what type of government does australia currently have?
Parliamentary system Federation Constitutional monarchy
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 There are two major political groups that usually form government , federally and in the states : the Australian Labor Party and the Coalition which is a formal grouping of the Liberal Party and its minor partner , the National Party . Within Australian political culture , the Coalition is considered centre @-@ right and the Labor Party is considered centre @-@ left . Independent members and several minor parties have achieved representation in Australian parliaments , mostly in upper houses . 

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 Australia 's electoral system uses preferential voting for all lower house elections with the exception of Tasmania and the ACT which , along with the Senate and most state upper houses , combine it with proportional representation in a system known as the single transferable vote . Voting is compulsory for all enrolled citizens 18 years and over in every jurisdiction , as is enrolment ( with the exception of South Australia ) . The party with majority support in the House of Representatives forms the government and its leader becomes Prime Minister . In cases where no party has majority support , the Governor @-@ General has the constitutional power to appoint the Prime Minister and , if necessary , dismiss one that has lost the confidence of Parliament . 

neutral
 The federal government comprises three branches : 

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 In November 1999 , a referendum in Australia on the future of the Australian monarchy favoured its retention in preference to an indirectly elected head of state . Polls in Britain in 2006 and 2007 revealed strong support for Elizabeth , and in 2012 , her Diamond Jubilee year , approval ratings hit 90 percent . Referenda in Tuvalu in 2008 and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in 2009 both rejected proposals to become republics . 

neutral
 Today , this Parliament , on behalf of the Australian people , takes responsibility and apologises for the policies and practices that forced the separation of mothers from their babies which created a lifelong legacy of pain and suffering . 
