Australian(s)adjective:
Australian
Ethnic divisions:
Caucasian 95%, Asian 4%, aboriginal and other 1%
Religions:
Anglican 26.1%, Roman Catholic 26%, other Christian 24.3%
Languages:
English, native languages
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
total population:
100%
male:
100%
female:
100%
Labor force:
8.63 million (September 1991)
by occupation:
finance and services 33.8%, public and community services 22.3%,
wholesale and retail trade 20.1%, manufacturing and industry 16.2%,
agriculture 6.1% (1987)
@Australia, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Commonwealth of Australia
conventional short form:
Australia
Digraph:
AS
Type:
federal parliamentary state
Capital:
Canberra
Administrative divisions:
6 states and 2 territories*; Australian Capital Territory*, New South
Wales, Northern Territory*, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania,
Victoria, Western Australia
Dependent areas:
Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling)
Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Norfolk
Island
Independence:
1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)
National holiday:
Australia Day, 26 January (1788)
Constitution:
9 July 1900, effective 1 January 1901
Legal system:
based on English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor
General William George HAYDEN (since 16 February 1989)
head of government:
Prime Minister Paul John KEATING (since 20 December 1991); Deputy
Prime Minister Brian HOWE (since 4 June 1991)
cabinet:
Cabinet; prime minister selects his cabinet from members of the House
and Senate
Legislative branch:
bicameral Federal Parliament
Senate:
elections last held 13 March 1993 (next to be held by NA 1996);
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (76 total)
Liberal-National 36, Labor 30, Australian Democrats 7, Greens 2,
independents 1
House of Representatives:
elections last held 13 March 1993 (next to be held by NA 1996);
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (147 total) Labor 80,
Liberal-National 65, independent 2
Judicial branch:
High Court
Political parties and leaders:
government:
Australian Labor Party, Paul John KEATING
opposition:
Liberal Party, John HEWSON; National Party, Timothy FISCHER;
Australian Democratic Party, Cheryl KERNOT; Green Party, leader NA
Other political or pressure groups:
Australian Democratic Labor Party (anti-Communist Labor Party splinter
group); Peace and Nuclear Disarmament Action (Nuclear Disarmament
Party splinter group)
Member of:
AfDB, AG (observer), ANZUS, APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC,
COCOM, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, GATT, G-8, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,
IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, MTCR, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OECD, PCA,
SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOSOM,
UNPROFOR, UNTAC, UNTSO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Donald RUSSELL
chancery:
1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:
(202) 797–3000
