ABSTRACT
The Commonwealth of Australia was established under the Crown of the UK, as stated in the preamble to the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900 (UK). Furthermore, on a plain reading of s 61 of the Constitution itself, all executive power vests in the Queen and is exercised on her behalf by her representative, the Governor General. However, Australia is a constitutional monarchy and, under conventions which arose in the UK from the late 17th century onwards and which apply in Australia, executive power is, in reality, wielded by the Cabinet (see below).
