General Discussion

Australia is a Commonwealth Realm, like Canada, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados and the UK itself, rather than a colony like the Falkland Islands or Bermuda. The Realms (also called Dominions) recognise the Queen as their Head of State but are entirely independent and self-governing.

Australia has had its own Constitution since 1901, Canada since 1982, New Zealand since 1986.

That said, the laws in all those countries are heavily based on British precedent and tradition.

Our independence came by revolution; theirs came by evolution.

I live near the Canadian border. I still see signs of Olde Brittania there; the Crown on police vehicles, the "EIIR" cypher on some public buildings, the Union Jack in the cantons of the Ontario and Manitoba flags, and "Royal" here and there (Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Canadian Mounted Police).

Australia held a referendum in 1999 to ditch the Monarchy, but it was unsuccessful.

I don't know about Jamaica, Barbados, etc., but the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand have much, much lower rates of violent crime than we do.

Compare the two cities of Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario...separated by the mile-wide Detroit River, but truly two worlds apart in attitudes toward crime and guns.