What Do The Three Levels of Government Do?

The Australian Government is responsible for:

• taxation
• national economic management
• employment assistance
• postal services and the communications network
• social security (pensions and family support)
• defence
• trade and commerce
• airports and air safety
• foreign affairs (relations with other countries).

State and territory governments are primarily responsible for:

• hospitals and health services
• schools
• roads and railways
• forestry
• police and ambulance services
• public transport.

Local governments (and the Australian Capital Territory Government) are responsible for:

• street signs, traffic controls
• local roads, footpaths, bridges
• drains
• parks, playgrounds, swimming pools, sports grounds
• camping grounds and caravan parks
• food and meat inspection
• noise and animal control
• rubbish collection
• local libraries, halls and community centres
• certain child-care and aged-care issues
• building permits
• social planning
• local environmental issues