Australia

Australia

Introduction

Background

Aboriginal settlers arrived on the continent from Southeast Asia about 40,000 years before the first Europeans began exploration in the 17th century. No formal territorial claims were made until 1770, when Capt. James COOK took possession of the east coast in the name of Great Britain (all of Australia was claimed as British territory in 1829 with the creation of the colony of Western Australia). Six colonies were created in the late 18th and 19th centuries

they federated and became the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. The new country took advantage of its natural resources to rapidly develop agricultural and manufacturing industries and to make a major contribution to the British effort in World Wars I and II. 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 1990s, a performance due in large part to economic reforms adopted in the 1980s. Long-term concerns include ageing of the population, pressure on infrastructure, and environmental issues such as frequent droughts.

Geography

Location

Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean

Geographic coordinates

27 00 S, 133 00 E

Map references

Oceania

Area

total: 7,741,220 sq km
country comparison to the world: 6 land:7,682,300 sq km
water:58,920 sq km
note:includes Lord Howe Island and Macquarie Island

Area – comparative

slightly smaller than the US contiguous 48 states

Land boundaries

0 km

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, rare earth elements, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas, petroleum
note:Australia is the world’s largest net exporter of coal accounting for 29% of global coal exports

Land use

arable land: 6.15% (includes about 27 million hectares of cultivated grassland)
permanent crops:0.04%
other:93.81% (2005)

Irrigated land

25,500 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

398 cu km (1995)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 24.06cu km/yr (15%/10%/75%)
per capita:1,193cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards

cyclones along the coast

severe droughts

forest fires
volcanism:volcanic activity occurs on the Heard and McDonald Islands

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 freshwater resources

Environment – international agreements

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements

Geography – note

world’s smallest continent but sixth-largest country

population concentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts

the invigorating sea breeze known as the “Fremantle Doctor” affects the city of Perth on the west coast and is one of the most consistent winds in the world

People and Society

Nationality

noun: Australian(s)
adjective:Australian

Ethnic groups

white 92%, Asian 7%, aboriginal and other 1%

Languages

English 78.5%, Chinese 2.5%, Italian 1.6%, Greek 1.3%, Arabic 1.2%, Vietnamese 1%, other 8.2%, unspecified 5.7% (2006 Census)

Religions

Protestant 27.4% (Anglican 18.7%, Uniting Church 5.7%, Presbyterian and Reformed 3%), Catholic 25.8%, Eastern Orthodox 2.7%, other Christian 7.9%, Buddhist 2.1%, Muslim 1.7%, other 2.4%, unspecified 11.3%, none 18.7% (2006 Census)

Population

21,766,711 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55

Age structure

0-14 years: 18.3% (male 2,040,848/female 1,937,544)
15-64 years:67.7% (male 7,469,092/female 7,266,143)
65 years and over:14% (male 1,398,576/female 1,654,508) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 37.7 years
male:37 years
female:38.4 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

1.148% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101

Birth rate

12.33 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158

Death rate

6.88 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141

Net migration rate

6.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14

Urbanization

urban population: 89% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:1.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

Sydney 4.429 million

Melbourne 3.853 million

Brisbane 1.97 million

Perth 1.599 million

CANBERRA (capital) 384,000 (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.055 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years:1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.84 male(s)/female
total population:1 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

8 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 156

Infant mortality rate

total: 4.61 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 190 male:4.93 deaths/1,000 live births
female:4.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 81.81 years
country comparison to the world: 9 male:79.4 years
female:84.35 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.78 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156

Health expenditures

8.5% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 47

Physicians density

2.991 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
country comparison to the world: 39

Hospital bed density

3.82 beds/1,000 population (2009)
country comparison to the world: 53

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

20,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77

HIV/AIDS – deaths

fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

16.4% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 27

Education expenditures

4.5% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 81

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:99%
male:99%
female:99% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 21 years
male:20 years
female:21 years (2008)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 11.6%
country comparison to the world: 93 male:12.6%
female:10.4% (2009)

Government

Country name

conventional long form: Commonwealth of Australia
conventional short form:Australia

Government type

federal parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

Capital

name: Canberra
geographic coordinates:35 17 S, 149 13 E
time difference:UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time:+1hr, begins first Sunday in October

ends first Sunday in April
note:Australia is divided into three time zones

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, Macquarie Island, Norfolk Island

Independence

1 January 1901 (from the federation of UK colonies)

National holiday

Australia Day, 26 January (1788)

ANZAC Day (commemorates the anniversary of the landing of troops of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during World War I at Gallipoli, Turkey), 25 April (1915)

Constitution

9 July 1900

effective 1 January 1901

Legal system

common law system based on the English model

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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 Quentin BRYCE (since 5 September 2008)
head of government:Prime Minister Julia Eileen GILLARD (since 24 June 2010)

Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Maxwell SWAN (since 24 June 2010)
cabinet:prime minister nominates, from among members of Parliament, candidates who are subsequently sworn in by the governor general to serve as government ministers
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:the monarchy 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

Legislative branch

bicameral Federal Parliament consists of the Senate (76 seats

12 members from each of the six states and 2 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 vote to serve terms of up to three-years

no state can have fewer than 5 representatives)
elections:Senate – last held on 21 August 2010

House of Representatives – last held on 21 August 2010 (the latest a simultaneous half-Senate and House of Representative elections can be held is 30 November 2013)
election results:Senate (effective 1 July 2011) – percent of vote by party – NA

seats by party – Liberal/National Party 34, Australian Labor Party 31, Greens 9, others 2

House of Representatives – percent of vote by party – Australian Labor Party 38.1%, Liberal Party 30.4%, Greens 11.5%, Liberal National Party of Queensland 9.3%, independents 6.6%, The Nationals 3.7%, Country Liberals 0.3%

seats by party – Australian Labor Party 72, Liberal Party 44, Liberal National Party of Queensland 21, The Nationals 7, Country Liberals 1, Greens 1, independents 4

Judicial branch

High Court (the chief justice and six other justices are appointed by the governor general acting on the advice of the government)

Political parties and leaders

Australian Greens [Bob BROWN]

Australian Labor Party [Julia GILLARD]

Family First Party [Steve FIELDING]

Liberal Party [Tony ABBOTT]

The Nationals [Warren TRUSS]

Political pressure groups and leaders

other: business groups

environmental groups

social groups

trade unions

International organization participation

ADB, ANZUS, APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, FATF, G-20, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Paris Club, PCA, PIF, SAARC (observer), Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNMISS, UNMIT, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Kim Christian BEAZLEY
chancery:1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:[1] (202) 797-3000
FAX:[1] (202) 797-3168
consulate(s) general:Atlanta, Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Jeffrey L. BLEICH
embassy:Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2600
mailing address:APO AP 96549
telephone:[61] (02) 6214-5600
FAX:[61] (02) 6214-5970
consulate(s) general:Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Flag description

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 known as the Commonwealth or Federation Star, representing the federation of the colonies of Australia in 1901

the star depicts one point for each of the six original states and one representing all of Australia’s internal and external territories

on the fly half is a representation of the Southern Cross constellation in white with one small five-pointed star and four larger, seven-pointed stars

National symbol(s)

Southern Cross constellation (five, seven-pointed stars)

kangaroo

emu

National anthem

name: “Advance Australia Fair”
lyrics/music:Peter Dodds McCORMICK
note:adopted 1984

although originally written in the late 19th century, the anthem did not become used for all official occasions until 1984

as a Commonwealth country, in addition to the national anthem, “God Save the Queen” is also played at Royal functions (see United Kingdom)

Economy

Economy – overview

Australia’s abundant and diverse natural resources attract high levels of foreign investment and include extensive reserves of coal, iron ore, copper, gold, natural gas, uranium, and renewable energy sources. A series of major investments, such as the US$40 billion Gorgon Liquid Natural Gas project, will significantly expand the resources sector. Australia also has a large services sector and is a significant exporter of natural resources, energy, and food. Key tenets of Australia’s trade policy include support for open trade and the successful culmination of the Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations, particularly for agriculture and services. The Australian economy grew for 17 consecutive years before the global financial crisis. Subsequently, the Rudd government introduced a fiscal stimulus package worth over US$50 billion to offset the effect of the slowing world economy, while the Reserve Bank of Australia cut interest rates to historic lows. These policies – and continued demand for commodities, especially from China – helped the Australian economy rebound after just one quarter of negative growth. The economy grew by 1.2% during 2009 – the best performance in the OECD – and by 3.3% in 2010. Unemployment, originally expected to reach 8-10%, peaked at 5.7% in late 2009 and fell to 5.1% in 2010. As a result of an improved economy, the budget deficit is expected to peak below 4.2% of GDP and the government could return to budget surpluses as early as 2015. Australia was one of the first advanced economies to raise interest rates, with seven rate hikes between October 2009 and November 2010. The GILLARD government is focused on raising Australia’s economic productivity to ensure the sustainability of growth, and continues to manage the symbiotic, but sometimes tense, economic relationship with China. Australia is engaged in the Trans-Pacific Partnership talks and ongoing free trade agreement negotiations with China, Japan, and Korea.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$882.4 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18 $858.8 billion (2009 est.)
$847.5 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.236 trillion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

2.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130 1.3% (2009 est.)
2.6% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$41,000 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18 $40,400 (2009 est.)
$40,300 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 3.9%
industry:25.5%
services:70.6% (2010 est.)

Labor force

11.87 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 3.6%
industry:21.1%
services:75% (2009 est.)

Unemployment rate

5.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47 5.6% (2009 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%:25.4% (1994)

Distribution of family income – Gini index

30.5 (2006)
country comparison to the world: 115 35.2 (1994)

Investment (gross fixed)

27.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42

Budget

revenues: $399 billion
expenditures:$441.2 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

32.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-3.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108

Public debt

28.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94 22.6% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99 1.8% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

4.35% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98 3.28% (31 December 2009 est.)
note:this is the Reserve Bank of Australia’s “cash rate target,” or policy rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

7.279% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147 6.021% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$421.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11 $334.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$1.392 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11 $1.123 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.927 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13 $1.618 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$1.455 trillion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 11 $1.258 trillion (31 December 2009)
$675.6 billion (31 December 2008)

Agriculture – products

wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruits

cattle, sheep, poultry

Industries

mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing, chemicals, steel

Industrial production growth rate

4.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92

Electricity – production

232 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17

Electricity – consumption

225.4 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15

Electricity – exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

549,200 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30

Oil – consumption

960,800 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23

Oil – exports

312,600 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40

Oil – imports

731,400 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19

Oil – proved reserves

3.318 billion bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29

Natural gas – production

45.11 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20

Natural gas – consumption

26.41 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29

Natural gas – exports

24.7 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10

Natural gas – imports

5.99 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31

Natural gas – proved reserves

3.115 trillion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12

Current account balance

-$30.4 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188 -$43.89 billion (2009 est.)

Exports

$212.9 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22 $154.8 billion (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

coal, iron ore, gold, meat, wool, alumina, wheat, machinery and transport equipment

Exports – partners

China 25.1%, Japan 18.9%, South Korea 8.9%, India 7.1%, US 4% (2010)

Imports

$194.7 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21 $159 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

machinery and transport equipment, computers and office machines, telecommunication equipment and parts

crude oil and petroleum products

Imports – partners

China 18.7%, US 11.1%, Japan 8.7%, Thailand 5.2%, Singapore 5.1%, Germany 5%, Malaysia 4.3% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$42.27 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41 $41.74 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$1.302 trillion (30 June 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13 $1.265 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – at home

$514.4 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12 $425.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad

$400.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13 $338.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates

Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -
1.0902 (2010)
1.2822 (2009)
1.2059 (2008)
1.2137 (2007)
1.3285 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

465 (2010)
country comparison to the world:17

Airports – with paved runways

total: 326
over 3,047 m:11
2,438 to 3,047 m:13
1,524 to 2,437 m:148
914 to 1,523 m:140
under 914 m:14 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 139
1,524 to 2,437 m:17
914 to 1,523 m:110
under 914 m:12 (2010)

Heliports

1 (2010)

Pipelines

gas 27,900 km

liquid petroleum gas 240 km

oil 3,257 km

oil/gas/water 1 km (2010)

Railways

total: 38,445 km
country comparison to the world: 7 broad gauge:3,355 km 1.600-m gauge
standard gauge:21,674 km 1.435-m gauge (650 km electrified)
narrow gauge:9,539 km 1.067-m gauge (2,067 km electrified)

3,877 km 1.000-m gauge (2010)

Roadways

total: 818,356 km (2008)
country comparison to the world: 9

Waterways

2,000 km (mainly used for recreation on Murray and Murray-Darling river systems) (2006)
country comparison to the world: 44

Merchant marine

total: 45
country comparison to the world: 73 by type:bulk carrier 10, cargo 8, liquefied gas 4, passenger 6, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 6, roll on/roll off 5
foreign-owned:20 (Canada 7, Germany 2, Netherlands 1, Norway 1, Singapore 2, UK 5, US 2)
registered in other countries:29 (Dominica 1, Fiji 2, Liberia 2, Marshall Islands 1, Netherlands 1, NZ 1, Panama 5, Singapore 11, Tonga 1, UK 1, US 1, Vanuatu 2) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Brisbane, Cairns, Dampier, Darwin, Fremantle, Gladstone, Geelong, Hay Point, Hobart, Jervis Bay, Melbourne, Newcastle, Port Adelaide, Port Dalrymple, Port Hedland, Port Kembla, Port Lincoln, Port Walcott, Sydney

Military

Military branches

Australian Defense Force (ADF): Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian Air Force, Special Operations Command (2006)

Military service age and obligation

17 years of age for voluntary military service (with parental consent)

no conscription

women allowed to serve in Army combat units in non-combat support roles (2010)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 5,316,464
females age 16-49:5,116,722 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 4,411,958
females age 16-49:4,239,985 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 143,565
female:135,800 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

3% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 44

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

In 2007, Australia and Timor-Leste signed agreed to a 50-year development zone and revenue sharing arrangement and deferred a maritime boundary

Australia asserts land and maritime claims to Antarctica

Australia’s 2004 submission to Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) extends its continental margins over 3.37 million square kilometers, expanding its seabed roughly 30 percent beyond its claimed exclusive economic zone

a 1997 treaty between Indonesia and Australia settled some parts of their maritime boundary but some outstanding issues, especially around Timor Leste, remain

Indonesian groups challenge Australia’s claim to Ashmore Reef

Australia has closed parts of the Ashmore and Cartier reserve to Indonesian traditional fishing

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

major consumer of cocaine and amphetamines