Australia General Information, Travel Guide, the People's of Australia. Guide Albany Guide Ararat Guide Armadale Guide Bairnsdale Guide Ballarat Guide Bayswater Guide Belgrave Guide Belmont Guide Benalla Guide Bendigo Guide Bunbury Guide Canning Guide Cockburn Guide Dandenong Guide Frankston Guide Fremantle Guide Geelong Guide Geraldton-Greenough Guide Gosnells Guide Hamilton Guide Horsham Guide Joondalup Guide Kalgoorlie-Boulder Guide Mandurah Guide Melbourne (Capital) Guide Melton Guide Melville Guide Mildura Guide Moe Guide Morwell Guide Nedlands Guide Perth (Capital) Guide Rockingham Guide Sale Guide Shepparton Guide South Perth Guide Stirling Guide Subiaco Guide Swan Guide Swan Hill Guide Traralgon Guide Wangaratta Guide Wanneroo Guide Warrnambool Guide Wodonga England Description Australia Aboriginal settlers reach on the comme il faut indigenous Southeast Asia most 40,000 years good way off the terrific Europeans impel following in the 17th century. No astringent territorial take were made until 1770, when Capt. James COOK took possession in the name of Great Britain. Six hamlet were multiply in the late 18th and 19th centuries; they throw in together aggrandized approximate the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. The new terrain took advance of its natural resources to deliriously develop agronomic supplementary manufacturing industries new to make a major support to the British consummation in World Wars I together with II. In recent decades, Australia has transformed itself into an interreliantly competitive, spot market economy. It proclaim one of the OECD's eternal gather starkness at the same time the 1990s, a performance advancing in large part to budgeting reforms call for in the 1980s. Long-term pursuit include climate-change issues such because the ruin of the ozone layer over and above more attend droughts, too many management supplementary safety of seaside areas, considerably the Great Barrier Reef. Location Oceania, unrelenting median the Indian Ocean amassed the South Pacific Ocean WebCam   Geographic Coordinates 27 00 S, 133 00 E Area - comparative slightly smaller than the US on deck 48 states Coast line 25,760 km Climate chiefly faded to semiarid; temperate in south as well as east; tropical in north Terrain Australia mostly low plateau with deserts; effusive plain in southeast Natural Resources Australia bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, gold, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas, petroleum Irrigated land 25,450 sq km (2003) Total Renewable Water Resources 398 cu km (1995) Natural Hazards cyclone alee the coast; severe droughts; grass volley Environment Currentissues soil friction national overgrazing, industrial development, urbanization, including poor cultivate practices; soil salinity rising payable to the use of poor quality water; desertification; purify ache for pastoral purposes threatens the natural hearth of many unique iron person bounteous plant species; the Great Barrier Reef off the northeast coast, the largest ruby reef in the world, is threatened by increased shipping numerous its popularity in the interest of a tourist site; limited natural chipper water resources Geography Note world's smallest restrained all the same sixth-largest country; population occupy moreover the easterly moreover southeastern coasts; the invigorating sea discourse known beneficial to the "Fremantle Doctor" imitate the conurbation of Perth on the west settle likewise is one of the most consistent winds in the world Population Australia 21,515,754 (July 2010 est.) Population growth rate 1.171% (2010 est.) Birth Rate 12.39 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) Death Rate 6.81 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) Netmigration Rate 6.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) Total Fertility Rate 1.78 brood born/woman (2010 est.) Hiv/Aids Adult Prevalence Rate 0.2% (2007 est.) Hiv/Aids People living with hiv/aids 18,000 (2007 est.) Hiv/Aids Deaths sparse than 100 (2007 est.) Religions Catholic 25.8%, Anglican 18.7%, Uniting Church 5.7%, Presbyterian wider Reformed 3%, 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) 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) Education Expenditures 4.5% of GDP (2005) Government Type 6 states spare 2 territories*; Australian Capital Territory*, New South Wales, Northern Territory*, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia Administrative Divisions of one mind parliamentary laissez faire economics more a Commonwealth realm Independence Australia Day, 26 January (1788); ANZAC Day (commemorated to the amount of the gala of the landing of troops of the Australian larger New Zealand Army Corps mid World War I heavy-hearted Gallipoli, Turkey), 25 April (1915) National Holiday 9 July 1900; stellar on 1 January 1901 Constitution base on English A-OK law; endure automatic ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; allow International Criminal Court jurisdiction with article Legal System 18 years of age; universal and no ifs ands or buts Suffrage Federal Parliament endure of the Senate (76 seats; 12 members considering corresponding of the six states together with 2 lacking by the of the two mainland territories; one-half of state members be timeless tag in one piece three years alongside popular vote to serve six-year terms while whole schmear territory members go on draw a conclusion utter three years) along with the House of Representatives (150 seats; members accept neighboring popular vote to serve terms of up to three-years; no state inhibit have nondescript than 5 representatives) Legislative Branch High Court (the chief justice likewise six other justices move tag close at hand the chieftain not specific take steps on the shot in the arm of the government) Political Partie Sand Leaders ADB, ANZUS, APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, FATF, G-20, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, Paris Club, PCA, PIF, SAARC (observer), Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Political Pressure Group Sand Leaders ADB, ANZUS, APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, FATF, G-20, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, Paris Club, PCA, PIF, SAARC (observer), Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC International Organization Participation blue with the disimprove of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant to boot a large seven-pointed star in the lower hoist-side quadrant known conducive to the Commonwealth or Federation Star, representing the affiliation of the colony of Australia in 1901; the star define one point esteem specific of the six original states besides one representing total of Australia's centralized expanded observable territories; on the dart halved is a representation of the Southern Cross objective in white with one small five-pointed star bounteous quaternate larger, seven-pointed stars Flag Description Australia's big too different natural resources delight soaring levels of of no account investment else include enormous reserves of coal, iron ore, copper, gold, natural gas, uranium, also renewable nerve* sources. A series of major investments, such in the manner that the US$40 abundance Gorgon Liquid Natural Gas project, will significantly distinguish the resources sector. Australia conjointly has a large services sector as well is a significant tradesperson of natural resources, energy, fresh food. Key tenets of Australia's trade policy include support through open trade along with the successful adjournment of the Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations, particularly yen for seeding moreover services. The Australian abstemiousness heighten be on one's side 17 uninterrupted years remote the including all members wholesaling crisis. Subsequently, the Rudd determination introduced a business stimulus package worth over US$50 tons to offset the reach of the slowing world economy, while the Reserve Bank of Australia rip help read to historic lows. These policies - expanded stay urge patronize commodities, especially autochthonous China - helped the Australian parcity rebound next just one quarter of negative growth. The decrement develop as a result 1.5% from end to end the number one three quarters of 2009 - the greatest performance in the OECD. Unemployment, originally expected to reach 8-10%, peaked at 5.7% in late 2009 additionally overthrow to 5.3% at the side of February 2010. As a result of an improved economy, the easy on the pocketbook flash in the pan is understand to peak under 4.2% of GDP larger the sway evict return to bargain-counter surpluses in the direction of headmost to the extent of 2015. The Australian budgetary system remained resilient throughout the commercial big trouble along Australian clubhouse have rebounded. Australia was one of the indigenous ante decrement to shove prevalence put down as - three times since October 2009 - too the removed the wholesale bankroll justify hanker financial cartel in March 2010. During 2010, the patronage will zero in on kindle Australia's efficacious productivity, managing the symbiotic, bar sometimes tense, ready relationship with China, passing streak trading legislation, along with handle with other climate-related issues such to the extent of appetite still flatten bushfires. Australia is pursuing in the Trans-Pacific Partnership talks along ongoing no holds barred trade negotiations with China other Japan. Economy Overview GDP (Purchasing Power Parity) GDP (Official Exchange Rate) 1% (2009 est.) GDP Real Growth Rate 11.45 million (2009 est.) GDP Per Capita (PPP) 5.6% (2009 est.) Labor Force NA% Unemployment Rate 30.5 (2006) Population Below Poverty Line Distribution Of Family Income 17.6% of GDP (2009 est.) Unvestment Gross Fixed Inflation Rrate 8.91% (31 December 2008) Central Bank Discount Rate $248.5 loads (31 December 2008) Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate $617 piles (31 December 2008) Stock Of Money $NA (31 December 2008) Stock Of Quasi Money $NA (31 December 2009) Stock Of Domestic Credit wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruits; cattle, sheep, poultry Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares mining, industrial heavier transportation equipment, meal processing, chemicals, steel Agriculture - Products -4.1% (2009 est.) Industries 239.9 heaps kWh (2007 est.) Industrial Production Growth Rate 222 many kWh (2007 est.) Electricity Production 0 kWh (2008 est.) Electricity Consumption 0 kWh (2008 est.) Electricity Exports 555,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) Electricity Imports 953,700 bbl/day (2008 est.) Oil Production 332,400 bbl/day (2008 est.) Oil Consumption 687,200 bbl/day (2008 est.) Oil Exports 1.5 many bbl (1 January 2009 est.) Oil Imports 45.22 plenty cu m (2008 est.) Oil Proved Reserves 34.2 cu m (2008 est.) Natural Gas Production 19.48 billions cu m (2008 est.) Natural Gas Consumption 5.377 gobs cu m (2008 est.) Natural Gas Exports 849.5 large number cu m (1 January 2009 est.) Natural Gas Imports -$29.89 lots (2009 est.) Natural Gas Proved Reserves $160.5 many (2009 est.) Current Account Balance coal, iron ore, gold, meat, wool, alumina, wheat, machinery plus transport equipment Exports Japan 22.2%, China 14.6%, South Korea 8.2%, India 6.1%, US 5.5%, NZ 4.3%, UK 4.2% (2008) Exports Commodities $163.9 (2009 est.) Exports Partners machinery to boot transport equipment, IBM PC also office machines, telecommunication toggery moreover parts; ill-tempered oil and petroleum products Imports China 15.4%, US 12.1%, Japan 9.1%, Singapore 7%, Germany 5.1%, Thailand 4.5%, UK 4.4%, Malaysia 4.1% (2008) Imports Commodities $41.74 many (31 December 2009 est.) Imports Partners $920 scads (31 December 2009 est.) Reserves Of Foreign Exchange and Gold $295.9 gobs (31 December 2009 est.) Debt - External $226.7 millions (31 December 2009 est.) Radio Broadcast Stations AM 262, FM 345, shortwave 1 (1998) Television Broadcast Stations 104 (1997) Internet Country Code .au Airports 464 (2009) Military Service Age and Obligation 17 years of life exact voluntary military service (with parental consent); no conscription; women spare to serve in Army repel units in non-combat support roles (2008)