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What is a Territory or a Commonwealth place?

 

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What is a territory?

Any land within Australia’s national border that is not part of one of the states is called a territory.

Mainland

The Northern Territory, the Australian Capital Territory and Jervis Bay Territory are mainland territories.

External

Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, the Coral Sea Islands, and Norfolk Island are external territories.

The Australian Antarctic Territory and the sub-Antarctic Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands are also external territories (however they are governed differently to the other external territories).

What is a Commonwealth place?

Commonwealth place means a place acquired by the Commonwealth for public purposes, other than the seat of government (Canberra).[1]

Examples of Commonwealth places include airports, defence bases, and office blocks purchased by the Commonwealth to accommodate employees of Commonwealth Government Departments.

Reference

[1] Australian Constitution s.52(i); Fair Work Act s.12.

Updated time

Last updated

15 June 2018

 

 

 

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