Australian Parliament history timeline

24 October 1889

Tenterfield Oration

Sir Henry Parkes’ call for the Australian colonies to unite sparks the movement towards Federation.

06 February 1890

Australasian Federation Conference

Delegates from each colony meet and decide they want to unite as one nation.

31 July 1893

Corowa Conference

Supporters of Federation meet in Corowa to plan the next steps towards nationhood.

Pollins station referendum day, Brisbane, 1899

29 April 1899

Federation referendum

Voters approve the Australian Constitution and agree to become a nation.

09 July 1900

Australian Constitution

The Australian Constitution is approved by the British Parliament and signed by Queen Victoria.

Children celebrating Federation, Melbourne 1901

01 January 1901

Creation of Australia

Australia becomes a nation when 6 British colonies unite. This moment is known as Federation.

09 May 1901

Federal press gallery established

The press gallery observes and reports as the Australian Parliament meets for the first time.

White Australia: March of the Great White Policy, W. E. Naunton

23 October 1901

Immigration Restriction Act 1901

The new Australian Parliament outlines their vision for a white Australia in the Immigration Restriction Act 1901.

17 November 1901

Pacific Islanders Labourers Act 1901

This Act stopped Pacific Islanders coming to Australia to work and allowed thousands to be deported.

12 June 1902

Commonwealth Franchise Act 1902

Australian women are granted the right to vote and stand for election to the Australian Parliament.

25 August 1903

Judiciary Act 1903

The High Court is founded to serve as a key part of the separation of powers in Australia.

01 March 1904

Defence Act 1903

The Defence Act 1903 allows for the creation of Australia’s defence forces.

1904 Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Abirtration

15 December 1904

The Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1904

The Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration is set up to settle disputes between workers and employers.

18 October 1905

Wireless Telegraphy Act 1905

The Australian Government takes control of the airwaves by regulating wireless telegraphy.

03 September 1906

Administration of Papua

Australia becomes a colonial power when it begins governing Papua as an Australian territory.

12 December 1906

First Federal Referendum

Australians approve a change to Senate elections in the first federal referendum.

08 November 1907

Harvester Judgement

A minimum wage for Australian workers is established.

14 December 1908

Seat of Government Act 1908

Canberra is chosen as Australia’s national capital.

15 April 1909

Invalid and Old-age Pensions Act 1908

The first national welfare scheme is established in Australia.

1911 Proclomation of Commonwealth Territories

01 January 1911

Proclamation of Commonwealth Territories

The Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory are created.

27 March 1912

Compulsory enrolment for elections

Enrolling to vote becomes mandatory for eligible voters in Australia.

1912 Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Bundaberg

15 July 1912

Commonwealth Bank Act 1911

Australia's national bank is created.

10 October 1912

Maternity Allowance Act 1912

The Australian Parliament recognises the costs associated with raising children, creating a law to give financial assistance to new mothers.

05 February 1913

Commonwealth Workmen’s Compensation Act 1912

This law gives public service employees financial compensation if they are injured or killed while working.

30 July 1914

First double dissolution

For the first time in Australia, the Senate and House of Representatives are dissolved at the same time.

29 October 1914

War Precautions Act 1914

This Act was made to protect Australia during the war. It gave the government powers it had never had before.

30 October 1914

Internment of enemy aliens

The federal government aims to protect Australia from German ‘enemy aliens’.

28 October 1916

1916 conscription plebiscite

A plebiscite on compulsory military service divides the nation.

14 December 1918

First election using preferential voting

Preferential voting is established for federal elections, replacing the ‘first-past-the-post’ voting system.

28 June 1919

Treaty of Versailles

Australia signs its first international treaty and is recognised as an independent nation.

31 August 1920

The Engineers Case 

The High Court’s decision in this case changes how the Constitution is interpreted.

30 June 1923

Main Roads Development Act 1923

Specific purpose payments are provided to the states by the Australian Parliament for the first time.

31 July 1924

Commonwealth Electoral Act 1924

Compulsory voting is introduced to address low participation numbers in federal elections.

09 May 1927

Provisional Parliament House Opens

The Australian Parliament meets in Provisional Parliament House in Canberra from 1927 to 1988.

12 October 1929

Prime Minister Bruce loses his seat

Bruce becomes the first Prime Minister to lose their seat while serving as Prime Minister.

22 January 1931

First Australian-born Governor-General

Isaac Isaacs is the first Governor-General to be born in Australia.

25 May 1931

The Premiers’ Plan

The Great Depression drives the Prime Minister and state premiers to develop a national economic plan.

01 July 1932

Australian Broadcasting Commission Act 1932

The Australian Broadcasting Commission is established.

08 April 1933

Western Australian Secession Referendum

Western Australians vote to leave the Commonwealth but it is not legally binding.

13 June 1933

Australia's first overseas territory

Australia takes control of land in Antarctica.

07 April 1939

Prime Minister Joseph Lyons dies

Joseph Lyons is the first Prime Minister to die in office.

03 September 1939

Australia declares war

Prime Minister Robert Menzies announces that due to Britain declaring war, Australia is also at war.

28 October 1940

Advisory War Council

The government and opposition work together on the Advisory War Council to win the war.

07 June 1942

Income Tax (War-Time Arrangements) Act

Australia introduces uniform rates of income taxation.

09 October 1942

Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1942

Most political and legal ties between Britain and Australia are cut.

21 August 1943

First women in the Australian Parliament

Dorothy Tangney and Enid Lyons are the first women elected to the Australian Parliament.

08 May 1945

First parliamentary broadcast

The proceedings of the Australian Parliament are broadcast for the first time.

24 October 1945

Australia becomes a founding member of the United Nations

Australian leaders help draft the United Nations Charter.

28 September 1946

Social welfare referendum

Australians vote to allow the Parliament to make laws to provide family allowance, unemployment and other welfare payments.

14 September 1947

Australia's first peacekeeping commitment

Australia supports peacekeeping operations in Indonesia, honouring our international obligations.

Banking Nationalisation case Sydney morning herald 12 August 1948

11 August 1948

Bank Nationalisation Case

A law which would nationalise banking in Australia is found to be invalid by the High Court of Australia.

26 January 1949

Nationality and Citizenship Act 1948

Australian citizenship is established. Australians are still British subjects but are now recognised as citizens of their own country.

07 July 1949

Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Power Act 1949

The Australian Government commits to the nations largest engineering project.

19 December 1949

First woman appointed to a cabinet position

Enid Lyons is appointed to the Federal Executive Council, the first woman to hold such a position.

20 October 1950

Communist Party Dissolution Act 1950

The government's attempt to ban communism is ruled unconstitutional by the High Court.

01 July 1951

Colombo Plan

The Colombo Plan strengthens Australia’s international relations in Asia by providing aid.

29 April 1952

ANZUS treaty

Australia, New Zealand and the United States agree to a formal security and defence treaty.

03 April 1954

The 'Petrov Affair'

Soviet diplomats (and spies) Vladimir and Evdokia Petrov shock the nation when they defect during the Cold War.

14 April 1954

Flags Act 1953

Australia’s national flag is officially declared.

07 April 1955

The Labor Party Split

Anti-communist fervour leads to a split in the Australian Labor Party.

02 March 1956

The Boilermakers Case

The separation of powers is examined in the High Court of Australia.

18 June 1962

Commonwealth Electoral Act 1962

The right of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to vote in federal elections is confirmed.

14 August 1963

Yirrkala petitions

The modern land rights movement begins as the Yolngu petition the Australian Parliament.

25 June 1964

States Grants (Science Laboratories and Technical Training) Act 1964

Controversially, the Australian Government commences 'state aid' to non-government schools.

06 May 1966

Migration Act 1966

This law allows non-white immigrants to move to Australia, ending the ‘White Australia’ Policy.

23 August 1966

Gurindji walk off Wave Hill

This strike exposes discrimination against First Nations people and advances the land rights movement.

18 November 1966

Marriage bar abolished

Married women are allowed to work in the public service.

27 May 1967

1967 referendum

The Constitution is changed, allowing Parliament to make laws for First Nations people and count First Nations people in the census.

01 May 1969

Copyright Act 1968

Australian law is updated to protect creative materials.

19 June 1969

Equal Pay Case

Australian women are entitled to equal pay for equal work.

08 May 1970

First Vietnam moratorium march

Thousands of Australians protest the Vietnam War and conscription.

27 April 1971

Gove Land Rights Case

The Yolngu people ask the courts to recognise their rights to their traditional lands and stop a mining development.

11 June 1971

First Indigenous member of parliament

Neville Bonner is the first Indigenous Australian to become a member of the Australian Parliament.

26 January 1972

Aboriginal Tent Embassy

Activists set up the ‘Aboriginal embassy’ at the front of Parliament House.

21 March 1973

Change of voting age

The voting age is lowered from 21 to 18.

06 August 1974

Joint sitting of Parliament

A joint sitting of the Australian Parliament is held to break the deadlock between the Senate and House of Representatives.

07 August 1974

Territory senators

The Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory are granted representation in the Senate for the first time.

1974 Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act

13 March 1975

National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1975

This law reforms how national parks are created and managed in Australia.

08 July 1975

End of appeals from the High Court to the Privy Council

Australia’s judicial system becomes independent from Britain.

11 November 1975

The Whitlam dismissal

The Governor-General controversially dismisses the government led by Prime Minister Gough Whitlam.

01 July 1978

NT granted self-government

The Northern Territory is granted self-government – the power to make its own laws.

01 December 1982

Freedom of Information Act

This Act gives Australians the right to access information held by the Australian Government and most government departments.

01 December 1983

High Court rules on the Franklin Dam Case

The court upholds a law made by the Australian Parliament to stop the Tasmanian Government building a dam.

01 February 1984

Medicare starts

Universal healthcare is established in Australia.

21 February 1984

Commonwealth Electoral Legislation Amendment Act 1983

‘Above the line’ voting is introduced in Senate elections to help make voting easier.

19 April 1984

New national anthem

Advance Australia Fair becomes Australia’s national anthem.

06 June 1984

Archives Act 1983

This law safeguards Government records and makes them accessible to Australians.

01 August 1984

Sex Discrimination Act 1984

This Act protects people from unfair treatment because of their gender and makes sexual harassment against the law.

11 February 1986

First female Speaker

Joan Child becomes the first woman Speaker of the House of Representatives.

03 March 1986

Australia Act 1986

Australia becomes independent from the British Parliament and courts.

14 August 1986

First woman leader of a federal political party

Janine Haines is the first woman to lead a political party in the Australian Parliament.

06 February 1987

First woman appointed to the High Court

Justice Mary Gaudron KC becomes the first woman appointed to the bench of the High Court of Australia.

09 May 1988

Australian Parliament House opened

The permanent meeting place of the Australian Parliament is opened.

Entrance to the ACT Legislative Assembly

11 May 1989

ACT granted self-government

The Australian Capital Territory is granted self-government – the power to make its own laws.

17 December 1990

Convention on the Rights of the Child

Australia agrees to protect children’s rights by ratifying the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

03 June 1992

Mabo decision

Native Title is recognised by the High Court of Australia.

08 June 1994

Federation Chamber formed

A second meeting place of the House of Representatives is created.

20 February 1995

Hansard published online

Accessing the proceedings of the Australian Parliament becomes easier as it starts being published on the internet.

10 May 1996

National Firearms Agreement

The Australian Government agrees to make gun ownership laws more restrictive in response to the Port Arthur massacre.

20 August 1996

First female President of the Senate

Margaret Reid becomes the first female President of the Senate.

27 March 1997

Euthanasia Laws Act 1997

The Australian Parliament overturns a law made by the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly.

08 July 1997

Lange v ABC

Freedom of political communication in Australia is confirmed with this High Court decision.

06 November 1999

Republic referendum

The majority of Australian voters say ‘No’ to becoming a republic with an Australian head of state.

01 July 2000

Goods and Services Tax

A new taxation system is established in Australia.

01 January 2001

Centenary of Federation

Australia celebrates its 100th birthday.

12 February 2008

Opening of Parliament begins with Welcome to Country

A Welcome to Country ceremony is held at the opening of the Australian Parliament for the first time.

2008ApologytoAustraliasIndigenousPeoples

13 February 2008

Apology to the Stolen Generations

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd offers an apology to First Nations people on behalf of the nation.

05 September 2008

First woman Governor-General

Quentin Bryce becomes Australia’s first woman Governor-General.

03 April 2009

United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Australia commits to protecting the human rights of Indigenous Peoples.

24 June 2010

First woman Prime Minister

Julia Gillard is the first woman to be Prime Minister of Australia.

21 August 2010

First Indigenous member of the House of Representatives

Ken Wyatt becomes the first Indigenous member of the House.

07 September 2010

Minority government

With the support of minor party and independent members, the Australian Labor Party forms government.

20 June 2012

School Chaplaincy Case

The High Court rules that the Government's method for funding a program is against the rules of the Constitution.

01 July 2013

The National Disability Insurance Scheme begins

Australia’s disability support arrangements are reformed.

07 September 2013

First Indigenous woman senator

Nova Peris is the first Indigenous woman to be an Australian Senator.

First Speech for Hon Linda Burney MP Reps Chamber 31 August 2016 v2. Parliament House 45th Parliament of Australia. File number 20160545. Photograph by David Foote AUSPIC

02 July 2016

First Indigenous woman member of the House of Representatives

Linda Burney becomes the first Indigenous woman elected to the House of Representatives.

26 May 2017

Uluru Statement from the Heart

First Nations delegates sign the Uluru Statement from the Heart calling for ‘Voice, Treaty and Truth.’

12 September 2017

Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey

Australians have their say on if the law should be changed to allow same-sex couples to marry.

22 October 2018

National Apology to Victims and Survivors of Institutionalised Child Sexual Abuse

Prime Minister Scott Morrison apologises on behalf of the nation.

14 October 2023

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice Referendum

Australia votes against a proposal to recognise First Nations people in the Constitution.

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Support for senators and members

1880

Tenterfield Oration

1890

Australasian Federation Conference

Corowa Conference

Federation referendum

1900

Australian Constitution

Creation of Australia

Federal press gallery established

Immigration Restriction Act 1901

Pacific Islanders Labourers Act 1901

Commonwealth Franchise Act 1902

Judiciary Act 1903

Defence Act 1903

The Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1904

Wireless Telegraphy Act 1905

Administration of Papua

First Federal Referendum

Harvester Judgement

Seat of Government Act 1908

Invalid and Old-age Pensions Act 1908

1910

Proclamation of Commonwealth Territories

Compulsory enrolment for elections

Commonwealth Bank Act 1911

Maternity Allowance Act 1912

Commonwealth Workmen’s Compensation Act 1912

First double dissolution

War Precautions Act 1914

Internment of enemy aliens

1916 conscription plebiscite

First election using preferential voting

Treaty of Versailles

1920

The Engineers Case

Main Roads Development Act 1923

Commonwealth Electoral Act 1924

Provisional Parliament House Opens

Prime Minister Bruce loses his seat

1930

First Australian-born Governor-General

The Premiers’ Plan

Australian Broadcasting Commission Act 1932

Western Australian Secession Referendum

Australia's first overseas territory

Prime Minister Joseph Lyons dies

Australia declares war

1940

Advisory War Council

Income Tax (War-Time Arrangements) Act

Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1942

First women in the Australian Parliament

First parliamentary broadcast

Australia becomes a founding member of the United Nations

Social welfare referendum

Australia's first peacekeeping commitment

Bank Nationalisation Case

Nationality and Citizenship Act 1948

Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Power Act 1949

First woman appointed to a cabinet position

1950

The Engineers Case 