|
Background:
|
650 million
years ago Australia, India, South America, Africa, and
Antarctica were joined as part of a super continent called
Gondana. Australia separated from the main mass and
drifted north, isolated from from the rest of the world.
Australia was like the Arc, containing unique animals that
became extinct in the rest of the world but flourished on
the dry continent.
Humans arrived Aboriginal
settlers arrived on the continent from Southeast Asia about
40,000 years before the first Europeans began exploration in
the 17th century. In 1770 Capt. James COOK took possession in the
name of Great Britain - we used to be taught he 'discovered'
it, which seemed to ignore thousands of years of aboriginal
occupation and a quite a few Europeans who got to Australia
before Cook.
The first colony was set up at Botany Bay in
1780. A total of 6 colonies were created in the late
18th and 19th centuries; finally they federated and became the
Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. The new country took
advantage of its natural resources to rapidly develop its
agricultural and manufacturing industries and to make a
major contribution to the allies effort in World Wars I and
II. Australia has been one of the major allies of the USA
and has been involved in a number of wars with the USA since
WWII.
In recent decades, Australia has transformed itself into
an internationally competitive, advanced market economy. It
boasted one of the OECD's fastest growing economies during
the 1990's, a performance due in large part to economic
reforms adopted in the 1980's. Long-term concerns include
pollution, particularly depletion of the ozone layer, and
management and conservation of coastal areas, especially the
Great Barrier Reef.
|
|
Location:
|
Oceania,
continent between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific
Ocean |
|
Geographic coordinates:
|
27 00 S, 133
00 E
|
|
Area:
|
total:
7,686,850 sq km
land: 7,617,930 sq km
water: 68,920 sq km
Note: The world's smallest continent but
sixth-largest country; population concentrated along the
eastern and southeastern coasts |
|
Area - comparative:
|
slightly
smaller than the US contiguous 48 states |
|
Coastline:
|
25,760 km
|
|
Maritime claims:
|
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the
continental margin |
|
Climate:
|
generally
arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in
north |
|
Terrain:
|
mostly low
plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeast |
|
Elevation extremes:
|
lowest
point: Lake Eyre -15 m
highest point: Mount Kosciuszko 2,229 m |
|
Natural resources:
|
bauxite,
coal, iron ore, copper, tin, gold, silver, uranium, nickel,
tungsten, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas,
petroleum |
|
Land use:
|
arable
land: 6.55% (includes about 27 million hectares of
cultivated grassland)
permanent crops: 0.04%
other: 93.41% (2001) |
|
Irrigated land:
|
24,000 sq km
(1998 est.) |
|
Natural hazards:
|
cyclones
along the coast; severe droughts; forest fires |
|
Environment - current issues:
|
soil erosion
from overgrazing, industrial development, urbanization, and
poor farming practices; soil salinity rising due to the use
of poor quality water; desertification; clearing for
agricultural purposes threatens the natural habitat of many
unique animal and plant species; the Great Barrier Reef off
the northeast coast, the largest coral reef in the world, is
threatened by increased shipping and its popularity as a
tourist site; limited natural fresh water resources |
|
Lakes:
|
The largest lakes in Australia include Lake Eyre
(9500km2), Lake Torrens (5900km2) and Lake Gairdner
(4300km2) which are all in South Australia. The largest artificial lake in Australia is Lake
Argyle (700km2) which is in Western Australia. The Deepest lake in Australia is Lake St Clair.
|
|
Population:
|
20,090,437
(July 2005 est.) |
|
Age structure:
|
0-14
years: 19.8% (male 2,038,809/female 1,943,563)
15-64 years: 67.2% (male 6,815,600/female 6,695,189)
65 years and over: 12.9% (male 1,145,274/female
1,452,002) (2005 est.) |
|
Median age:
|
total:
36.56 years
male: 35.74 years
female: 37.4 years (2005 est.)
|
|
Population growth
|
0.87% (2005
est.)
|
|
Birth rate:
|
12.26
births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
|
Death rate:
|
7.44
deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
|
Net migration
|
3.91
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
|
Sex ratio:
|
at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
|
|
Infant mortality rate:
|
total:
4.69 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.08 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
|
|
Life expectancy at birth:
|
total population: 80.39 years
male: 77.52 years
female: 83.4 years (2005 est.)
|
|
Total fertility rate:
|
1.76 children
born/woman (2005 est.)
|
|
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
|
0.1% (2003 est.) |
|
Ethnic groups:
|
Caucasian
92%, Asian 7%, aboriginal and other 1%
Note: 26% are foreign born, highest rate in the
world. |
|
Religions:
|
Catholic
26.4%, Anglican 20.5%, other Christian 20.5%, Buddhist 1.9%,
Muslim 1.5%, other 1.2%, unspecified 12.7%, none 15.3% (2001
Census) |
|
Languages:
|
English
79.1%, Chinese 2.1%, Italian 1.9%, other 11.1%, unspecified
5.8%
|
|
Literacy:
|
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100% |
|
Government type:
|
democratic,
federal-state system recognizing the British monarch as
sovereign |
|
Capital:
|
Canberra
|
|
Administrative divisions:
|
6 states and
2 territories*; Australian Capital Territory*, New South
Wales, Northern Territory*, Queensland, South Australia,
Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia
|
|
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 of Australia ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
1952), represented by Governor General Maj. Gen. (Ret.)
Michael JEFFERY (since 11 August 2003)
head of government: Prime Minister John Winston
HOWARD (since 11 March 1996); Deputy Prime Minister Mark
VAILE (since 6 July 2005)
cabinet: Prime Minister nominates, from among members
of Parliament, candidates who are subsequently sworn in by
the Governor General to serve as government ministers
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor
general appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of
the prime minister; following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party or leader of a majority
coalition is sworn in as prime minister by the governor
general
note: government coalition - Liberal Party and
National Party
|
|
Legislative branch:
|
bicameral
Federal Parliament consists of the Senate (76 seats - 12
from each of the six states and two from each of the two
mainland territories; one-half of state members are elected
every three years by popular vote to serve six-year terms
while all territory members are elected every three years)
and the House of Representatives (150 seats; members elected
by popular preferential voting to serve terms of up to
three-years; no state can have fewer than five
representatives)
elections: Senate - last held 9 October 2004 (next to
be held no later than June 2008); House of Representatives -
last held 9 October 2004 (next to be called no later than
November 2007)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party -
NA%; seats by party (for session beginning on 1 July 2005) -
Liberal Party-National Party coalition 39, Australian Labor
Party 28, Democrats 4, Australian Greens 4, Family First
Party 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party
- NA%; seats by party - Liberal Party-National Party
coalition 87, Australian Labor Party 60, independents 3
|
|
Judicial branch:
|
High Court
(the chief justice and six other justices are appointed by
the governor general) |
|
Political parties and leaders:
|
Australian
Democrats [Lyn ALLISON]; Australian Labor Party [Kim
BEAZLEY]; Australian Progressive Alliance [Meg LEES];
Australian Greens [Bob BROWN]; Liberal Party [John Winston
HOWARD]; The Nationals [Mark VAILE]; One Nation Party [Len
HARRIS]; Family First Party [Steve FIELDING] |
|
Economy - overview:
|
Australia has
an enviable Western-style capitalist economy, with a per
capita GDP on par with the four dominant West European
economies. Rising output in the domestic economy, robust
business and consumer confidence, and rising exports of raw
materials and agricultural products are fueling the economy.
Australia's emphasis on reforms, low inflation, and growing
ties with China are other key factors behind the economy's
strength. The impact of drought, weak foreign demand, and
strong import demand pushed the trade deficit up from $8
billion in 2002, to $18 billion in 2003, and to $13 billion
in 2004. One other concern is the rapid increase in domestic
housing prices, which have raised the prospect that interest
rates will need to be raised to prevent a speculative
bubble. Australia is the Worlds
Largest Exporter of Coal, Wool, Alumina, Diamonds, Sheep, Lead, Refined zinc ores.
|
|
GDP
|
$611.7
billion (2004 est.purchasing power parity) |
|
GDP real growth
|
3.5% (2004
est.) |
|
GDP - per capita:
|
purchasing
power parity - $30,700 (2004 est.) |
|
GDP - composition by sector:
|
agriculture: 3.4%
industry: 28.2%
services: 68.4% (2004 est.)
|
|
Labor force:
|
10.35 million
(2004 est.) |
|
Labor force - by occupation:
|
agriculture
3.6%, industry 26.4%, services 70% (2004 est.) |
|
Unemployment
|
5.1%
(December 2004 est.) |
|
Population below poverty line:
|
NA |
|
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
|
lowest
10%: 2%
highest 10%: 25.4% (1994) |
|
Inflation rate:CPI:
|
2.3% (2004
est.) |
|
Investment
|
25.3% of GDP
(2004 est.) |
|
Budget:
|
revenues:
$222.7 billion
expenditures: $221.7 billion, including capital
expenditures of NA (2004 est.) |
|
Public debt:
|
17.4% of GDP
(2004 est.) |
|
Agriculture - products:
|
wheat,
barley, sugarcane, fruits; cattle, sheep, poultry |
|
Industries:
|
mining,
industrial and transportation equipment, food processing,
chemicals, steel |
|
Industrial production growth rate:
|
1.9% (2004
est.) |
|
Exports:
|
$86.89 billion (2004 est.) |
|
Exports - partners:
|
Japan 18.6%, China 9.2%, US 8.1%, South Korea 7.7%, New
Zealand 7.4%, India 4.6%, UK 4.2% (2004)
|
|
Imports:
|
$98.1 billion (2004 est.) |
|
Imports - commodities:
|
machinery and transport equipment, computers and office
machines, telecommunication equipment and parts; crude oil
and petroleum products |
|
Imports - partners:
|
US 14.8%, China 12.7%, Japan 11.8%, Germany 5.8%, Singapore
4.4%, UK 4.1% (2004) |
|
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
|
$35.14 billion (2004 est.) |
|
Debt - external:
|
$308.7 billion (3rd quarter, 2004 est.)
|
|
Currency (code):
|
Australian dollar (AUD) |
|
Exchange rates:
|
Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419
(2003), 1.8406 (2002), 1.9334 (2001), 1.7248 (2000) |
|
Donor Aid:
|
ODA, $894 million (FY99/00) |
|
Telephones - main lines in use:
|
10.815 million (2003) |
|
Telephones - mobile cellular:
|
14.347 million (2003) |
|
Telephone system:
|
general assessment: excellent domestic and
international service
domestic: domestic satellite system; much use of
radiotelephone in areas of low population density; rapid
growth of mobile cellular telephones
international: country code - 61 |
|
Radio stations:
|
AM 262, FM 345, shortwave 1 (1998) |
|
TV stations:
|
104 (1997) |
|
Internet country code:
|
.au |
|
Internet hosts:
|
2,847,763 (2003) |
|
Internet users:
|
9.472 million (2002)
|
|
Railways:
|
total: 54,439 km (3859 km electrified)
broad gauge: 5,434 km 1.600-m gauge
standard gauge: 34,110 km 1.435-m gauge (1,397 km
electrified)
narrow gauge: 14,895 km 1.067-m gauge (2,462 km
electrified)
dual gauge: 213 km dual gauge (2004) |
|
Highways:
|
total: 811,603 km
paved: 314,090 km (including 18,619 km of
expressways)
unpaved: 497,513 km (1999 est.) |
|
Waterways:
|
2,000 km (mainly used for recreation on Murray and
Murray-Darling river systems) (2004) |
|
Pipelines:
|
condensate/gas 492 km; gas 28,680 km; liquid petroleum gas
240 km; oil 4,773 km; oil/gas/water 110 km (2004) |
|
Ports and harbors:
|
Brisbane, Dampier, Fremantle, Gladstone, Hay Point,
Melbourne, Newcastle, Port Hedland, Port Kembla, Port
Walcott, Sydney |
|
Merchant marine:
|
total: 55 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,531,461
GRT/1,999,409 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 16, cargo 7, chemical tanker 3,
container 1, liquefied gas 4, passenger 5, passenger/cargo
6, petroleum tanker 8, roll on/roll off 5
foreign-owned: 16 (France 1, Germany 3, Japan 1,
Philippines 1, Saudi Arabia 1, United Kingdom 2, United
States 7)
registered in other countries: 35 (2005) |
|
Airports:
|
448 (2004 est.) |
|
Military branches:
|
Australian
Defense Force (ADF): Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy,
Royal Australian Air Force, Special Operations Command |
|
Manpower fit for military service:
|
males age
16-49: 4,092,717 (2005 est.) |
|
Military expenditures
|
$16.65
billion or 2.7% GDP(2004) |
|
Disputes - international:
|
East Timor and Australia continue to meet but disagree over
how to delimit a permanent maritime boundary and share
unexploited petroleum resources that fall outside the Joint
Petroleum Development Area covered by the 2002 Timor Sea
Treaty; East Timor dispute hampers creation of a revised
maritime boundary with Indonesia (see also Ashmore and
Cartier Islands dispute); regional states express concern
over Australia's 2004 declaration of a 1,000-nautical
mile-wide maritime indentification zone; Australia asserts
land and maritime claims to Antarctica (see Antarctica); in
2004 Australia submitted claims to UNCLOS to extend its
continental margin from both its mainland and Antarctic
claims |
|
Sports:
|
Australians are completely sport mad! Australian football is
a fast, action packed game. See
http://www.afl.com.au |
|
Illicit drugs:
|
Tasmania is one of the world's major suppliers of licit
opiate products; government maintains strict controls over
areas of opium poppy cultivation and output of poppy straw
concentrate. Marijuana has been decriminalized in South
Australia and the ACT |
|
