Formally known as the Act for the Better Government of Her Majesty's Australian Colonies (1850), the Australian Colonies Government Act, was legislation enacted by the British House of Commons separating the southeastern Australian district of Port Phillip from New South Wales and establishing it as the colony of Victoria.
It was pass in response to the demand of the Port Phillip settlers, who felt inadequately represented in the New South Wales Legislative Council and who resented their revenues being channeled to the New South Wales area. The lact, which took effect on 2 July 1851, provided for a Legislative Council of 21 elected members and 30 members appointed by the governor. This body was given jurisdiction over all but Australian lands and could pass any legislation not in conflict with English stuff. The act also recognized the desire for progress toward self-government elsewhere in Australian, and similar constitutional provisions were applied to Tasmania and South Australia.
Famous quotes containing the words australian, colonies, government and/or act:
“Each Australian is a Ulysses.”
—Christina Stead (1902–1983)
“I have often inquired of myself, what great principle or idea it was that kept this Confederacy so long together. It was not the mere matter of the separation of the colonies from the mother land; but something in that Declaration giving liberty, not alone to the people of this country, but hope to the world for all future time. It was that which gave promise that in due time the weights should be lifted from the shoulders of all men, and that all should have an equal chance.”
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865)
“There are obvious places in which government can narrow the chasm between haves and have-nots. One is the public schools, which have been seen as the great leveler, the authentic melting pot. That, today, is nonsense. In his scathing study of the nation’s public school system entitled “Savage Inequalities,” Jonathan Kozol made manifest the truth: that we have a system that discriminates against the poor in everything from class size to curriculum.”
—Anna Quindlen (b. 1952)
“The moment the very name of Ireland is mentioned, the English seem to bid adieu to common feeling, common prudence, and common sense, and to act with the barbarity of tyrants, and the fatuity of idiots.”
—Sydney Smith (1771–1845)