The establishment of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) was a unique constitutional and geographic undertaking. Which of the following accurately describes the ACT's physical relationship with the surrounding region and its specific legal status within the Commonwealth of Australia?
- It is an inland territory entirely surrounded by the state of New South Wales, functioning as a territory rather than a state under the Australian Constitution.Answer
- BIt is a coastal territory located between New South Wales and Victoria, serving as the seventh state of the Commonwealth to ensure federal access to international shipping.
- CIt is a territory located in the geographical center of Australia to ensure the national capital is equidistant from all state capitals, including Perth and Hobart.
Answer
The correct answer is that the Australian Capital Territory is an inland territory entirely surrounded by New South Wales and functions as a territory rather than a state.
The correct answer accurately synthesizes two critical facts about the ACT: it is an 'enclave' (a territory entirely surrounded by another jurisdiction, in this case, New South Wales) and its legal status is that of a territory rather than a state. This reflects the constitutional requirement to have a dedicated federal seat of government that is not part of any state.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
The unique geographic enclave status and constitutional classification of the Australian Capital Territory.
Hints
1
Think about the shape of the ACT on a map of Australia. Is it on the edge of the continent or inside a state?
2
Recall the difference between the 'six states' and the 'two mainland territories'. Which category does the ACT fall into?
3
The ACT was created from land taken from New South Wales. It does not have a coastline of its own.
Practice More
Research the 'Seat of Government Act 1908' to understand why the specific site for the ACT was chosen.
Estimated Time:1m 30s