Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:C2013Q00005:body:0:p3
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:C2013Q00005
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 5522–8354

Chapter VII.—Miscellaneous.
125. Seat of Government.
126. Power to Her Majesty to authorise Governor-General to appoint deputies.

Chapter VIII.—Alteration of the Constitution.
128. Mode of altering the Constitution.

SCHEDULE.

Endnotes
Endnote 1—About the endnotes
Endnote 2—Abbreviation key
Endnote 3—Legislation history
Endnote 4—Amendment history
An Act to constitute the Commonwealth of Australia.

  WHEREAS the people of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, and Tasmania, humbly relying on the blessing of Almighty God, have agreed to unite in one indissoluble Federal Commonwealth under the Crown of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and under the Constitution hereby established:

  And whereas it is expedient to provide for the admission into the Commonwealth of other Australasian Colonies and possessions of the Queen:

  Be it therefore enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

1.  Short title.

  This Act may be cited as the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act.

2.  Act to extend to the Queen's successors.

  The provisions of this Act referring to the Queen shall extend to Her Majesty's heirs and successors in the sovereignty of the United Kingdom.

3.  Proclamation of Commonwealth.

  It shall be lawful for the Queen, with the advice of the Privy Council, to declare by proclamation that, on and after a day therein appointed, not being later than one year after the passing of this Act, the people of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, and Tasmania, and also, if Her Majesty is satisfied that the people of Western Australia have agreed thereto, of Western Australia, shall be united in a Federal Commonwealth under the name of the Commonwealth of Australia.  But the Queen may, at any time after the proclamation, appoint a Governor‑General for the Commonwealth.

4.  Commencement of Act.

  The Commonwealth shall be established, and the Constitution of the Commonwealth shall take effect, on and after the day so appointed.  But the Parliaments of the several colonies may at any time after the passing of this Act make any such laws, to come into operation on the day so appointed, as they might have made if the Constitution had taken effect at the passing of this Act.

5.  Operation of the Constitution and laws.

  This Act, and all laws made by the Parliament of the Commonwealth under the Constitution, shall be binding on the courts, judges, and people of every State and of every part of the Commonwealth, notwithstanding anything in the laws of any State; and the laws of the Commonwealth shall be in force on all British ships, the Queen's ships of