>>> l = [['NSW', '87'], ['QLD', '49'], ['SA', '14'], ['VIC', '54'], ['WA', '19']]

>>> highest = max(item[1] for item in l)
>>> (print(item) for item in l if item[1] == highest)
['NSW', '87']

>>> highest = max(item[1] for item in l)
>>> for item in l:
...    if item[1] == highest:
...        print(item)
['NSW', '87']

>>> keys, values = zip(*l)
>>> highest = max(values)
>>> print([keys[values.index(highest)], highest])
['NSW', '87']

1.819037475     # First Example
1.648459721     # Second Example
1.406044623     # Third Example