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What do the three levels of government do? · 1 min read

What do the three levels of government do?

The main difference between the three levels of government is that, although some responsibilities may overlap, generally each level of government provides different services.

The Australian Government is responsible for:

taxation national economic management immigration and citizenship employment assistance postal services and the communications network social security (pensions and family support) defence trade and commerce airports and air safety foreign affairs (relations with other countries).

State and territory governments are primarily responsible for:

hospitals and health services schools roads and railways forestry police and ambulance services public transport.

Local governments (and the Australian Capital Territory Government) are responsible for:

street signs, traffic controls local roads, footpaths, bridges drains parks, playgrounds, swimming pools, sports grounds camping grounds and caravan parks food and meat inspection noise and animal control rubbish collection local libraries, halls and community centres certain child-care and aged-care issues building permits social planning local environmental issues.

Test yourself on this topic

8 questions on this topic, each with the answer explained.

  1. 1. Airports and air safety are the responsibility of which level of government?

    • The airlines and airport owners
    • The Australian Government
    • State and territory governments
    • Local governments

    Explanation: Airports and air safety are listed among the national responsibilities, so they sit with the Australian Government rather than with states, councils or the airlines.

  2. 2. Forestry is mainly the responsibility of which level of government?

    • Private landholders
    • Local governments
    • The Australian Government
    • State and territory governments

    Explanation: Forestry appears in the list of services provided by the states and territories.

  3. 3. Public transport is mainly the responsibility of which level of government?

    • The Australian Government
    • State and territory governments
    • The transport companies themselves
    • Local governments

    Explanation: Public transport is listed with the services that the states and territories provide.

  4. 4. What is the main difference between the three levels of government in Australia?

    • Each level provides different services, though some duties overlap
    • Only the highest level of government provides services to the public
    • Every level must hold a vote before any service can be provided
    • All three levels provide exactly the same services to the same people

    Explanation: The three levels divide the work between them, even though a few responsibilities are shared.

  5. 5. Which TWO of these are the responsibility of local government?

    • Drains
    • Building permits
    • Schools
    • Defence

    Explanation: Councils look after drains and issue building permits. Defence belongs to the Australian Government and schools to the states and territories.

  6. 6. Which of these services are state and territory governments primarily responsible for?

    • Postal services
    • Hospitals and health services
    • Foreign affairs
    • Defence of the country

    Explanation: Hospitals and health services are run by the states and territories. Defence, postal services and foreign affairs are all national responsibilities.

  7. 7. Which of these services is local government responsible for?

    • Pensions and family support
    • National economic management
    • Rubbish collection
    • Air safety

    Explanation: Rubbish collection is an everyday local service run by councils. The other three are national responsibilities of the Australian Government.

  8. 8. Which of these services is the Australian Government responsible for?

    • Household rubbish collection
    • Public transport services
    • Building and planning permits
    • Immigration and citizenship

    Explanation: Immigration and citizenship are handled by the national government. Public transport is a state matter, while rubbish collection and building permits belong to local government.

From Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond, the official booklet