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Three levels of government in Australia

Australia has three levels of government that work together to provide residents with the services that they need.

Each level of government is responsible for providing services and each level collect money through taxes, rates or charges to pay for those services. Each level may be fully responsible for providing certain services, but often two or three levels of government share responsibility. 

The table below provides some examples of the different responsibilities and levels of service provision between Australia’s three levels of government.

  1. The federal government has broad national powers.
  2. States and territories each has its own government and its own constitution. State governments have the power to look after laws not covered by the federal government.
  3. Local governments are responsible for providing services and infrastructure within the local area. The council responds to federal and state legislation and makes decisions based on identified community needs.

Federal government responsibilities include:

  • Defence
  • Bankruptcy and insolvency
  • Trade and commerce
  • Census and statistics
  • Postal and telecommunications services 
  • Quarantine
  • Foreign policy 
  • Currency
  • Taxation 
  • Copyright
  • Immigration

State government responsibilities include:

  • Education including schools, curriculums and coordination of higher education 
  • Health including public hospitals and nursing 
  • Transport including railways, main roads, registrations and public transport
  • Emergency services including police, fire and ambulance
  • Public housing and rental assistance
  • Utilities such as electricity
  • Mining and agriculture
  • Consumer affairs
  • Prisons
  • Forests
  • NSW Government marine infrastructure

Local government responsibilities include:

  • Local and regional roads, footpaths and cycleways, street signage, lighting and parking 
  • Services such as childcare and aged care
  • Waste management including rubbish collection and recycling 
  • Domestic animal regulation
  • Recreation facilities including parks, gardens, sports fields and swimming pools 
  • Water supply and sewerage
  • Stormwater and drainage
  • Libraries
  • Land and coast care programs
  • Town planning, building approvals and inspections
  • Local boating and marine infrastructure