Territory vs State - NT 2011 Towards State 7

A State can make any law it wants.
A Territory can only make laws allowed by the Commonwealth Government as set out in the Self Government Act.
A State law can only be ‘struck down’ if it conflicts with a Commonwealth power under the Australian Constitution (s109).
A Territory law can be disallowed within six months of passing the Territory Assembly by the Commonwealth Government or it can be overturned at any time by the Commonwealth Parliament.
A State has guaranteed representation in the Australian Parliament.
A Territory has representation in the Australian Parliament only so long as the Australian Parliament says it can.
All the original States (from 1901) are guaranteed the same number of Senators (12 each) so that even the small states will have an equal voice in the House of Review or States’ House (The Senate)
The Northern Territory has been allowed 2 senators since 1975 when three States objected but the High Court said we could have Senators so long as the Commonwealth Parliament wants us to.
The Australian Constitution says the Commonwealth Government cannot discriminate between the States
The Commonwealth can discriminate against a Territory if it wants to.
Chapter Five of the Australian Constitution sets out the rights of the States to exist and a range of rights and responsibilities in the Australian Federal system.
Chapter Six of the Australian Constitution says that the Commonwealth may make any laws for any territory as it thinks fit.
The 2007 Emergency Response or ‘Intervention’ could not happen in a State.
The 2007 Emergency Response or ‘Intervention’ could only happen here because this is a Territory.
States have full control over State land except where the Commonwealth may acquire land on just terms.
There is no constitutional guarantee that the Commonwealth must pay just terms to acquire Territory land. States cannot be abolished or have their boundaries changed without the consent of the residents of the State.
A Territory can have its government terminated or parliament abolished at any time by the Commonwealth.
State laws are stronger because they cannot be changed unless they conflict with valid Commonwealth law.
Territory laws are weaker because they can be changed by the Commonwealth Parliament at any time.
State power in Canberra is stronger because even the smallest State (Tasmania) has a constitutionally guaranteed five members of the House of Representatives and 12 Senators
Territory power in Canberra is weak because the Northern Territory is allowed (not guaranteed) two senators and two representatives in a parliament of 226 meaning the Territory has a very weak voice at the bargaining table when laws are being made that impact on us.
Statehood means strength, democracy and equality in a cooperative federal system. Many democratic countries are federal systems including Australia, The United States, Canada, India, Germany, Switzerland and others.