@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
FAX:
(202) 797–3168
consulate(s) general:
Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Pago Pago (American
Samoa), and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Edward 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
@Australia, Economy
Overview: Australia has a prosperous Western-style capitalist economy, with a per capita GDP comparable to levels in industrialized West European countries. Rich in natural resources, Australia is a major exporter of agricultural products, minerals, metals, and fossil fuels. Primary products account for more than 60% 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 characterizing the OECD countries in the early 1990s. In 1992–93 the economy recovered slowly from the prolonged recession of 1990–91, a major restraining factor being weak world demand for Australia's exports. Unemployment has hovered around 10% and probably will remain at that level in 1994 as productivity gains rather than more jobs account for growth. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $339.7 billion (1993) National product real growth rate: 4% (1993) National product per capita: $19,100 (1993) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.1% (1993) Unemployment rate: 10% (December 1993) Budget: revenues: $71.9 billion expenditures: $83.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY93) Exports: $44.1 billion (1992) commodities: coal, gold, meat, wool, alumina, wheat, machinery and transport equipment partners: Japan 25%, US 11%, South Korea 6%, NZ 5.7%, UK, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong (1992) Imports: $43.6 billion (1992) commodities: machinery and transport equipment, computers and office machines, crude oil and petroleum products partners: US 23%, Japan 18%, UK 6%, Germany 5.7%, NZ 4% (1992) External debt: $141.1 billion (1993) Industrial production: growth rate 1.9% (FY93); accounts for 32% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 40,000,000 kW production: 150