The 1992 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

1.8 children born/woman (1992)

       Nationality:

       noun - Australian(s); adjective - Australian

       Ethnic divisions:

       Caucasian 95%, Asian 4%, Aboriginal and other 1%

       Religions:

       Anglican 26.1%, Roman Catholic 26.0%, other Christian 24.3%

       Languages:

       English, native languages

       Literacy:

       100% (male 100%, female 100%) age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)

       Labor force:

       8,630,000 (September 1991); finance and services 33.8%, public and community

       services 22.3%, wholesale and retail trade 20.1%, manufacturing and industry

       16.2%, agriculture 6.1% (1987)

       Organized labor:

       40% of labor force (November 1991)

      :Australia Government

      Long-form name:

       Commonwealth of Australia

       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

       Independence:

       1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)

       Constitution:

       9 July 1900, effective 1 January 1901

       Dependent areas:

       Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands,

       Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Norfolk Island

       Legal system:

       based on English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with

       reservations

       National holiday:

       Australia Day, 26 January

       Executive branch:

       British monarch, governor general, prime minister, deputy prime minister,

       Cabinet

       Legislative branch:

       bicameral Federal Parliament consists of an upper house or Senate and a

       lower house or House of Representatives

       Judicial branch:

       High Court

       Leaders:

       Chief of State:

       Queen ELIZABETH II (since 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)

       Political parties and leaders:

       government:

       Australian Labor Party, Paul John KEATING

       opposition:

       Liberal Party, John HEWSON; National Party, Timothy FISCHER; Australian

       Democratic Party, John COULTER

       Suffrage:

       universal and compulsory at age 18

       Elections:

       House of Representatives:

       last held 24 March 1990 (next to be held by NA November 1993); results -

       Labor 39.7%, Liberal-National 43%, Australian Democrats and independents

       11.1%; seats - (148 total) Labor 78, Liberal-National 69, independent 1

       Senate:

       last held 11 July 1987 (next to be held by NA July 1993); results - Labor

       43%, Liberal-National 42%, Australian Democrats 8%, independents 2%; seats -

       (76 total) Labor 32, Liberal-National 34, Australian Democrats 7,

       independents 3

       Communists:

       4,000 members (est.)

      :Australia Government

      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, MTCR, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OECD, PCA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,

       UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIIMOG, UNTAG, UNTSO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

       Diplomatic representation:

       Ambassador Michael J. COOK; Chancery at 1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW,

       Washington, DC 20036; telephone [phone]; there are Australian

       Consulates General in Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York,

       Pago Pago (American Samoa), and San Francisco

       US:

       Ambassador Melvin F. SEMBLER; Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian

       Capital Territory 2600 (mailing address is APO AP 96549); telephone [61] (6)

       270-5000; FAX [61] (6) 270-5970; there are US Consulates General in

       Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney, and a Consulate in 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. Of the top 25 exports, 21 are

       primary products, so that, as happened during 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.

       GDP:

       purchasing power equivalent - $280.8 billion, per capita $16,200; real

       growth rate —0.6% (1991 est.)

       Inflation rate (consumer prices):

       3.3% (September 1991)

       Unemployment rate:

       10.5% (November 1991)