| Country
name: |
conventional long form:
Commonwealth of Australia
conventional short form: Australia |
| Government
type: |
democratic, federal-state
system recognizing the British monarch as sovereign |
| Administrative
divisions: |
6 states and 2 territories*;
Australian Capital Territory*, New Souh 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 Rev. Peter HOLLINGWORTH (since 29 June 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister John Winston HOWARD
(since 11 March 1996); Deputy Prime Minister John ANDERSON (since NA)
cabinet: Cabinet selected from among the members of Federal
Parliament by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor
general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is
usually appointed prime minister by the governor general for a
three-year term
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 territories; one-half of the members elected
every three years by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House
of Representatives (148 seats; members elected by popular vote on the
basis of preferential representation to serve three-year terms; no state
can have fewer than five representatives)
elections: Senate - last held 3 October 1998 (next to be
held by October 2001); House of Representatives - last held 3 October
1998 (next to be held by October 2001)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - Liberal Party-National Party coalition 35, Australian
Labor Party 29, Australian Democratic Party 9, Green Party 1, One Nation
Party 1, independent 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by
party - NA%; seats by party - Liberal Party-National Party coalition 80,
Australian Labor Party 67, independent 1 |
| Judicial
branch: |
High Court (the chief justice
and six other justices are appointed by the governor general) |
| Political
parties and leaders: |
Australian Democratic Party
[Natasha STOTT-DESPOJA]; Australian Labor Party [Kim BEAZLEY]; Green
Party [Bob BROWN]; Liberal Party [John Winston HOWARD]; National Party
[John ANDERSON]; One Nation Party [Pauline HANSON] |
| Political
pressure groups and leaders: |
Australian Democratic Labor
Party (anti-Communist Labor Party splinter group); Peace and Nuclear
Disarmament Action (Nuclear Disarmament Party splinter group) |
| International
organization participation: |
ANZUS, APEC, ARF (dialogue
partner), AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC,
CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNMEE, UNTAET, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC |
| Diplomatic
representation in the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Michael THAWLEY
chancery: 1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC
20036
telephone: [1] (202) 797-3000
FAX: [1] (202) 797-3168
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New
York, and San Francisco |
| Diplomatic
representation from the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador J. Thomas SCHIEFFER
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: Sydney
consulate(s): Melbourne and Perth |
| 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; 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
|
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