When did Australia become independent from Britain?
Australia became independent gradually rather than on a single date. Federation in 1901 created the Commonwealth of Australia, the Statute of Westminster gave full legislative independence, and the Australia Act 1986 removed the last legal links with British parliament and courts.
On 1 January 1901, the six British colonies federated into the Commonwealth of Australia, a self-governing dominion within the British Empire. However, Britain still had some legal power over Australia.
The Statute of Westminster, passed by the British parliament in 1931, gave dominions such as Australia full legislative independence. Australia adopted it in 1942, backdated to 1939.
The Australia Act
The Australia Act 1986 ended the British parliament's ability to make laws for Australia and abolished final appeals from Australian courts to the Privy Council in London.
Australia remains a constitutional monarchy, with the British monarch as head of state. Australians voted against becoming a republic in 1999.
Australia Day, on 26 January, marks the arrival of the First Fleet, not independence. Australia has no Independence Day, unlike many other former colonies.