Editing Devolution (section)

==Australia==
[[Australia]] is a federation. It has six states and two territories with less power than states.

The [[Australian Capital Territory]] refused self-government in a 1978 referendum, but was given limited self-government by a [[Australian Capital Territory House of Assembly|House of Assembly]] from 1979, and a [[Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly|Legislative Assembly]] with wider powers in 1988.

The [[Northern Territory]] refused [[Proposed Northern Territory statehood|statehood]] in a [[1998 Northern Territory referendum|1998 referendum]]. The rejection was a surprise to both the Australian and Northern Territory governments.

Territory legislation can be disallowed by the Commonwealth Parliament in Canberra, with one notable example being the NT's short-lived [[voluntary euthanasia]] [[Rights of the Terminally Ill Act 1995|legislation]].