Territory of the Australian capital

The Territoire of the Australian capital ( Capital Australian Territory - ACT) is the territory on which is located the Australian federal capital , Canberra. Wedged in the south-east of the News-Wales of the South, it smallest but is also the most populated Australian autonomous territories.

He was imagined during the negotiations preceding the Federation, like neutral site of a new national capital. The Australian constitution envisaged thus that following the union, in 1901, of the ground should be yielded to the new federal government. The property of the territory was transferred from News-Wales of the South to the federal government in 1911 and the construction of the capital, Canberra, started in 1913.

History

Before the arrival of Europeans, the area was inhabited by three tribes aboriginals: " Ngunnawals" , " Walgalus" and " Ngarigos".

The first Europeans arrivérent only in the years 1820. From 1824, the first exploitations settled and farms then some small towns like Hall and Tharwa transfer the day.

One of these exploitations has a historical interest any private individual: Lambrigg, close to Tharwa. It is there that William Farrer developed a variety of corn resistant to rust, which had a very beneficial effect on industry Australian miller. Farrer died in Lambrigg in 1906

When the colonies negotiated between them a constitution to form the the Commonwealth of Australia , there were a point of obstacle on the choice of the capital, Melbourne and Sydney clashed, claiming each one the seat of the capital. Finally a compromise was found with the creation of a new capital in News-Wales-of-South, with at least 100 miles of Sidney. While waiting for that the new capital is created, Melbourne was the provisional capital of Australia.

In 1911, an international contest for the plans of the city was created. It was gained by Walter Burley Griffin. It was decided to call it Canberra and the construction of the city began on March 12th, 1913.

The seat of the federal government was officially transferred from Melbourne to the ACT to the opening of the first session of the Parliament to Canberra on May 9th, 1927. Among the first decisions voted by the Parliament the abrogation of prohibition appears. At the beginning, the businesses continued to be carried out of Melbourne but the various ministries were gradually transferred towards Canberra, which took several years.

The official name of the territory was initially the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) . In 1938, it was transformed into the Australian Capital Territory , (the territory of the Australian capital).

In 1978, by referendum, the inhabitants of Canberra refused to 63% to self-manage themselves. In spite of that, in December 1988, the Parliament granted to the territory a self government directly attached to the Crown. After the first elections in February 1989 a legislative assembly of 17 members settled in London Circuit, to Civic, on May 11th, 1989. The Australian workers party formed the first government, led by the Prime Minister, Rosemary Follett, which became the first woman head of government in Australia.

Government

The ACT has a clean government without having the legislative independence of the Australian states. It is controlled by a Ministry ( Ministry ) held by a Minister as a Chief ( Chief Minister ). The laws passed through a legislative assembly of 17 members which cumulates local competences and competences of State. However, its decisions can be cancelled by the Australian government.

Contrary to the other car-controlled Australian territories (for example the island Norfolk, Christmas island (Australia) and islands Coconuts (Keeling)), the ACT does not have an administrator. The part of the Crown is played by the general governor of Australia.

At the Australian federal Parliament, the ACT is represented by four members: two senators and two members of the Room of the representatives.

Simple: Capital Australian Territory

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