What's the difference between separation of powers and division of powers? I understand each concept, but they both are really similar to me and I am confused as to who exactly is involved/affected in these principles.
The Seperation of Powers is a principle of the Australian Federal system, referring to the three types of law making/enforcing powers which exist at the federal level, the legislative power (vested in parliament, the executive (vested in the crown represented by the governor-general but in practice run by the prime minister and other senior ministers), and the judicial power (the power vested in the high courts and other federal courts the parliament has established to resolve disputes and make laws through precedent).
The Division of powers, isn't really a principle of the parliamentary system but rather a concept which is a by-product of the constitution which refers to the way law-making powers i.e. jurisdiction is divided between the federal and state parliaments. Essentially the division of powers refers to the way all law making powers in Australia are assigned to each parliament.
In essence, The separation of powers refers to the way powers are divided internally between the three law making powers in the federal system (and to a lesser extent the states, as the separation of powers between the state's executive/legislative/judiciary is much less clear than those in the federal level). While the division of powers refers to the way jurisdiction is divided between the state and federal parliaments.
Seperation of powers=law making/enforcing powers divided internally between the three powers.
Division of powers=jurisdiction divided between the various parliament's in Australia.