The first is the Statute of Westminster , as passed by the Commonwealth as the Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1942 . The second is the Australia Act 1986 , which was passed by the Parliaments of every Australian state , the United Kingdom , and the Australian Federal Parliament . These are the Statute of Westminster , as adopted by the Commonwealth in the Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1942 , and the Australia Act 1986 , which was passed in equivalent forms by the Parliaments of every Australian state , the United Kingdom , and the Australian Federal Parliament .