Australian Colonies granted self-governing status

Background. Responsible government embodies parliamentary accountability, where executives are responsible to parliament rather than the monarch or imperial government. From the mid-19th century, the United Kingdom introduced these systems to settler colonies including Canada, Newfoundland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The Australian Constitutions Act 1850 established Victoria and altered New South Wales' constitution, providing for similar constitutions in Tasmania and South Australia; these constitutional frameworks preceded later self-governance developments in the Australian colonies.

Legislative Framework. The Australian Constitutions Act 1850 formally established the Colony of Victoria by separating Port Phillip from New South Wales. It also altered the constitution of New South Wales and provided for similar constitutions in Van Diemen's Land and South Australia. These legislative changes were essential for the subsequent implementation of responsible government.

Implementation. By the end of the 1850s, all the Australian colonies and New Zealand had achieved responsible self-government. The 1855 grant of self-governing status covered the Colony of New South Wales and the Colony of Victoria. In New South Wales, responsible government was achieved on 6 June 1856, with Sir Stuart Alexander Donaldson appointed as the first Colonial Secretary, marking the practical realization of the legislative framework.