The form of the Government of South Australia is prescribed in its constitution

Constitution of South Australia

The South Australian Constitution Act of 1934 sets out the principles and rules and procedures for the government of the State of South Australia....

, which dates from 1856, although it has been amended many times since then. Since 1901 South Australia

South Australia

South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...

 has been a state of the Commonwealth of Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

, and the Australian Constitution regulates its relationship with the Commonwealth.

Under the Australian Constitution, South Australia ceded certain legislative and judicial powers to the Commonwealth, but retained complete independence in all other areas. In practice, however, the independence of the Australian states has been greatly eroded by the increasing financial domination of the Commonwealth.

South Australia is governed according to the principles of the Westminster system

Westminster System

The Westminster system is a democratic parliamentary system of government modelled after the politics of the United Kingdom. This term comes from the Palace of Westminster, the seat of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....

, a form of parliamentary government based on the model of the United Kingdom

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

. Legislative power rests with the Parliament of South Australia

Parliament of South Australia

The Parliament of South Australia is the bicameral legislature of the Australian state of South Australia. It consists of the Legislative Council and the House of Assembly. It follows a Westminster system of parliamentary government....

, which consists of the Crown, represented by the Governor of South Australia, and the two Houses, the South Australian Legislative Council

South Australian Legislative Council

The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of South Australia. Its central purpose is to act as a house of review for legislation passed through the lower house, the House of Assembly...

 and the South Australian House of Assembly

South Australian House of Assembly

The House of Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of South Australia. The other is the Legislative Council. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Adelaide.- Overview :...

, with legislative elections

South Australian legislative elections

This is a list of state elections in South Australia for the Parliament of South Australia.-See also:* South Australian House of Assembly* Non-party premiers 1857–1890* List of South Australian state by-elections...

 held every four years.

Executive power rests formally with the Executive Council, which consists of the Governor and senior ministers. In practice executive power is exercised by the Premier of South Australia and the Cabinet, who are appointed by the Governor, but who hold office by virtue of their ability to command the support of a majority of members of the House of Assembly.

Judicial power is exercised by the Supreme Court of South Australia

Supreme Court of South Australia

The Supreme Court of South Australia is the superior court for the Australian State of South Australia. It has unlimited jurisdiction within the state in civil matters, and hears the most serious criminal matters. The Supreme Court is the highest South Australian court in the Australian court...

 and a system of subordinate courts, but the High Court of Australia

High Court of Australia

The High Court of Australia is the supreme court in the Australian court hierarchy and the final court of appeal in Australia. It has both original and appellate jurisdiction, has the power of judicial review over laws passed by the Parliament of Australia and the parliaments of the States, and...

 and other federal courts have overriding jurisdiction on matters which fall under the ambit of the Australian Constitution.

Government Departments

There are 14 separate Departments within the government of South Australia's public service.

Auditor-General's Department

Auditor-General's Department provides the Parliament and public sector entities with independent professional opinions on matters related to financial management, compliance with legislative requirements.

Department for Environment and Natural Resources

• Environmental Information
  • Environmental Education Unit
  • Environmental Information Analysis Branch
  • Information Planning and Strategy Branch
  • IT Services Branch
  • Land Ownership + Tenure System
  • Web and Knowledge Management Branch
• Natural and Cultural Heritage
  • Animal Welfare
  • Coast and Marine
  • Committee Secretariat
  • Community Partnerships
  • Crown Lands
  • Directorate Support
  • Heritage
  • Natural Heritage Strategies
  • Natural Resource Management
  • Tourism and Recreation
• Office Of the Chief Executive
• Regional Conservation
• Urban Forest- Million Trees Program
  • Adelaide Botanic Garden
  • Mount Lofty Botanic Garden
  • Wittunga Botanic Garden
• Zero Waste SA

Department for Families and Communities

The Department for Families and Communities works with people who may be poor, vulnerable, at risk of harm or isolated, to connect them to choices and opportunities:

• Disability SA
  • Office for Disability & Client Services
• Domiciliary Care SA
• Families SA
• Housing SA
  South Australian Housing Trust
  The South Australian Housing Trust was a statutory authority established by the of the Government of South Australia responsible for providing low-cost rental housing to working people and their families.-History:...
  
  
  • Office for Aboriginal Housing
  • Office for Community Housing
  • SA Affordable Housing Trust
• Community Connect
• Office for the Ageing
  • Seniors Card Unit
• Office for Carers
• Office for Problem Gambling
• Indigenous Services
• HomeStart Finance

Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure

The Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure has responsibilities in relation to transport system and services, energy policy and regulation, and infrastructure planning for South Australia:

• Building Management
  • Accommodation and Property Services
  • Business Services
  • Facilities Services (formerly Building Maintenance)
  • Project Services
  • Strategic Services
• Corporate Services Division
• Energy Division
  • Energy Advisory Service
  • Energy Policy
  • Energy Programs
  • Energy SA Advisory Centre
  • Microeconomic Reform and Infrastructure
  • Office of the Code Registrar - Gas Pipelines
  • Office of the Technical Regulator
• Land Services Group
• Office of Major Projects and Infrastructure
• Office of the Chief Information Officer
• Policy and Planning Division
  • Ports and Logistics
• Public Transport Division
  • TransAdelaide
• Safety and Regulation Division
• Service SA
  • eGovernment
    • Bizgate
    • eBusiness
    • Infrastructure
    • Online Delivery
  • Service Delivery
• Transport Services Division
  • Eastern Region
  • Logistic and Marine Policy
  • Metropolitan Region
  • Northern and Western Region
  • Property Planning and Management Services
  • Traffic and Access Standards

Department of Education and Children's Services

The Department of Education and Children's Services delivers and coordinates children's services and schooling.

• Office of the Deputy Chief Executive
• Office of Schools
• Office of Early Childhood Development
• Office of Policy and Communications
• Finance and Infrastructure
• Aboriginal, Student and Family Services
• Teaching and Learning Services
• Human Resources and Workforce Development

Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology

The Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology develops the State's workforce, skills base and learning opportunities. And developing science research and information economy opportunities:

• Aboriginal Education and Employment
• Bio Innovation SA
• Centre for Lifelong Learning and Development
• Education Adelaide
• Education Services and Programs
• Employment and Skills Formation
  • Employment Programs
  • Indigenous and Youth Initiatives
  • Operations
  • Traineeship and Apprenticeship Management
• Office of the Chief Executive
  • Office of the Training Advocate
• Playford Capital
• Science and Innovation
• Shared Business Services
• TAFE SA
• TAFE SA Regional

Department of Health

The Department of Health is responsible for protecting and improving health by providing leadership in health reform, policy development and planning:

• Aboriginal Health
• Central-Northern Adelaide Health Service
  • BreastScreen SA
  • Lyell McEwin Health Service
  • Modbury Hospital
  • Queen Elizabeth Hospital
  • Royal Adelaide Hospital
    • Sexually Transmitted Diseases Services
  • SA Dental Service
• Children, Youth and Women's Health Service
  • Child and Youth Health
  • Women's and Children's Hospital
    • Women's Health Statewide
• Health System Improvement & Reform
• Health System Management
• Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science
  • Division of Clinical Pathology
  • Research
• Office of the Chief Executive
• Public Health & Clinical Coordination
• Repatriation General Hospital
• SA Ambulance Service
• Southern Adelaide Health Service
  • Drug and Alcohol Services South Australia
  • Flinders Medical Centre
    • South Australian Community Health Research Unit
  • Noarlunga Health Services

Department of Justice

Department of Justice the coordinating entity for the provision of justice services to the community and Government of South Australia.

• Attorney-General’s Department
• Commissioner for Victims' Rights
• Courts Administration Authority
• Department for Correctional Services
• Legal Services Commission
• Police Complaints Authority
• SA Country Fire Service
• SA Metropolitan Fire Services
• South Australia Police
• South Australia Fire and Emergency Services Commission
• Electoral Commission of SA
• State Emergency Service
• Justice of the Peace Services

Department of Planning and Local Government

Department of Planning and Local Government is responsible for guiding and administering the South Australian Planning and Development Assessment System:.

• Assessment
• Business Services
  • Business and Information Services
  • Spatial Planning, Analysis & Research
• Executive Services
  • Legislation & Best Practice
  • Sustainability
• Office for State/Local Government Relations
• Office for the Southern Suburbs
• Policy Division
  • Building Policy
  • Planning Policy
• Strategy

Department of Primary Industries & Resources

Department of Primary Industries and Resources South Australia is an agency for economic development and ensuring the sustainable development of the State's natural resources

• Agriculture, Food and Wine
• Aquaculture
• Fisheries
• Forestry
• Minerals and Energy Resources
  • Petroleum and Geothermal
• Office of the Upper Spencer Gulf, Flinders Rangers and Outback
• PIRSA
• Rural Solutions SA
• SA Research and Development Institute
• South Australian Food Centre

Department of the Premier and Cabinet

The Department of the Premier and Cabinet delivers policy advice and support to the Premier and Ministers, provides direction and leadership to the SA Public Sector, and drives key Government initiatives across a range of services.

• Agent-General for South Australia
• Cabinet Office
• Departmental Affairs
  • Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation Division
    • Aboriginal Culture and Heritage
  • Adelaide Thinkers in Residence
    Thinker in Residence
    Thinkers in Residence is a program in Adelaide, South Australia, that brings leaders in their fields to work with the South Australian community and government in developing new ideas and approaches to problem solving, and to promote South Australia....
    
    
  • Arts SA
    • Art Gallery of South Australia
    • Artlab Australia
    • Carrick Hill
    • JamFactory Contemporary Craft and Design
      • JamFactory Contemporary Craft and Design (additional shop)
    • South Australian Museum
    • State Library of South Australia
      • Public Library Services
  • Government Publishing SA
  • Social Inclusion Unit
  • State Records
    • Public Research Centres
  • University City Project
• Office for Ethical Standards and Professional Integrity
• Public Sector Performance Commission
• Sustainability and Workforce Management
  • Public Sector Workforce Relations
  • SafeWork SA
  • Sustainability and Climate Change
    • Capital City Project

Department of Trade and Economic Development

The Department of Trade and Economic Development is the South Australian Government’s agency for economic and industry development policy.

• Corporate Services
• Deputy Chief Executive
  • Commercial Advice
  • International Market Development
    • Investment
    • Migration
    • Trade
  • Manufacturing, Services and Business Sustainability
    • Creative Industries
    • Industry Capability Network South Australia
    • Office of Manufacturing
    • Strategic Project Facilitation Team
  • Office of Small Business and Regional Development
  • Strategic Marketing and Communications
• Office of the Chief Executive
• Office of the Economic Development Board
• Policy and Business Environment

Department of Treasury and Finance

Department of Treasury and Finance provides economic, policy and financial advice to the Government, manages the whole of Government financial management processes, including preparation of the State Budget, and provides finance-related services across Government.

• Corporate Services
• Finance
• Government Accounting and Reporting
• Policy Analysis
• Projects and Government Enterprises
• Revenue and Economics
• RevenueSA
• SA Government Financing Authority (SAFA)
• Shared Services SA
  • Government ICT Service Delivery
    • SA Government Radio Network
    • SA Government Telecommunication Network
  • Transition Future ICT
• State Procurement and Fleet Operations
  • Fleet SA
    • Government Auctions SA
• Super SA
• Treasurer’s Office

Department for Water

The Department for Water is the lead agency at the State level for the policy, management and administration of the State's water resources.

• • Infrastructure and Business
  • Knowledge and Information
  • National Water Initiative
  • Strategic Policy
  • River Murray
  • Resource Allocation

External links

• Government of South Australia website
• The Constitution of South Australia