languages
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100%
Government—————
Name of country:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Australia
conventional short form: Australia
Data code: AS
Type of government: 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) is a
hereditary monarch, represented by Governor General Sir William
DEANE (since 16 February 1996) who was appointed by the queen
head of government: Prime Minister John Winston HOWARD (since 11
March 1996) was appointed by the governor general; Deputy Prime
Minister Timothy Andrew FISCHER (since 11 March 1996)
cabinet: Cabinet was selected from among the members of Federal
Parliament by the governor general on the advice of the prime
minister
Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Parliament
Senate: elections last held 2 March 1996 (next to be held NA 1999);
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (76 total)
Liberal-National 37, Labor 29, Australian Democrats 8, Greens 1,
independent 1
House of Representatives: elections last held 2 March 1996 (next to
be held NA 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
(148 total) Liberal-National 94, Labor 49, independent 5
Judicial branch: High Court, the Chief Justice and six other
justices are appointed by the governor general
Political parties and leaders:
government: coalition of Liberal Party, John Winston HOWARD and
National Party, Timothy Andrew FISCHER
opposition: Australian Labor Party, Kim BEAZLEY; Australian
Democratic Party, Cheryl KERNOT; Green Party, Bob BROWN
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)
International organization participation: AG (observer), ANZUS,
APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, G-
8, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NAM
(guest), NEA, NSG, OECD, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNAMIR,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John Phillip MCCARTHY
chancery: 1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 797–3000
FAX: [1] (202) 797–3168
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New
York, Pago Pago (American Samoa), and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Edward J. PERKINS
embassy: Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian Capital
Territory 2600
mailing address: APO AP 96549
telephone: [61] (6) 270–5000
FAX: [61] (6) 270–5970
consulate(s) general: Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney
consulate(s): Brisbane
Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant and a large seven-pointed star in the lower hoist-side
quadrant; the remaining half is a representation of the Southern
Cross constellation in white with one small five-pointed star and
four, larger, seven-pointed stars
Economy———
Economic overview: Australia has a prosperous Western-style capitalist economy, with a per capita GDP comparable to levels in highly industrialized West European countries. Rich in natural resources, Australia is a major exporter of agricultural products, minerals, metals, and fossil fuels. Commodities account for more than 80% of the value of total exports, so that, as in 1983–84, a downturn in world commodity prices can have a big impact on the economy. The government is pushing for increased exports of manufactured goods, but competition in international markets continues to be severe. Australia has suffered from the low growth and high unemployment
