<P> Section 51 of the Constitution of Australia grants legislative powers to the Australian (Commonwealth) Parliament only when subject to the constitution . When the six Australian colonies joined together in Federation in 1901, they became the original States and ceded some of their powers to the new Commonwealth Parliament . There are 39 subsections to section 51, each of which describes a "head of power" under which the Parliament has the power to make laws . </P> <P> The Commonwealth legislative power is limited to that granted in the Constitution . Powers not included in section 51 are considered "residual powers", and remain the domain of the states, unless there is another grant of constitutional power (e.g. Section 52 and Section 90 prescribe additional powers). Matters covered in section 51 may be legislated on by the states, but the legislation will be ineffective if inconsistent with or in a field' covered by' Commonwealth legislation (by virtue of s109 inconsistency provision). </P>

Where are the concurrent powers of the federal parliament specifically stated in the constitution