Constitutional provisions

The Constitution states that the executive power of the Commonwealth is vested in the Queen and is exercisable by the Governor-General as the Queen’s representative. However, a realistic understanding of Australia’s Executive Government cannot be obtained from the Constitution alone, and in fact a literal reading of the Constitution can be misleading.

The Executive Government in practice

In reality, the executive power is possessed by the Prime Minister and Cabinet (senior Ministers). Their power derives:

• constitutionally from their membership of the Federal Executive Council—see below—and status as ‘advisers’ to the Governor-General;
• politically, from the people at elections for the House of Representatives; and
• from convention—that is, custom and tradition.” 

“Infosheet 20 – The Australian system of government” Parliament of Australia.