to the
International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights. For a complete version of that text, click
here. Following are those specific articles of the Australia Constitution assuring human
rights. For a full English translation of Australia's constitution, click here.