Hi Chris,

Many thanks for your comment and your kind words. Really appreciate your feedback.
Cheers,
Rob

Hi Ali,
Many thanks for your kind comments about my podcast, and also your excellent question. The difference lies in where they get their power to make laws. The powers of each state are set out in their own constitutions, which details what powers they have and how laws are made and changed within each state. So, the states have a guaranteed right to exist and to make their own laws. Territories, by contrast, do not have their own law making capacity, unless the Commonwealth government decides that they can be self-governing. The Commonwealth parliament has decided that the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory can be self governing. Importantly, their ability to do this is granted by the Commonwealth parliament, not through their own constitutions. This means that the Commonwealth parliament can, at any time, override any laws which the Northern Territory or the ACT governments make. In practice, this is very rare. In reality, these two territories can act like state governments. Perhaps one day, both of these territories would be granted the status of being states. However, that would only be with the agreement of the Commonwealth parliament.
It’s a complicated subject, so I hope what I have said makes sense.
See https://peo.gov.au/understand-our-parliament/your-questions-on-notice/questions/whats-the-difference-between-a-territory-and-a-state-parliament.
Cheers,
Rob.

Dear Rob,
I have a question.What is the big differences between states and territories?
Thanks so much for every things and your efforts.This podcast is not only useful for increasing our knowledge of English speaking but also for have a knowing better about your country’s culture.

Regards,
Ali

Hi Dep,
Many thanks for your comment. The smaller Australian territories such as Christmas Island can be visited just like any other part of Australia. No doubt there are tourist tours which are available as well.
Regarding your second question – all of these smaller territories are indeed part of Australia and are controlled by the Federal government. It’s just that they don’t have the profile, importance or self government of the ACT and the NT. People who live in these smaller territories have all the rights and privileges of all other Australians.
I hope that explanation helps.
Best regards,
Rob.