Why did Federation occur in Australia?

Answer 1

The Federation of Australia took place for a number of reasons. Firstly, the six separate British colonies of South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, Victoria and Tasmania all had much in common and many bonds between them - but they were governed completely independently, without any reference to each other. They even had their own armed forces. It seemed natural that people from these different regions should form one nation, rather than six separate colonies. The differences between colony and colony made trade and commerce difficult. Some colonies followed protectionist policies, that involved high tarrifs. Other colonies favoured free trade. There was no standard railway gauge for the whole country - railway lines changed at the colonial borders. Goods that crossed eg. from New South Wales to Queensland had to pay customs dues at the border.

Secondly, the colonial governments were worried that the British government (the only government with authority over the whole of Australia) was not looking out for the best interests of the colonies. The governments of th colonies were worried about other powers in the region - particularly Germany and the Asian countries. They felt that Australia needed its own defence forces. They were also highly racist, and disapproved of the way that the British Empire allowed people of all races to settle in different places. They wanted to keep Australia exclusively White (except of course for indigenous people, who were expected to die out). The colonists wanted their own government to regulate affairs between the colonies - rather than the distant London government, which wasn't interested in it.

Answer 2

The process of Federation in Australia had been lobbied since the 1850s, and was given momentum by Sir Henry Parkes who is remembered for his famous Tenterfield Oration, delivered at the small rural town of Tenterfield in October 1889. In this speech, he campaigned heavily for Federation of the six Australian colonies. Tenterfield was selected as the place to make his stand as it was part of New South Wales but a long distance away from Sydney. This meant that the town was disadvantaged by the steep tariffs imposed on the transportation of goods across the border to Queensland, where the closer trade centre of Brisbane was located. His promotion of Federation was based on the fact that it would enable free trade across the borders.

It was soon after this that the Premiers of the six states began discussions to federate the states. This involved a round of conventions to discuss the new Constutution. In 1897, the man who would become Australia's first Prime Minister, Edmund Barton, was one of the NSW delegates to the Constitutional Convention which developed the constitution for the proposed federation of the six self-governing colonies. Discussion of the constitution commenced on 22 March 1897. After not being accepted by the states the first time, the amended Commonwealth Constitution was given Royal Assent on 9 July 1900.

There were a number of arguments why Federation occurred in Australia.

• Trade: There were steep tariffs imposed on the transport of goods across the borders of the states. Federation would remove these tariffs and allow for free trade between the states.
• Unions and labour laws: It was hoped that labour laws would be standardised across the states with Federation. The great Shearers' Strike of the 1890s had resulted in the formation of workers' unions, and the newly-formed Australian Labor Party saw that unification would allow this standardisation.
• Transport: There was no standard railway gauge across the country and railway lines changed at the colonial borders. It was believed Federation would see the introduction of uniform railway gauges across the states, but in reality this did not occur for another eighty years or so.
• Some Australians wanted a "White Australia" policy. They believed Federation would enable the development and maintenance of a "White Australia", by toughening Immigration laws. There was lingering resentment over the Chinese who had come during the gold rush, made their fortune (as they were far more industrious than Australians) and then returned to their own country, taking their fortune with them. Some stayed and set up businesses in towns, but they were always looked down upon. It was hoped by some (not all) that a White Australia policy would ensure employment for Australians. Some colonies were opposed to this policy as they used foreign labour, which was often much cheaper than local labour. An example of this is Queensland, which employed Kanakas (people from the Cook Islands). Under the new constitution, not only the Kanakas, but also the much-feared Chinese, who came to Australia during the gold rush, would not be allowed into Australia. Thus Federation would eliminate unwanted foreigners, providing more employment for Australians.
• Independence from England: Federation was but a small step in the overall independence of Australia, allowing it to move away from the influence of Mother England and become a self-governing nation in its own right. Again, this was a process which took many decades, but Federation certainly enabled that first step.
• Other important laws were expected to be made uniform, such as taxes and banking. This was particularly important in the light of the recent (1892) depression, which was a time of economic instability. Many saw that Federation, in bringing unity, could only bring more stability to the country.
• Defence: Each of the states had its own defence force. Each individual state's defence force was not strong enough to protect Australia's vast coastline from attack. There were distinct advantages in uniting the defence under one command, an important consideration as the German and French presence in the Pacific increased.
• Laws: Laws could be enforced better if accused people could not escape to a neighbouring colony.
• As a result of the goldrushes, Australia was wealthy enough to govern independently of England.
• Patriotism was becoming stronger, with the rise of Australian talents like 'Banjo' Paterson advocating the idea of freedom, the bush life and tossing off authority.
• Sporting teams were representing "Australia", not individual states.
• Having a single economy big enough and robust enough to give confidence to those who want to trade in it.

Answer 3

One of the key reasons why Federation occurred in Australia was to unite Australia's defence. Each individual state's defence force was not strong enough to protect Australia's vast coastline from attack. It therefore made good sense to unite the defence under one command.

As well as aiding in Australia's defence, Federation would make uniform the different bank laws, taxes and tariffs, making it easier to trade, travel and communicate between states. It would also change railway-track sizes so they were identical everywhere, allowing people to stay on the same train instead of changing at each states border. In addition, Federation would also improve Australia's economy by forming better trade laws, such as free trade between states.

Furthermore, many people believed a Federated Australia would help to make a "White Australia" possible, by toughening immigration laws. Some colonies were opposed to this policy as they used foreign labour, which was often much cheaper than local labour. An example of this is Queensland, which employed Kanakas (people from the Cook Islands). Under the new constitution, not only the Kanakas, but also the much-feared Chinese, who came to Australia during the gold rush, would not be allowed into Australia. Thus Federation would eliminate unwanted foreigners, providing more employment for Australians.

Answer 4

Federation in Australia was important because it offered a great many potential benefits.

• Trade: There were steep tariffs imposed on the transport of goods across the borders of the states. Federation would remove these tariffs and allow for free trade between the states.
• Unions and labour laws: It was hoped that labour laws would be standardised across the states with Federation. The great Shearers' Strike of the 1890s had resulted in the formation of workers' unions, and the newly-formed Australian Labor Party saw that unification would allow this standardisation.
• Transport: There was no standard railway gauge across the country and railway lines changed at the colonial borders. It was believed Federation would see the introduction of uniform railway gauges across the states, but in reality this did not occur for another eighty years or so.
• Some Australians wanted a "White Australia" policy. They believed Federation would enable the development and maintenance of a "White Australia", by toughening immigration laws. There was lingering resentment over the Chinese who had come during the gold rush, made their fortune (as they were far more industrious than Australians) and then returned to their own country, taking their fortune with them. Some stayed and set up businesses in towns, but they were always looked down upon. It was hoped by some (not all) that a White Australia policy would ensure employment for Australians. Some colonies were opposed to this policy as they used foreign labour, which was often much cheaper than local labour. An example of this is Queensland, which employed Kanakas (people from the Cook Islands). Under the new constitution, not only the Kanakas, but also the much-feared Chinese, who came to Australia during the gold rush, would not be allowed into Australia. Thus Federation would eliminate unwanted foreigners, providing more employment for Australians.
• Independence from England: Federation was but a small step in the overall independence of Australia, allowing it to move away from the influence of Mother England and become a self-governing nation in its own right. Again, this was a process which took many decades, but Federation certainly enabled that first step.
• Other important laws were expected to be made uniform, such as taxes and banking. This was particularly important in the light of the recent (1892) depression, which was a time of economic instability. Many saw that Federation, in bringing unity, could only bring more stability to the country.
• Defence: Each of the states had its own defence force. Each individual state's defence force was not strong enough to protect Australia's vast coastline from attack. There were distinct advantages in uniting the defence under one command, an important consideration as the German and French presence in the Pacific increased.
• Laws: Laws could be enforced better if accused people could not escape to a neighbouring colony.
• As a result of the goldrushes, Australia was wealthy enough to govern independently of England.
• Patriotism was becoming stronger, with the rise of Australian talents like 'Banjo' Paterson advocating the idea of freedom, the bush life and tossing off authority.
• Sporting teams were representing "Australia", not individual states.
• Having a single economy big enough and robust enough to give confidence to those who want to trade in it.

Answer 5

Federation in Australia was achieved over a period of several decades. It began with a push from the colonies for self-government, as early as the gold rush years of the 1850s, particularly with the push for democracy that came about after the Eureka Stockade of 1854. This was when the miners at Ballarat stood up for their rights, barricading themselves within a makeshift fort, against the British soldiers who were sent in to maintain Law and Order.

There were a lot of arguments for Federation of the six colonies, and chief among these was the concept of free trade across state borders, which did not exist in the second half of the 19th century. Steep tariffs imposed on the transport of goods across the borders of the colonies, and the "Father of Federation", statesman Sir Henry Parkes, really focussed on this in his Tenterfield Oration of 1889.

In addition, there was a strong push for Federation from the emerging Unions. It was hoped that labour laws would be standardised across the states with Federation. The great Shearers' Strike of the 1890s resulted in the formation of workers' unions, and the newly-formed Australian Labor Party saw that Federation would allow this standardisation.

When the push for Federation really gained momentum after people such as Parkes promoted it, the next step was to draft a constitution. Seven delegates were selected from each of the six Australian colonies to formulate a draft constitution. They were joined by three delegates from New Zealand, as there was allowance for New Zealand to also become part of Australia in the future.

The first Constitutional conventions was held in 1891, and others followed. The draft constitution was ready by early 1898 but when it was brought before each of the colonial parliaments for approval, it was rejected, and amendments were required. These amendments were made in 1899, and the final draft was approved by the Australian people via a referendum held in each colony (although western Australia did not initially agree to federation).

The constitution was then brought before the British Parliament, which agreed to ratify it only after further modifications. British parliament passed the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act on 5 July 1900. This was necessary, as the colonies were still completely under British rule. The Act guided the basic laws and determined the direction that Federation would take. The Commonwealth of Australia Constitution was given Royal Assent on 9 July 1900, and the Commonwealth of Australia was proclaimed on 1 January 1901.