A Constitution for a New State - Dilemmas for the Northern Territory
27 Pages Posted: 16 Aug 2007 Last revised: 20 Nov 2007
Date Written: August 2007
Abstract
The Northern Territory is once again considering the prospect of statehood. It has issued a report that considers what might be included in a proposed Constitution for the new State. This article focuses on three aspects. First, it analyses the constitutional means by which a new State can be admitted to the federation. Secondly, it addresses the question of whether the new Constitution could be completely entrenched, including the entrenchment of Aboriginal land rights. Finally, it considers the question of whether there needs to be a Governor for the new State and whether the the Governor (or Chief Executive Officer, however named) must be appointed by the Queen.
Keywords: Northern Territory, Constitution, statehood, admission of new states, conditions upon admission of new states, constitutional entrenchment, manner and form, land rights, Governor, Crown, Australia Acts 1986
JEL Classification: K10, K30
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation