|
Background Note: Australia
PROFILE
OFFICIAL NAME:
Commonwealth
of Australia
Geography
Area: 7.7 million sq. km. (3 million sq. mi.); about the size of
the 48 contiguous United States.
Cities: (2003) Capital--Canberra (pop. 323,000). Other
cities--Sydney (4.2 million), Melbourne (3.6 million),
Brisbane (1.7 million), Perth (1.4 million).
Terrain: Varied, but generally low-lying.
Climate: Relatively dry, ranging from temperate in the south to
tropical in the north.
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Australian(s).
Population (2005): 20.2 million.
Annual population growth rate: 1.1%.
Ethnic groups: European 92%, Asian 6%, Aboriginal 2%.
Religions (2001): Anglican 21%, Roman Catholic 27%, other
Christian 20%, other non-Christian 5%, no religion 16% and not
stated 12%.
Languages: English.
Education: Years compulsory--to age 15 in all states
except Tasmania, where it is 16. Literacy--over 99%.
Health: Infant mortality rate--5/1,000. Life
expectancy--males 78 yrs., females 83 yrs.
Work force (10.1 million): Agriculture--4%; mining,
manufacturing, construction, and utilities--21%; services--70%;
public administration and defense--5%.
Government
Type: Democratic, federal-state system recognizing British
monarch as sovereign.
Constitution: July 9, 1900.
Independence (federation): January 1, 1901.
Branches: Head of state is the governor general, who is
appointed by the Queen of Australia (the British Monarch).
Legislative--bicameral Parliament (76-member Senate,
150-member House of Representatives). The House of
Representatives selects as head of government the Prime
Minister, who then appoints his cabinet. Judicial--independent
judiciary. Administrative subdivisions: Six states and two
territories.
Political parties: Liberal, Nationals, Australian Labor,
Australian Democrats, Australian Greens, and Family First. The
Liberal Party and the Nationals form the governing coalition.
Suffrage: Universal and compulsory over 18.
Central government budget: FY 2004-05 $149.86 billion; FY
2005-06 $158.76 billion.
Defense: 1.9% of GDP for FY 2005-06.
Economy
GDP: (2004) $587.3 billion.
Inflation rate: (2004) 2.3% p.a.
Trade: Exports ($112.6 billion, 2004)--coal, iron ore,
non-monetary gold, crude petroleum and bovine meat. Major
markets--Japan, U.S. ($10.3 billion), China, New Zealand,
South Korea.
Imports ($148.1 billion, 2004)--passenger motor vehicles,
crude petroleum, computers, medicaments and telecommunications
equipment. Major suppliers--U.S. ($19.8 billion), China,
Japan, Germany, and Singapore.
PEOPLE
Australia's aboriginal inhabitants, a hunting-gathering people
generally referred to as Aboriginals and Torres Straits
Islanders, arrived more than 40,000 years ago. Although their
technical culture remained static--depending on wood, bone, and
stone tools and weapons--their spiritual and social life was
highly complex. Most spoke several languages, and confederacies
sometimes linked widely scattered tribal groups. Aboriginal
population density ranged from one person per square mile along
the coasts to one person per 35 square miles in the arid
interior. When Capt. James Cook claimed Australia for Great
Britain in 1770, the native population may have numbered 300,000
in as many as 500 tribes speaking many different languages. The
aboriginal population currently numbers more than 410,000,
representing about 2.2% of the population. Since the end of
World War II, the government and the public have made efforts to
be more responsive to aboriginal rights and needs. |