Australian-US comparative government and political systems

Dr Hart will explore the main features of the Australian political system through comparison with the United States. He will compare and contrast the struggle of self-government in Australia and the US. He will look at how much Australian politics has been influenced by American was well as British forms of government, particularly focusing on the extent to which the Australian Prime Minister has become ‘presidentialised'. The presentation will also cover the essential differences between the Australian Parliament and the US congress, how Australian party politics is moving closer to the American model, and will also explain one of the unique features of our politics- compulsory voting. To conclude, Dr Hart will speculate about the future of Australian government particularly the prospect of an Australian Republic