Section 122 of the Constitution of Australia
Section 122 of the Constitution of Australia deals with matters relating to the governance of Australian territories. It gives the Commonwealth Parliament complete legislative power over the territories. This power is called the territories power. The extent and terms of the representation of the territories in the House of Representatives and the Senate are also stated as being at the discretion of the Commonwealth Parliament.[1]
The precise text of the section is:[1]
The Parliament may make laws for the government of any territory surrendered by any State to and accepted by the Commonwealth, or of any territory placed by the Queen under the authority of and accepted by the Commonwealth, or otherwise acquired by the Commonwealth, and may allow the representation of such territory in either House of the Parliament to the extent and on the terms which it thinks fit.
Relationship with other provisions
The usual interpretation of the territories power is that it is a plenary power which is not limited by other provisions in the Constitution, notably section 51. The High Court has revisited its interpretations of section 122 over the years leading to what David Mossop, a judge of the ACT Supreme Court, described as a lack of "a coherent body of doctrine" guiding interpretation of the section.[2]
Territory courts
A court created for a Territory under the territories power is not a "court created by Parliament" for the purposes of
Creation of territory legislatures
The High Court views territory legislatures to be "new legislative powers" akin to historic colonial legislatures created by the British Parliament.[7][8] That is to say that, although territory legislatures derive their power from federal law, they are not delegated federal legislative power. A consequence of this is that the territory parliaments are not exercising federal legislative power and cannot enact laws that are exclusive to the federal parliament, such as excises under section 90 of the Constitution.[7][9]
"Just terms" compensation in the territories
In the earlier part of the 20th century, the
Reference list
- ^ a b "Chapter VI. New States". aph.gov.au. Parliament of Australia. 16 January 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
- ISBN 9781760023072.
- ^ a b Re Governor, Goulburn Correctional Centre; Ex parte Eastman (1999) 200 CLR 322; [1999] HCA 44 (High Court of Australia).
- ^ R v Bernasconi (1915) 19 CLR 629; [1915] HCA 13 (High Court of Australia).
- ^ Vunilagi v The Queen [2023] HCA 24
- ^ Northern Australia Aboriginal Legal Aid Service v Bradley [2004] HCA 31 at [28], 218 CLR 146 (McHugh, Gummow, Kirby, Hayne, Callinan and Heydon JJ, Gleeson CJ agreeing)
- ^ a b Capital Duplicators Pty Ltd v Australian Capital Territory (no 1) [1992] HCA 51, (1992) 177 CLR 248
- ^ R v Toohey; Ex parte Northern Land Council [1981] HCA 74, (1981) 151 CLR 170
- Commonwealth v Australian Capital Territory [2013] HCA 55, (2013) 250 CLR 441, High Court(Australia)
- ^ Teori Tau v Commonwealth (1969) 119 CLR 564; [1969] HCA 2 (High Court of Australia).
- ^ Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 (Cth) s 23(1)(a).
- ^ Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act 1978 s 50(1).
- ^ Wurridjal v Commonwealth [2009] HCA 2, (2009) 237 CLR 309
- ^ Yunupingu on behalf of the Gumatj Clan or Estate Group v Commonwealth of Australia [2023] FCAFC 75 (22 May 2023), Full Federal Court