 The 1926 Imperial Conference resulted in the Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act 1927 , and the Balfour Declaration 1926 , which granted the Dominions equal status to the United Kingdom . However , laws passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom still had force in Australia , and laws passed by Australian parliaments would be invalid if they contradicted United Kingdom laws ( the doctrine of repugnancy ) . The Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1942 ended the doctrine of repugnancy , and provided that United Kingdom laws would only have force in Australia at Australia 's request . 
