Country	Australia
Capital	Canberra
Continent	Australia-Oceania
Currency	Australian dollar(AUD)
Languages	English

Locaion

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

Geographic Co ordinates

27 00 S, 133 00 E

Land Boundries

0 km

Population

21,515,754 (July 2010 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 54

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

Independence

1 January 1901 (from the federation of UK colonies)

National Holiday

Australia Day, 26 January (1788); ANZAC Day (commemorated as 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 on 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 of Australia ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Quentin BRYCE (since 5 September 2008)
Head of government: Prime Minister Kevin RUDD (since 3 December 2007); Deputy Prime Minister Julia GILLARD (since 3 December 2007)
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

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
Elections: Senate - last held on 24 November 2007 (next to be held no later than 2010); House of Representatives - last held on 24 November 2007 (next to be called no later than 2010)
Election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Liberal Party-National Party coalition 37, Australian Labor Party 32, Australian Greens 5, Family First Party 1, independent 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Australian Labor Party 83, Liberal Party 55, National Party 10, independents 2

Judicial branch

High Court (the chief justice and six other justices are appointed by the governor general)

Political Parties and Leaders

Australian Democrats [Julia MELLAND]; Australian Greens [Bob BROWN]; Australian Labor Party [Kevin RUDD]; Country Liberal Party [Terry MILLS]; 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, 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

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

Video

View Larger Map

Government - Australia - Government Prime Minister Of Australia Department Of Education
Newspapers - The Australian Herald Sun The Mercury Adelaide Now The Age
                             Neos Kosmos Courier Mail The Daily Telegraph Sydney Morning Herald
                             The West Australian WA Business News
Tourism -         Australia's Official Tourism Website

Google News

This RSS feed URL is deprecatedThis RSS feed URL is deprecated, please update. New URLs can be found in the footers at https://news.google.com/news Eurydice Dixon: Vigils held for murdered Australia comedian - BBC News BBC News Eurydice Dixon: Vigils held for murdered Australia comedian BBC News Thousands of people have attended evening vigils in Australia for comedian Eurydice Dixon, whose killing last week prompted widespread anger. Ms Dixon, 22, died as she walked home after performing in Melbourne. A 19-year-old man has been charged ... Vandals attack memorial site for murdered Australian comedianCNN Vigils for Eurydice Dixon held across AustraliaSBS Are Women Responsible for Their Own Safety? Australians Point Fingers after Comedian's Rape and Murder.New York Times ABC Local -Pedestrian TV -The Guardian -NEWS.com.au all 296 news articles » Huawei to Australia: We're not a security risk for 5G - CNNMoney CNNMoney Huawei to Australia: We're not a security risk for 5G CNNMoney Chinese tech firm Huawei is fighting back in Australia following reports that authorities could ban it from any involvement in building 5G mobile networks in the country. The company, one of the world's biggest makers of smartphones and ... China's Huawei rebuts Australian security concerns amid Sino-Canberra tensionsReuters China's Huawei goes on offensive as exclusion from Australia 5G deal loomsABS-CBN News Australia could be sorry if China relationship isn't mended: BrumbyThe Sydney Morning Herald Business Insider -Business Insider Australia -The Australian Financial Review -The Australian Financial Review all 122 news articles » Australia v Ireland: Wallabies call up for scrum-half Jake Gordon - BBC Sport BBC Sport Australia v Ireland: Wallabies call up for scrum-half Jake Gordon BBC Sport Scrum-half Jake Gordon has been called up to the Australia squad as an injury replacement for Will Genia ahead of the decisive third Test against Ireland. The Waratahs player has been added to the panel to provide cover for club-mate Nick Phipps, who ... Australia upset with Ireland's 'blocking' of FolauRTE.ie Australia and Ireland's Sydney decider is rugby's golden opportunityThe Sydney Morning Herald Will Genia to miss the series decider after breaking his arm in clash with IrelandCourier Mail Balls.ie -Irish Times all 290 news articles » Usman Khawaja reveals disappointment over England ODI selection call - Fox Sports Fox Sports Usman Khawaja reveals disappointment over England ODI selection call Fox Sports DUMPED batsman Usman Khawaja says he's 'extremely disappointed' after he was left out of Australia's squad for the ongoing one-day tour of England. The 31-year-old was overlooked last month for a spot in Justin Langer's first squad, with the likes of ... and more » EU and Australia launch talks for a broad trade agreement - EU News The Sydney Morning Herald EU and Australia launch talks for a broad trade agreement EU News Today, Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström together with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Trade Minister of Australia Steven Ciobo officially launched negotiations for a comprehensive and ambitious trade agreement between the EU ... Tough talk over medicine and cheese as Australia and Europe seek a $37b trade dealThe Sydney Morning Herald Agriculture biggest stumbling block to Australia-Europe free trade dealThe Australian Financial Review Malmström says EU 'will find a way' to do Australia trade dealPOLITICO.eu all 197 news articles » OK so Love Island Australia looks incredible - Cosmopolitan.com Cosmopolitan.com OK so Love Island Australia looks incredible Cosmopolitan.com While we will always stay loyal to the Love Island we know and love, we couldn't help but notice how completely ridiculous/incredible/dramatic (delete as appropriate) Love Island Australia looks judging by the clips floating around on social media. Zoë Foster Blake9TheFIX all 2 news articles » Australia's South32 bids $1.3-billion for rest of Canada's Arizona Mining - The Globe and Mail The Globe and Mail Australia's South32 bids $1.3-billion for rest of Canada's Arizona Mining The Globe and Mail Australia's South32 Ltd. has bid $1.3-billion to take full control of Arizona Mining, offering a hefty premium for the Toronto-listed firm which is developing zinc, lead, manganese and silver assets. The offer of $6.20 per share was pitched at a 50-per ... and more » Western Australia road trip: gourmet food and dining experiences - 2GB 2GB Western Australia road trip: gourmet food and dining experiences 2GB With fertile land, a consistent climate and demand for excellence, it should come as no surprise the food in Western Australia's Margaret River in the South West is world class. While seafood is an obvious feature, given its proximity to the ocean ... and more » Fake scotch and tequila are being sold in liquor stores, and you don't need to look far to find it - ABC News ABC News Fake scotch and tequila are being sold in liquor stores, and you don't need to look far to find it ABC News Separately, the ABC found evidence several Australian companies are selling fake scotch whisky and tequila for as little as $26.99 a bottle. Both types of spirit have strict geographical requirements, enforceable under Australian law. Scotch must ... and more » Australia must learn from World Cup mistakes, not blame technology - ESPN (blog) ESPN (blog) Australia must learn from World Cup mistakes, not blame technology ESPN (blog) In the wake of Australia's 2-1 defeat to France in their World Cup opener, headlines screamed of injustice after Les Bleus scored courtesy of a VAR penalty decision and a crazy deflection. True enough, it was a resilient and largely disciplined ... and more »