LESSON 12.5 Why do we share power between different levels of government?
LEARNING INTENTION By the end of this lesson you should be able to:
• explain why Australia has different levels of government • analyse how powers are divided between these levels • evaluate how different levels of government work together.
Tune in The 2022 þoods in New South Wales and Queensland required all levels of government to work together. 1. What services might each level of government provide during a þood? 2. Why is it important for governments to work together during emergencies? 3. How might different levels of governments sometimes disagree about what to do?
FIGURE1 The Australian Army assists the New South Wales SES during the 2022 þoods.
12.5.1 Why share power? The Australian Constitution deýnes parliament, the executive and the judiciary in Australia and the roles they play in making and managing laws in Australia. Each group has their own area of responsibility, and they keep a check on the actions of the others. It makes sure no one person or group has all the power. Before 1901, each Australian colony had its own parliament that made laws and managed things. After 1901, when Australia became a federation, these parliaments became state parliaments and continued their work. Australia shares power between different levels of government to ensure our democracy works effectively and fairly. By dividing responsibilities between federal, state and local governments, we can make sure decisions are made at the most appropriate level. Key reasons for sharing power include: • Different areas have different needs and challenges. • Local governments understand local community issues better.
• Some matters impact the entire country and need national leadership. • Sharing power prevents any one group from becoming too powerful.
454 Jacaranda Humanities Alive 7 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
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