Editing Cocos (Keeling) Islands (section)

== Government ==

The capital of the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands is West Island while the largest settlement is the village of Bantam, on Home Island.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cocos (Keeling) Islands Cities Database {{!}} Simplemaps.com |url=https://simplemaps.com/data/cc-cities#:~:text=Notable%20Cities:%20The%20largest%20city,an%20urban%20population%20of%20448. |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=simplemaps.com}}</ref>

Governance of the islands is based on the ''Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act 1955''<ref>[http://www.weblaw.edu.au/weblaw/display_resource.phtml?rid=867 WebLaw – full resource metadata display<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080722153525/http://www.weblaw.edu.au/weblaw/display_resource.phtml?rid=867 |date=22 July 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.comlaw.gov.au/ComLaw/Legislation/ActCompilation1.nsf/0/D1D6D0EDD0A339E2CA25714100115B0A?OpenDocument| title=Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act 1955|access-date=5 November 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927000349/http://www.comlaw.gov.au/ComLaw/Legislation/ActCompilation1.nsf/0/D1D6D0EDD0A339E2CA25714100115B0A?OpenDocument |archive-date=27 September 2007|url-status=live}}</ref> and depends heavily on the laws of Australia. The islands are administered from [[Canberra]] by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts through a non-resident [[Administrator (Australia)|Administrator]] appointed by the [[Governor-General of Australia|Governor-General]]. They were previously the responsibility of the [[Department of Transport and Regional Services]] (before 2007), the [[Attorney-General's Department (Australia)|Attorney-General's Department]] (2007–2013), [[Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development]] (2013–2017) and [[Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities]] (2017–2020).<ref name="DOTARS">{{cite web| title = Territories of Australia | url = http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/territories/index.aspx | access-date = 7 February 2008 | quote = As part of the Machinery of Government Changes following the Federal Election on 29 November 2007, administrative responsibility for Territories has been transferred to the Attorney General's Department. |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071216154140/http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/territories/index.aspx |archive-date = 16 December 2007}}</ref><ref name="AussieAG">{{cite web|author=First Assistant Secretary, Territories Division |title=Territories of Australia |url=http://www.ag.gov.au/territories |publisher=Attorney-General's Department |date=30 January 2008 |access-date=7 February 2008 |quote=The Federal Government, through the Attorney-General's Department administers Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, the Coral Sea Islands, Jervis Bay, and Norfolk Island as Territories. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080206093322/http://www.ag.gov.au/territories |archive-date=6 February 2008 }}</ref>

As of November 2023, the Administrator is [[Farzian Zainal]], she is also the Administrator of [[Christmas Island]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Farid |first=Farid |date=2023-11-06 |title=Malay Muslim engineer leads Christmas, Cocos Isles |url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8414337/malay-muslim-engineer-leads-christmas-cocos-isles/ |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=The Canberra Times |language=en-AU}}</ref> These two territories comprise the [[Australian Indian Ocean Territories]]. The Australian Government provides Commonwealth-level government services through the Christmas Island Administration and the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.<ref name="AAO Sep 2013">{{cite web|url=http://www.dpmc.gov.au/parliamentary/docs/aao_20130918.pdf |date=18 September 2013 |title=Commonwealth of Australia Administrative Arrangements Order made on 18 September 2013 |publisher=Australian Government Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014052331/http://www.dpmc.gov.au/parliamentary/docs/aao_20130918.pdf |archive-date=14 October 2013}}</ref> As per the Federal Government's ''Territories Law Reform Act 1992'', which came into force on 1 July 1992, Western Australian laws are applied to the Cocos Islands, "so far as they are capable of applying in the Territory";<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/C2004A04395|title=Territories Law Reform Act 1992|date=30 June 1992 |access-date=13 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120707074255/http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/C2004A04395|archive-date=7 July 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> non-application or partial application of such laws is at the discretion of the federal government. The Act also gives Western Australian courts judicial power over the islands. The Cocos Islands remain constitutionally distinct from Western Australia, however; the power of the state to legislate for the territory is power-delegated by the federal government. The kind of services typically provided by a state government elsewhere in Australia are provided by departments of the Western Australian Government, and by contractors, with the costs met by the federal government.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cocos (Keeling) Islands governance and administration |url=https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/territories-regions-cities/territories/indian-ocean-territories/cocos-keeling-islands/governance-administration |access-date=2023-01-27 |website=Australian Government}}</ref>

There also exists a unicameral [[Shire of Cocos|Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council]] with seven seats. A full term lasts four years, though elections are held every two years; approximately half the members retire each two years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meet the Council |url=https://shire.cc/en/your-council/meet-the-council?format=html |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=shire.cc}}</ref> {{as of|March 2024}} the president of the shire is Aindil Minkom.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meet the Council |url=https://shire.cc/en/your-council/meet-the-council.html |access-date=2024-03-03 |website=Shire of Cocos Islands}}</ref> The most recent local election took place on 21 October 2023 alongside elections on [[Christmas Island]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Council Elections |url=https://shire.cc/en/your-council/council-elections.html |access-date=2024-03-03 |website=Shire of Cocos Islands}}</ref>

===Federal politics===
{{bar box
| title=House of Representatives, 2022<ref name=house/>
| titlebar=#ddd
| width=
| float=right
| bars=
{{bar percent|[[Australian Labor Party|Labor]]|{{Australian politics/party colours|Labor}}|69.00}}
{{bar percent|[[Country Liberal Party|Country Liberal]]|{{Australian politics/party colours|CLP}}|10.00}}
{{bar percent|[[Liberal Democratic Party (Australia)|Liberal Democrats]]|{{Australian politics/party colours|Rise Up Australia}}|8.36}}
{{bar percent|[[Australian Greens|Greens]]|{{Australian politics/party colours|Greens}}|5.40}}
}}
{{bar box
| title=Senate, 2022<ref name=senate/>
| titlebar=#ddd
| width=
| float=right
| bars=
{{bar percent|[[Australian Labor Party|Labor]]|{{Australian politics/party colours|Labor}}|68.70}}
{{bar percent|[[Liberal Democratic Party (Australia)|Liberal Democrats]]|{{Australian politics/party colours|Lib Dems}}|10.87}}
{{bar percent|[[Country Liberal Party|Country Liberal]]|{{Australian politics/party colours|CLP}}|9.13}}
{{bar percent|[[Australian Greens|Greens]]|{{Australian politics/party colours|Greens}}|0.87}}
}}
Cocos (Keeling) Islands residents who are Australian citizens also vote in [[Elections in Australia|federal elections]]. Cocos (Keeling) Islanders are represented in the House of Representatives by the member for the [[Division of Lingiari]] (in the [[Northern Territory]]) and in the Senate by Northern Territory senators.<ref name="AEC">{{cite web|title=Profile of the electoral division of Lingiari (NT)|url=http://www.aec.gov.au/profiles/nt/lingiari.htm|publisher=Australian Electoral Commission|access-date=2 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160425054016/http://www.aec.gov.au/profiles/nt/lingiari.htm|archive-date=25 April 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> At the [[2022 Australian federal election]] the [[Australian Labor Party|Labor Party]] received absolute majorities from Cocos electors in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.<ref name=senate>
Senate polling places: 
* [http://results.aec.gov.au/20499/Website/SenatePollingPlaceFirstPrefs-20499-8712.htm Home Island] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119235124/http://results.aec.gov.au/20499/Website/SenatePollingPlaceFirstPrefs-20499-8712.htm |date=19 January 2018 }}
* [http://results.aec.gov.au/20499/Website/SenatePollingPlaceFirstPrefs-20499-34176.htm Home Island PPVC] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119235147/http://results.aec.gov.au/20499/Website/SenatePollingPlaceFirstPrefs-20499-34176.htm |date=19 January 2018 }}
* [http://results.aec.gov.au/20499/Website/SenatePollingPlaceFirstPrefs-20499-8736.htm West Island] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119235120/http://results.aec.gov.au/20499/Website/SenatePollingPlaceFirstPrefs-20499-8736.htm |date=19 January 2018 }}
</ref><ref name=house>
House of Representatives polling places:
* [http://results.aec.gov.au/20499/Website/HousePollingPlaceFirstPrefs-20499-8712.htm Home Island] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119235151/http://results.aec.gov.au/20499/Website/HousePollingPlaceFirstPrefs-20499-8712.htm |date=19 January 2018 }}
* [http://results.aec.gov.au/20499/Website/HousePollingPlaceFirstPrefs-20499-34176.htm Home Island PPVC] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119235212/http://results.aec.gov.au/20499/Website/HousePollingPlaceFirstPrefs-20499-34176.htm |date=19 January 2018 }}
* [http://results.aec.gov.au/20499/Website/HousePollingPlaceFirstPrefs-20499-8736.htm West Island] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119235215/http://results.aec.gov.au/20499/Website/HousePollingPlaceFirstPrefs-20499-8736.htm |date=19 January 2018 }}
</ref>

===Defence and law enforcement===
{{anchor | Defence | RAAF | Military }}

Defence is the responsibility of the [[Australian Defence Force]]. Until 2023, there were no active military installations or defence personnel on the island; the administrator could request the assistance of the Australian Defence Force if required. 

In 2016, the Australian Department of Defence announced that the [[Cocos (Keeling) Islands Airport]] (West Island) would be upgraded to support the [[Royal Australian Air Force]]'s [[Boeing P-8 Poseidon|P-8 Poseidon]] maritime patrol aircraft.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://defence.gov.au/whitepaper/Docs/2016-Defence-White-Paper.pdf|title=2016 Defence White Paper (para. 4.66)|website=defence.gov.au|access-date=26 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160301003400/http://defence.gov.au/WhitePaper/Docs/2016-Defence-White-Paper.pdf|archive-date=1 March 2016}}</ref> Work was scheduled to begin in early 2023 and be completed by 2026. The airfield will act as a forward operating base for Australian surveillance and electronic warfare aircraft in the region.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-01-16/adf-cocos-keeling-islands-384m-runway-cost-blowout-delay/101854906 |title=$384m cost blowout on ADF plan to upgrade airstrip, boost military presence on Cocos (Keeling) Islands |website=ABC |access-date=19 August 2023|date=15 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://blogs.griffith.edu.au/asiainsights/australian-defences-forgotten-indian-ocean-territories/ |title=Australian Defence's Forgotten Indian Ocean Territories |website=Griffith Asia Insights |access-date=19 August 2023|date=29 June 2023 |last=Layton |first=Peter }}</ref>

The [[Royal Australian Navy]] and [[Australian Border Force]] also deploy {{sclass2|Cape|patrol boat|5}} and {{sclass|Armidale|patrol boat|0}} patrol boats to conduct surveillance and counter-migrant smuggling patrols in adjacent waters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.defence.gov.au/operations/resolute |title=Operation Resolute |website=Australian Government - Defence |access-date=20 August 2023}}</ref> As of 2023, the Navy's ''Armidale''-class boats are in the process of being replaced by larger {{sclass|Arafura|offshore patrol vessel|1}}s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/politics/third-asylum-seeker-boat-intercepted/video/97e609e4f60c961fdb0b2880dcf9cf2c |title=Third asylum seeker boat intercepted |website=Sky News |access-date=20 August 2023|date=14 June 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.navy.gov.au/fleet/ships-boats-craft/future/opv |title=Arafura Class OPV |website=Royal Australian Navy |access-date=20 August 2023}}</ref>

Civilian law enforcement and community policing is provided by the [[Australian Federal Police]]. The normal deployment to the island is one [[sergeant]] and one [[constable]]. These are augmented by two locally engaged Special Members who have police powers.

===Courts===
{{see also|Supreme Court of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands}}
Since 1992, court services have been provided by the [[Department of the Attorney General (Western Australia)|Western Australian Department of the Attorney-General]] under a service delivery arrangement with the Australian Government. Western Australian Court Services provide Magistrates Court, District Court, Supreme Court, Family Court, Children's Court, Coroner's Court and Registry for births, deaths and marriages and change of name services. Magistrates and judges from Western Australia convene a [[circuit court]] as required.

===Health care===
Home Island and West Island have medical clinics providing basic health services, but serious medical conditions and injuries cannot be treated on the island and patients are sent to Perth for treatment, a distance of {{cvt|3000|km}}.