The federation of austraila

By mikaelag

  • The meettig

    The meettig
    In January 1881, an inter-colonial meetting was held in Sydney to discuss the particular issue of customs duties. Colonies such as NSW believed in free trade, where as Victoria supported a protectionism policy where the government taxes were imposed on goods imported from other colonies to encourage people to support local industry.

  • The British Parliament

    The British Parliament passed the Federal Council of Australia on 14 August and after the colonies passed adopting acts, the Federal Council was formed. NSW, New Zealand and South Australia (except for 1888-1890), however, all refrained from joining the Council. It was said that the absence of NSW, that was the most powerful colony at the time, had a severe and fatal impact on the Council which later disintegrated in 1889.

  • The federal council

    Realising the Federal Council, Sir Henry Parkes made a second attempt at Federation. At the Tenterfield School of Arts on 24 October 1889, he gave a famous speech which called for the need of a national government. In his speech, Parkes highlighted the recent report by Major-General Sir J. Bevan Edwards which defined the need for the colonial forces to unite as one for the sake of the country's defence.

  • draft 2

    draft 2
    Drafting the Constitution
    The National Australasian Convention met in 1897 and in 1898. Each colony elected representatives to attend, except Queensland, which did not support federation. Committees debated each paragraph of the draft constitution, changes were made, and a new constitution was drafted by Edmund Barton, John Downer and Richard O'Connor. Equal Representation
    The smaller colonies were afraid that the larger ones would have more say in a federal parliament, so the conference adopte

  • The First Referendum

    A special election called a referendum was held so that people in the colonies could vote on the constitution. Queensland and Western Australia did not take part, and in New South Wales it did not get approved. The premiers met in 1899 to find ways of meeting the concerns of those three colonies.

  • Drafting the Constitution

    The National Australasian Convention met in 1897 and in 1898. Each colony elected representatives to attend, except Queensland, which did not support federation. Committees debated each paragraph of the draft constitution, changes were made, and a new constitution was drafted by Edmund Barton, John Downer and Richard O'Connor.
  • Period: to

    HI