AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSIONERS IN OTHER COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES Britain: Hon. Sir Alexander Downer, KBE (High Commissioner); Canada: D W. McNicol, CBE (High Commissioner); New Zealand: Dame Annabelle Rankin (High Commissioner); India: P. Shaw, CBE (High Commissioner); Sri Lanka (Ceylon): H. D. White (High Commissioner); Fiji: R. F. Osborn (Commissioner); Ghana: J. M. McMillan (High Commissioner); Hong Kong: R. J. Barcham (Senior Trade Commissioner); Malaysia: J. R. Rowland (High Commissioner); Malta G.C.: Hon. Sir Hubert Opperman, OBE (High Commissioner); Nigeria: P. Hutton (High Commissioner); Tanzania: W. G. A. Landale (High Commissioner); Uganda: K. H. Rogers (resident in Nairobi) (High Commissioner); Kenya: K. H. Rogers (High Commissioner); Singapore: N. S. Parkinson (High Commissioner); Trinidad and Tobago: T. N. Cronin (Trade Commissioner); Nauru: R. K. Bate (Representative). COMMONWEALTH HIGH COMMISSIONERS Britain: Rt. Hon. Sir Morrice James, • Head Office in Melbourne Ghana: J. Owusu-Akyeampong; New Zealand: A. J. Yendell; India: M. Krishnamurti; Sri Lanka (Ceylon): J. Siriwardene; Singapore: A. P. Rajah; Malaysia: Tan Sri Dato Mohamed Fuad Stephens, PSM, PDK, PNBS; Malta G.C.: J. L. Forace; Bangladesh: Mr H. Ali. AUSTRALIAN REPRESENTATION IN NON-COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES Afghanistan: (Ambassador) (resident in Islamabad); Argentina: (Ambassador); Austria: (Ambassador); Belgium: (Ambassador); Brazil: (Ambassador); Burma: (Ambassador); Chile: (Ambassador); Denmark: (Ambassador) (resident in The Hague); Ethiopia: (Ambassador) (resident in Nairobi); Finland: (Ambassador) (resident in Stockholm); France: (Ambassador); Germany: (Ambassador); Greece: (Ambassador); Indonesia: (Ambassador); Iran: (Ambassador); Israel: (Ambassador); Italy: (Ambassador); Japan: (Ambassador); Khmer Republic: (Ambassador); Korea: (Ambassador); Laos: (Ambassador); Lebanon: (Ambassador); Mexico: (Ambassador); Nepal: (Ambassador) (resident in New Delhi); Netherlands: (Ambassador); New Caledonia: (Consul); Norway: (Ambas sador) (resident in Stockholm); Peru: (Ambassador) (resident in Buenos Aires); Philippines: (Ambassador); Portugal: (Ambassador) (resident in Paris); Portuguese Timor: (Consul); Republic of Ireland: (Ambassador); Republic of South Africa: (Ambassador); Romania: (Ambassador) (resident in Belgrade); Spain: (Ambassador); Sweden: (Ambassador); Switzerland: (Am bassador); Thailand: (Ambassador); Turkey: (Ambassador); U.S.S.R.: (Ambassador); Arab Republic of Egypt: (Ambassador); United Nations: (Ambassador, New York); (Permanent Representative in Europe, Geneva); United States: (Ambassador); Uruguay: (Ambassador) (resident in Buenos Aires): Viet Nam: (Ambassador); Yugoslavia: (Ambassador). STATES OF THE COMMONWEALTH NEW SOUTH WALES The State of New South Wales lies on the eastern (Pacific) coast of Australia, almost entirely between the 29th and 36th parallels of south latitude. To the south it is separated from Victoria by the Murray River, but the boundary with South Australia to the west and the greater part of that with Queensland to the north is merely a straight line on the map. The area of New South Wales (inclusive of a dependency, Lord Howe Island, five square miles, but exclusive of the Australian Capital Territory, 910 square miles) is 309,433 square miles, a little over two and a half times that of Great Britain and Ireland. The estimated population as at 30th June 1970 was 4,567,000 of whom an estimated 2,780,310 lived in Sydney, the State capital. HISTORY The name New South Wales was given to the eastern part of Australia on its discovery by Captain Cook in 1770, but the first settlement was not formed until 1788, at Sydney under Captain Phillip. Settlement for a time was slow, because a passage over the Blue Mountains, giving access to the interior plains, was not discovered until 1813. In 1828 the total population was only 36,598, but the discovery of gold in 1851 attracted many settlers. Responsible Government was established in 1856. LORD HOWE ISLAND This island lies 436 miles north-east from Sydney. Its area is five square miles and its estimated population as at 30 June 1970 was 270. For purposes of representation in Parliament it is included in one of the Sydney electorates. A Board of Control under the Chief Secretary's Department, Sydney, administers the island. CONSTITUTION The Constitution Act of 1902 (No. 32 of 1902) provides that the Legislature of New South Wales 'shall, subject to the provisions of the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act, have power to make laws for the peace, welfare and good government of New South Wales in all cases whatsoever'. The Legislature consists of the Crown and two Houses; the Legislative Council and the Legislative Assembly. The Governor is the local representative of the Crown. His functions are defined partly by statutes and partly by Letters Patent and Instructions to the For further information about New South Wales see the Official Year Book of New South Wales Governor issued under the Royal Sign Manual. He acts on the advice of the Executive Council or of a Minister of the Crown, except in limited spheres where he possesses discretionary power, e.g. in regard to the dissolution of Parliament. The Executive Council consists of members of the Ministry formed by the leader of the dominant party in the Legislative Assembly, and the Governor presides over its deliberations. In compliance with a referendum assented to in May 1933, the Legislative Council was reconstituted on 23rd April 1934. The new House consisted of sixty members, elected by the combined vote of members of the existing Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly, provision being made for the retirement of fifteen members in rotation every three years, and the members being therefore initially elected in groups for three, six, nine and twelve years respectively. The Legislative Assembly consists of ninety-six members elected under a system of universal adult suffrage for up to three years. By Act No. 33 of 1950 any bill prolonging the life of the Assembly beyond the period of three years cannot be presented for the Royal Assent until it has been approved by a referendum. The Act also provides that any bill repealing or amending its provisions similarly requires approval by referendum. Any person enrolled as an elector may be elected to the Assembly, except members of the Legislative Council or of the Federal Legislature. Bills appropriating money or imposing taxation and bills affecting the Assembly itself must originate in the Assembly, and by its power over supply this House controls the Executive. Adult British subjects, men and women, are qualified for enrolment as electors when they have resided in the Commonwealth for a period of six months, in the State for three months, and in any sub-division of an electoral district for one month preceding the date of claim for enrolment. Since 1894 each elector has been entitled to one vote only, and voting has been compulsory since 1928. The electoral law provides that electorates are to be redistributed whenever directed by the Governor. In the event of there being no direction by the Governor, a distribution must take place on the expiration of five years from the date of the last redistribution. The redistribution is made by the Electoral Districts Commissioners, who may make use of the services of any of the officers and employees of the Public Service. GOVERNMENT At the Legislative Assembly election in February 1971 the Liberal Party secured 33 seats, the Country Party 16, the Labour Party 45, and seats were gained by two Independents. The Government was formed by a coalition of the Liberal and Country Parties. The Legislative Council comprised in April 1971: 17 Liberal Party members: 12 Country Party; 26 Labour Party; 5 Independents. GOVERNOR His Excellency Sir Arthur Roden Cutler, VC, KCMG, KCVO, CBE, KSt J LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR The Hon. Sir Leslie Herron, KBE, CMG THE MINISTRY Premier and Treasurer: The Hon. Sir Robert Askin, KCMG, MLA Minister for Education: The Hon. Eric Archibald Willis, BA, MLA Minister for Public Works: The Hon. Davis Hughes, MLA Minister of Justice: The Hon. John Clarkson Maddison, BA, LLB, MLA The Hon. Wallace Clyde Fife, MLA Minister for Labour and Industry: The Hon. Frederick Maclean Hewitt, MLC Chief Secretary and Minister for Sport: The Hon. I. R. Griffith. MLA OPPOSITION Leader of the Opposition: Patrick Darcy Hills, MLA VICTORIA Victoria is situated at the south-east of the continent of Australia, and lies between the 34th and 39th parallels of S. latitude. The area is 87.884 square miles. The latest official estimate of Victoria's population at 30th June 1971 (Preliminary Census figure) was 3,496,161. The other principal urban areas in Victoria are Melbourne (pop. 2,388,941), Geelong (pop. 115,047), Ballarat (pop. 58,434) and Bendigo (pop. 45,860). Principal seaports are Melbourne and Geelong. There is an international airport at Tullamarine nine miles from Melbourne. The principal products are wool, cereals, dairy products, meat, fruits (fresh, canned and dried) and a wide range of manufactured goods. HISTORY It is believed that the first Europeans to sight the Victorian coast were Captain Cook and the crew of His Majesty's ship Endeavour. The first permanent settlement was formed at Portland in 1834 by Edward Henty from Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania). Melbourne, later to be the capital, was founded at the northern end of Port Phillip Bay in 1835. In 1851 the District of Port Phillip, which had previously formed part of New South Wales, was separated from that State by an Act of the Parliament at Westminster and became a separate Colony under the name of Victoria with a Legislative Council of its own. Shortly afterwards, rich deposits of gold were discovered in Victoria which led to a great influx of population. PRESENT CONSTITUTION The Constitution Act (13 & 14 Vict. c. 59. s.32) was assented to by Her Majesty in Council, pursuant to the provisions of Statute 18 & 19 Vict. c. 55.s. 1, For further information about Victoria see the Victorian Year Book |