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The National Archives is hosting a series of events to mark Constitution Day in 2008. As well as the public events below, we are marking the occasion with citizenship ceremonies and the launch of Making Australia Home, a project to make migration records available online.
Listen to previous talks on the Constitution.
Attention kids! Uncover Australia’s founding documents on a self-guided Detective Tour.
9 July 2008 – 2.00–4.00pm
National Archives of Australia13 July 2008 – 2.00–4.00pm – FULLY BOOKED
National Archives of Australia
July 2008 is the 25th anniversary of a landmark decision in Australian constitutional law. The Commonwealth v Tasmania, more commonly known as the Tasmanian Dam case, was decided in the High Court of Australia on 1 July 1983.
The Tasmanian Government planned to construct a hydroelectric dam on the Franklin River, even though the Franklin area had been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The project was strongly opposed by environmental groups, and the newly-elected Hawke government promised to block construction.
The Australian Government introduced legislation to prevent the project proceeding, citing the external affairs and corporations powers granted to it under the Constitution. The Tasmanian Government challenged this interpretation of the Constitution. The Court decided in favour of the Commonwealth in a judgement that, some commentators believed, dramatically changed the balance of power between state and federal governments.