The Age of Majority Act 1974 lowered the age of majority, that is when a person legally becomes an adult, from 21 to 18 years. This act is both a principal act and amending act.
This Act may be cited as the Age of Majority Act 1974.
This recommendation was accepted and on January 1, 1970, the age of majority was reduced from 21 to 18 years. (See Family Law Reform Act 1969, for England and Wales, the Age of Majority (Scotland) Act 1969, for Scotland, and the Age of Majority Act (NI) 1969, for Northern Ireland.)
About legal age in Australia
In Australia, you're considered to be an adult when you turn 18 years old.
In most countries, the age of majority is 18. In the US, most states have set the age of majority at 18. However, there are a few exceptions, including: In Alabama the age of majority is 19.
According to reports, Nigeria has the lowest age of consent across the world at 11 years which is followed by Angola at 12 years. On the other hand, in countries like the United Kingdom the age of consent is 16, in Greece and France it is 15 and 14 in Germany, and Italy.
Now, 18 is the most common age of majority in U.S. states, but there are exceptions. If you live in Alabama, Colorado, Maryland, or Nebraska, the age of majority is 19.
Forty-three years ago, Australia's voting age was lowered from 21 to 18 by the Labor Government headed by Prime Minister Gough Whitlam. It was a bi-partisan change, with the Commonwealth Electoral Bill 1973 having the support of the Parliamentary Opposition.
When the bill was passed in 1924 it applied to Australians aged 21 years or old, because at the time 21 was the age at which you were considered an adult. In 1973 the Parliament passed the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1973 to lower the voting age to 18.
Although the legal age of consent throughout Australia is either 16 or 17 years of age, legislation in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, the Northern Territory, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia makes it an offence for a person in a supervisory role to have sexual interactions with a ...
Abstract/Citation: Amends the law relating to the age of majority; the law relating to a minor's contracts and related matters; and the age requirement for making a valid will. Provides that a person shall attain full age of 18 years and not 21 years as previously stated.
Japan lowered the age of adulthood from 20 to 18 on April 1 by revising the Civil Code and changing the legal definition of an adult for the first time in over 140 years.
Since 18 has become the age of adulthood in Japan, one may think that almost everything somebody can do would begin around that age. However, this not the case and certain activities may require different age.
Several recent wars had been fought and the number of 18 to 21 year olds who lost their lives or were seriously injured was significant. Asking someone to give their life for their country yet not allowing them to vote was a pivotal part of the argument for lowering the voting age to 18.
Male suffrage
In 1856, South Australia extended the vote to male residents aged 21 years and over.
Premier Don Dunstan introduced the Age of Majority (Reduction) Bill in October 1970 and lowered the drinking age from 21 to 20 in 1968.
Enrolment and voting is compulsory for every Australian citizen aged 18 years or older. Every year, the AEC encourages Australians to comply with their legislated obligation to enrol to vote and to keep their details current on the electoral roll.
28 February – The federal voting age is lowered from 21 to 18. The state of New South Wales had already enacted such a change in 1970. 31 December – AC/DC perform their first major gig in Sydney. Removal of the "White Australia Policy".
Constitutional disqualifications
serving a prison sentence of 12 months or more; is an undischarged bankrupt or insolvent; holding an office of profit under the Crown (e.g. Public Servant); or. a permanent member of the Australian Defence Force.
Thus did Australia acquire a compulsory vote for Federal Elections. Subsequently Victoria established compulsory voting (in 1926), followed by NSW and Tasmania (1928); WA (1936); and SA (1942).
It was passed and the new law took effect 19 March 1856. The election of the first Victorian parliament by this system was held between August and October 1856. Tasmania and South Australia were also debating the implementation of the secret ballot in 1856.
Lowering the voting age
Later, Parliament reduced the voting age further; in 1969 to 20 years of age, and in 1974 to 18. This extension of the franchise occurred in part in an atmosphere of increased student interest in politics due to the Vietnam War protests.
Can I get in trouble for not listening to my parents? Put simply, you are supposed to obey your parents for any reasonable requirements that they may have. Your parents are your guardians until you reach the age of majority at 18 and therefore make all of the major decisions for you.
Being 18 means your child can purchase lottery tickets, buy fireworks, own a credit card, and get married—all without your involvement. They can sue and be sued in civil court, serve on a jury, be an organ donor, and register to vote.
Who is a child? The answer to this question in international and domestic law is clear: a child is anyone under the age of 18.