Self-government means that the people of a country make decisions
for themselves. They do not rely upon another country making
their decisions for them.
When the Europeans first settled in Australia, Australia was
a prison for the convicts. Important decisions were made by
the Governor who represented the king or queen of Great Britain.
Sometimes the Governor sent decisions to London for approval.
Later free settlers arrived and the convicts who came here as
prisoners completed their sentences and were free to live in
Australia.
As the number of free settlers and former convicts grew and
outnumbered the prisoners, these free people wanted a greater
say in the government of the colony. At first the Governor of
New South Wales set up a Legislative Council, a group of leading
citizens, usuallylandowners, men of property and men from the
leading professions such as the law and medicine, to advise
and help him. But the final say still remained with the Governor.
This was finally changed and the colonies were given permission
to set up governments to make decisions and laws on their own
behalf. They no longer had to rely on others making decisions
or laws for them. This is self-government. They were now in
charge of making laws, rules and decisions for themselves.
