Commonwealth act

Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Request and Consent) Act 1954

RepealedCTH

This Act has been repealed and is no longer in force. It is retained for historical reference.

Jurisdiction

Commonwealth

Act Number

76 of 1954

Collection

act

Plain English Summary

1/10 complexity

What this law does

This short Act is a constitutional formality that allowed Australia to take control of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands from the United Kingdom.

Specifically, it formally asks and agrees to the UK Parliament passing a law that would let the Queen hand the islands over to Australian authority.

Who it affects • The residents of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands (who became subject to Australian governance) • The Australian Government (which gained responsibility for the territory) • The United Kingdom (which transferred sovereignty)

Why it matters Before Australia could govern these islands, the UK (which previously controlled them) needed legal authority to transfer them. This Act provided Australia's consent to that transfer, paving the way for the islands to become an Australian external territory in 1955.

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Current sections

Direct links to the current provisions in Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Request and Consent) Act 1954.

Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Request and Consent) Act 1954

COCOS (KEELING) ISLANDS (REQUEST AND CONSENT).

No. 76 of 1954.

An Act to request, and consent to, the Enactment by the Parliament of the United Kingdom of an Act enabling the Queen to place the Cocos or Keeling Islands under the Authority of the Commonwealth.

[Assented to 18th November, 1954.]

BE it enacted by the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—

Short title.

This Act may be cited as the Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Request and Consent) Act 1954.

Commencement.

This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

Request and consent to enactment of United Kingdom Act.

The Parliament requests, and consents to, the enactment by the Parliament of the United Kingdom of an Act enabling the Queen to place the Cocos or Keeling Islands under the authority of the Commonwealth and making provision for matters incidental to the placing of those Islands under that authority.

Source text

Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.

1 Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Request and Consent) Act 1954