Australia

Australia has a population of 17.6 million, and one of the lowest densities, with 2 people per square kilometre. Most settlements are urban, making up about 87 per cent, and about 13 per cent in rural areas. As much of the continent is arid or semi-arid, most settlement is along the coastal fringes.

Australia is a federation of states with a written constitution of 1900. The constitution, among many other things, defines the various responsibilities of the commonwealth (federal) government; beyond these matters the states are supreme. The role of environmental protection is not mentioned in the constitution and hence becomes substantially a matter for each government. Consequently, the states of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania, have enacted their own separate environmental protection legislation. The commonwealth exercises environmental responsibilities only in matters within its direct or indirect control. Sometimes the exercise of these responsibilities conflicts with the views of an individual state government, and the disagreement has to be resolved by the High Court of Australia.