Summary
What’s been happening in Australian politics? Answer: a lot.
G’day! and welcome to the inaugural version of this month in politics: Australia. Brig presents a comprehensive overview of Australian politics in the month of November, along with some nice to know facts.
Firsts things first:
For those not not well acquainted with Australian politics, here is list of important political details:
- Australia is a Constitutional Monarchy, governed by a Parliamentary democracy style of government.
- King Charles III is the official head of state, represented by the governor-general, Samantha Joy Mostyn.
- The head of government since 2022, and 31st prime minster of Australia, is Anthony Albanese. The government is run by the left-wing Labor Party.
- The Australian government is divided into three branches: the executive, judicial and legislative.
- The Australian parliament (legislative) is divided into two. The House of Representatives (lower house) comprises of 151 members. The Senate (upper house) comprising of 76 senators, 12 from each of the six states, and two from each of the two territories.
- Australia is divided into six states and two territories (the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory), each with its own government.
November 7: Government proposes legislation banning social media for under-16
The Australian government is to introduce “world-leading” legislation to ban children under 16 from accessing social media platforms.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the proposed laws, which aim to reduce the harm social media causes to young Australians, particularly around issues of safety and mental health.
The legislation will apply to all children under 16, even if they have parental consent, and will place the responsibility on social media platforms to prevent access.
The laws will be enforced by Australia’s eSafety Commissioner and will come into effect 12 months after passing, with a review to follow.
The proposed law is not without its controversy. Critics are sceptical of the effectiveness of an outright ban while supporters believe it will be necessary action to prevent under-16s from viewing harmful content and being subject to online harassment and or bullying.
Note: this bill has now passed into law [28 November 2024].
November 18: Senator who heckled King is censured
Australian lawmakers have voted to censure Senator Lidia Thorpe for heckling King Charles during his visit to Canberra in October. Thorpe shouted, “you are not my King” and “this is not your land” to protest British colonisation and highlight the ongoing struggles of Indigenous Australians.
The Senate’s censure motion, passed 46-12, condemned her actions as “disrespectful and disruptive,” although it carries no legal consequences.
Thorpe defended her protest, reiterating her stance on the Crown’s historical crimes against Indigenous people and refusing to remain silent.
Thorpe, an outspoken advocate for Indigenous rights, has long called for a treaty between the Australian government and Indigenous peoples. Thorpe has been a vocal critic of measures like the Voice, arguing they are insufficient.
The Voice refers to the rejected referendum in 2023 to grant constitutional recognition to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and create a body, known as the Voice, to advise parliament on Indigenous issues. Thorpe criticised the proposal as being tokenistic.
November 21: New immigration bill could lead to thousands being deported
The Australian government’s new immigration bill could lead to the deportation of over 80,000 people, including those without valid visas, some on bridging visas, and individuals released from detention after a high court ruling.
The bill allows the government to pay third countries to accept these non-citizens, which has drawn comparisons to the UK’s failed Rwanda deportation plan.
Critics, including human rights advocates, warn that the bill could separate families and send individuals to countries with poor human rights records, where they may face arbitrary detention, violence, or other mistreatment.
While officials assert that Australia will not deport people to countries where they face harm, there are no explicit requirements in the bill for removal countries to be signatories to international refugee conventions. This has raised concerns that the countries could be chosen for their lack of such agreements.
The bill was introduced after a high court ruling declared certain detention regulations unlawful. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke emphasised that the government’s primary focus is community safety and preventing individuals with cancelled visas from staying in Australia.
Featured Image Credit: Edward Jewsbury.
I am a third-year Politics and Journalism Studies student at the University of Stirling (2022-) and a writer and sub-editor for the Brig for over a year (Nov. 2023-), focusing mainly on political topics.
