Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

COCOS (KEELING) ISLANDS ACT 1955 - PREAMBLE

Preamble

                   WHEREAS the islands named the Cocos or Keeling Islands (being the islands referred to in section 4) are governed and administered as part of the Colony of Singapore, in pursuance of the Singapore Colony Order in Council, 1955, being an Order in Council dated 1 February 1955, made by Her Majesty by virtue and in exercise of the powers vested in Her Majesty by the Imperial Acts entitled the British Settlements Acts, 1887 and 1945, and the Straits Settlements (Repeal) Act, 1946:

      AND WHEREAS by the Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Request and Consent) Act 1954 the Parliament of the Commonwealth requested, and consented to, the enactment by the Parliament of the United Kingdom of an Act enabling the Queen to place the Cocos or Keeling Islands under the authority of the Commonwealth and making provision for matters incidental to the placing of those Islands under that authority:

      AND WHEREAS the Government of the Commonwealth has also requested, and consented to, the enactment by the Parliament of the United Kingdom of such an Act:

      AND WHEREAS by the Imperial Act entitled the Cocos Islands Act, 1955, it is provided that Her Majesty may, by Order in Council, direct that the Cocos or Keeling Islands shall, on such date as may be specified in the Order, cease to form part of the Colony of Singapore and be placed under the authority of the Commonwealth:

      AND WHEREAS by the Constitution it is provided that the Parliament may make laws for the government of any territory placed by the Queen under the authority of and accepted by the Commonwealth:

      BE it therefore enacted by the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows: