The Imperial Act for the Better Government of Her Majesty’s Australian Colonies was passed to extend a measure of representative government to South Australia, Van Diemen’s Land and newly-created Victoria, and to reform the Constitution of New South Wales. Each colony proceeded to draw up its own Constitution amidst official and public debate about future political and electoral systems. South Australia was authorised to establish a new Legislative Council with one third of its members appointed by the Crown and two thirds elected by eligible voters.
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