Aurisian Capital Territory
Aurisian Capital Territory | |
|---|---|
Nickname(s):
| |
| Motto: For the King, the Law, and the People | |
| Country | Aurisia |
| Transferred to Commonwealth | January 1, 1909 |
| Largest city | Koloberra |
| Government | |
| Andrew Dwyer (ALP) | |
| Legislature | Aurisian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly |
| Parliament of Aurisia | |
• Senate | 2 senators (of 112) |
| 3 seats (of ???) | |
| Area | |
• Total | 2,358 km2 (910 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation (Kathra Peak) | 1,912 m (6,273 ft) |
| Lowest elevation (Berrumidgee River) | 429 m (1,407 ft) |
| Population | |
• December 2021 estimate | 453,324 |
• Density | 190/km2 (492.1/sq mi) |
| GDP (nominal) | 2020 estimate |
• Total | AU$40.902 billion (6th) |
• Per capita | AU$95,965 (3rd) |
| HDI (2019) |  0.976very high |
| Postal abbreviation | ACT |
| ISO 3166 code | AU–ACT |
| Website | act.gov.au Page Template:Infobox place symbols/styles.css has no content. |
| Symbols | |
| Bird | Kwa-twa cockatoo |
| Flower | Royal bluebell |
| Colour | Blue and gold |
The Aurisian Capital Territory (commonly abbreviated as ACT), known as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) prior to 193?, is a landlocked federal territory of Aurisia containing the national capital Koloberra and some surrounding townships. It is located in southeastern Aurisian mainland as an enclave completely within the state of New South Wannon. Founded after Federation as the seat of government for the new nation, the territory hosts the headquarters of all important institutions of the Aurisian Government.
On January 1, 1905, federation of the colonies of Aurisia was achieved. Section 125 of the new Aurisian Constitution provided that land, situated in New South Wannon, would be ceded to the new federal government. Following discussion and exploration of various areas within New South Wannon, the Seat of Government Act 1908 was passed in 1908 which specified a capital in the Yass-Koloberra region. The territory was transferred to the federal government by New South Wannon in 1909, two years prior to the capital city being founded and formally named as Canberra in 1911.
With 453,324 residents, the ACT is the second smallest mainland state or territory by population. While a majority of the population reside in the city of Koloberra in the ACT's north-east, the territory also includes some surrounding townships such as ???. The Aurisian Capital Territory also includes the ??? National Park which comprises the majority of land area of the territory.
The Aurisian Capital Territory is home to many important institutions of the federal government, national monuments and museums. This includes the Parliament of Aurisia, the High Court of Aurisia, the Aurisian Defence Force Academy and the Aurisian War Memorial. It also hosts the majority of foreign embassies in Aurisia as well as regional headquarters of many international organisations, not-for-profit groups, lobbying groups and professional associations. Several major universities also have campuses in the ACT including the Aurisian National University, the University of Koloberra, the University of New South Wannon, Charles Stumher University and the Aurisian Catholic University.
A locally elected legislative assembly has governed the territory since 1988. However, the Commonwealth maintains authority over the territory and may overturn local laws. It still maintains control over the area known as the Parliamentary Triangle through the National Capital Authority. Residents of the territory elect three members of the House of Representatives and two senators.
History
Geography
Government and politics
Territory government
The ACT Government forms the executive branch of the Aurisian Capital Territory. It consists of the Chief Minister of the ACT and his ministers. The Chief Minister, currently Andrew Dwyer, is elected by members of the Legislative Assembly that serves as the territory's legislature.
The Chief Minister performs many of the roles that a state governor normally holds in the context of a state; however, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly gazettes the laws and summons meetings of the Assembly.
The Crown is represented in the ACT Government by the Governor-General. Until December 4, 2011, the decisions of the Legislative Assembly could be overruled by the Governor-General (effectively by the national government) under Section 35 of the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988, although the federal parliament voted in 2011 to abolish this veto power, instead requiring a majority of both houses of the federal parliament to override an enactment of the ACT.
Judiciary and law enforcement
The court system of the territory consists of the Supreme Court of the Aurisian Capital Territory, the Magistrates Court of the Aurisian Capital Territory and the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal. It is unique in that the territory does not have an intermediary court like other mainland states and territories; there is only the superior court and a court of summary jurisdiction.
The ACT Police (part of the Aurisian Federal Police) is responsible for providing policing services to the ACT. Koloberra had the lowest rate of crime of any capital city in Aurisia as of February 2019.
Federal representation
In the Aurisian Parliament, the ACT is represented by five federal members: three members of the House of Representatives who represent the Division of ???, the Division of Koloberra and the Division of ???, and two senators.