Tasmania

The island of Tasmania, an Australian state, is located 240 km (150 miles) south of the eastern portion of the continent, being separated from it by Bass Strait. Tasmania has a population of 456,652 (census 2001) and an area of 68,332 km² (26 383 square miles). As at 31 March 2003, Tasmania's estimated resident population was 476,199. Tasmania has the nickname Apple Isle due to the large number of apples grown there.

Government

Main article: Government of Tasmania

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The form of the government of Tasmania is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1856, although it has been amended many times since then. Since 1901 Tasmania has been a state of the Commonwealth of Australia, and the Australian Constitution regulates its relationship with the Commonwealth.

Related Topics:
1856 - 1901 - Commonwealth of Australia - Australian Constitution

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Under the Australian Constitution, Tasmania ceded certain legislative and judicial powers to the Commonwealth, but retained complete independence in other areas like Health and Education. In practice, however, the independence of Australian states has been eroded by increasing financial domination of the Commonwealth since the introduction of the GST, and a deisre to make laws consistent across Australia.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~