Documenting Democracy
Australia's Story
Commonwealth documents
The original Australian Constitution Act, passed by the British Parliament in 1900, presented to Australia ninety years later    Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900 (UK)
The original Australian Constitution Act, passed by the British Parliament in 1900, presented to Australia ninety years later

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transcripts : PDF | RTF |
Signed by Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle on 9 July 1900, this beautiful document established the Commonwealth of Australia    Royal Commission of Assent 9 July 1900 (UK)
Signed by Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle on 9 July 1900, this beautiful document established the Commonwealth of Australia

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transcripts : PDF | RTF |
Read out to the crowds at the ceremony on 1 January 1901, this document founded the first office of the new nation, that of Governor-General    Letters Patent constituting the office of Governor-General 29 October 1900 (UK)
Read out to the crowds at the ceremony on 1 January 1901, this document founded the first office of the new nation, that of Governor-General

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transcripts : PDF | RTF |
Last seen in 1946 ... still searching    Queen Victoria's Instructions to the Governor-General 29 October 1900 (UK)
Last seen in 1946 ... still searching

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transcripts : PDF | RTF |
A document designed to deport 10 000 people    Pacific Island Labourers Act 1901 (Cth)
A document designed to deport 10 000 people

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transcripts : PDF | RTF |
Building the walls of a White Australia that never was    Immigration Restriction Act 1901 (Cth)
Building the walls of a White Australia that never was

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transcripts : PDF | RTF |
Defining who counts in our democracy – the right to vote    Commonwealth Franchise Act 1902 (Cth)
Defining who counts in our democracy – the right to vote

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transcripts : PDF | RTF |
An Australian first – compulsory voting becomes law    Commonwealth Electoral Act 1924 (Cth)
An Australian first – compulsory voting becomes law

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transcripts : PDF | RTF |
A fair go – a win for the workers    Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1904 (Cth)
A fair go – a win for the workers

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transcripts : PDF | RTF |
Who made our flag official – Queen Elizabeth II, or her great-grandfather?    Flags Act 1953 (Cth)
Who made our flag official – Queen Elizabeth II, or her great-grandfather?

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transcripts : PDF | RTF |
Australians gain a High Court, and lose a Prime Minister    Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth)
Australians gain a High Court, and lose a Prime Minister

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transcripts : PDF | RTF |
The fight for the Federal Capital Territory finished at last    Seat of Government Acceptance Act 1909 (Cth)
The fight for the Federal Capital Territory finished at last

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transcripts : PDF | RTF |
The only international document to shape Australia's constitutional framework    Treaty of Versailles 1919 (including Covenant of the League of Nations)
The only international document to shape Australia's constitutional framework

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transcripts : PDF | RTF |
Equal in status ... and freely associated – a small step for Britain, but a large leap for the Australian people    Balfour Declaration 1926 (Imperial Conference)
Equal in status ... and freely associated – a small step for Britain, but a large leap for the Australian people

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transcripts : PDF | RTF |
Australian law comes of age    Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1942 (Cth)
Australian law comes of age

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transcripts : PDF | RTF |
Announcing the birth of the Australian citizen    Nationality and Citizenship Act 1948 (Cth)
Announcing the birth of the Australian citizen

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transcripts : PDF | RTF |
A new Queen is monarch 'Of the United Kingdom, Australia and Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith'    Royal Style and Titles Act 1953 (Cth)
A new Queen is monarch 'Of the United Kingdom, Australia and Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith'

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transcripts : PDF | RTF |
A souvenir of the first Royal Tour of the Queen of Australia    Royal Style and Titles Act 1973 (Cth)
A souvenir of the first Royal Tour of the Queen of Australia

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transcripts : PDF | RTF |
 Two traditions of law meet for the first time in Canberra    Yirrkala bark petitions 1963 (Cth)
Two traditions of law meet for the first time in Canberra

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transcripts : PDF | RTF |
Setting submarine boundaries    Seas and Submerged Lands Act 1973 (Cth)
Setting submarine boundaries

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transcripts : PDF | RTF |
Adjusting the Federation under the seas    Coastal Waters (State Powers) Act 1980 (Cth)
Adjusting the Federation under the seas

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transcripts : PDF | RTF |
Alone at last – old constitutional ties undone    Australia Act 1986 (Cth)
Alone at last – old constitutional ties undone

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transcripts : PDF | RTF |
A glimpse into the longest document shaping the Commonwealth's first century    Mabo v Queensland No. 2 1992 (Cth)
A glimpse into the longest document shaping the Commonwealth's first century

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transcripts : No transcript available at this time.