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Australia

 
     
    • 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 
       
        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 John Howard
     
        cabinet: 
        Cabinet; prime minister selects his cabinet from members of the House and Senate 
     
    • Legislative branch: 
      bicameral Federal Parliament 
       
    • Women's Share of Seats in Parliament:

      • 15% (1997 est.) 
     
    • Judicial branch: 
      High Court 
     
    • Member of: 
      AfDB, AG (observer), ANZUS, APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, G- 8, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OECD, PCA, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOSOM, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, ZC 
     
    • Diplomatic representation in US: 
     
        chief of mission: 
        Ambassador Donald Eric RUSSELL 
     
        chancery: 
        1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 
     
        telephone: 
        [1] (202) 797-3000 
     
        FAX: 
        [1] (202) 797-3168 
     
        consulate(s) general: 
        Atlanta, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Pago Pago (American Samoa), and San Francisco 
     
    • US diplomatic representation: 
     
        chief of mission: 
        Ambassador Edward J. 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