The Constitution
Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1942
09 October 1942
Most political and legal ties between Britain and Australia are cut.
The Statute of Westminster Act 1931 (UK) set out as law the independence of Australia and the other countries within the British Commonwealth. The Statute is based on the Balfour Declaration of 1926, in which Britain declared Commonwealth countries equal in status to Britain in all domestic and external affairs. When Australia adopted the British Act in 1942 it cut most political and legal ties between Australia and Britain.
With the acceptance of the Statute certain bills no longer required the Royal Assent of the monarch, meaning 9 bills (mostly relating to shipping and navigation) which remained unsigned since 1901 finally received Royal Assent from the Governor-General. The final act of Australian legal independence was not achieved until the Australia Acts of 1986.
The Statute of Westminster
University of Minnesota, msp 0311
The Statute of Westminster
University of Minnesota, msp 0311
Description
This poster shows some of the text of the Statute of Westminster which passed in the British Parliament in 1931. It states the parliaments of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Ireland have the power to make laws for themselves. Australia adopted the Statute of Westminster in 1942.
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