In New South Wales, systems of denominational and State-aided education were viewed by the 1866 Colonial Secretary (and later New South Wales Premier) Henry Parkes in a manner that anticipated legislation in England four years later. Facilities were given to religious denominations to give instruction in their own doctrines, with the consent of the parents of the children, in every public elementary school during one hour per day which was set apart for the purpose.
Around 1880, the Pacific began to fill up with Frenchmen and Germans. They were bent on building their own colonies all too close to Australia — especially in New Caledonia and New Guinea. A strong bulwark had to be erected against this — in Australia. So a Federal Council of Australasia was launched — by an Act of the British
