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Background:
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Australia became a
commonwealth of the British Empire in 1901. It was able to take
advantage of its natural resources to rapidly develop its agricultural
and manufacturing industries and to make a major contribution to the
British effort in World Wars I and II. Long-term concerns include
pollution, particularly depletion of the ozone layer, and management
and conservation of coastal areas, especially the Great Barrier Reef.
A referendum to change Australia's status, from a commonwealth headed
by the British monarch to an independent republic, was defeated in
1999. |
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Location:
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Oceania, continent
between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean |
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Geographic coordinates:
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27 00 S, 133 00 E |
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Map references:
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Oceania |
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Area:
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total: 7,686,850
sq km
water: 68,920 sq km
note: includes Lord Howe Island and Macquarie Island
land: 7,617,930 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than
the US contiguous 48 states |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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25,760 km |
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Maritime claims:
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contiguous zone:
24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental
margin |
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Climate:
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generally arid to
semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in north |
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Terrain:
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mostly low plateau with
deserts; fertile plain in southeast |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Lake Eyre -15 m
highest point: Mount Kosciuszko 2,229 m |
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Natural resources:
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bauxite, coal, iron
ore, copper, tin, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten, mineral sands,
lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas, petroleum |
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Land use:
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arable land: 7%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 93% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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24,000 sq km (1998
est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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cyclones along the
coast; severe droughts; forest fires |
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Environment - current issues:
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soil erosion from
overgrazing, industrial development, urbanization, and poor farming
practices; soil salinity rising due to the use of poor quality water;
desertification; clearing for agricultural purposes threatens the
natural habitat of many unique animal and plant species; the Great
Barrier Reef off the northeast coast, the largest coral reef in the
world, is threatened by increased shipping and its popularity as a
tourist site; limited natural fresh water resources |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to:
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life
Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol |
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Geography - note:
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world's smallest
continent but sixth-largest country; population concentrated along the
eastern and southeastern coasts; regular, tropical, invigorating, sea
breeze known as "the Doctor" occurs along the west coast in the summer
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Population:
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19,546,792 (July 2002
est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years:
20.4% (male 2,046,052; female 1,949,725)
15-64 years: 67% (male 6,610,840; female 6,480,354)
65 years and over: 12.6% (male 1,078,506; female 1,381,315)
(2002 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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0.96% (2002 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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12.71 births/1,000
population (2002 est.) |
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Death rate:
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7.25 deaths/1,000
population (2002 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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4.12 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2002 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.05
male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2002 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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4.9 deaths/1,000 live
births (2002 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population:
80 years
female: 83 years (2002 est.)
male: 77.15 years |
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Total fertility rate:
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1.77 children
born/woman (2002 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.15% (1999 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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14,000 (1999 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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100 (1999 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Australian(s)
adjective: Australian |
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Ethnic groups:
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Caucasian 92%, Asian
7%, aboriginal and other 1% |
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Religions:
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Anglican 26.1%, Roman
Catholic 26%, other Christian 24.3%, non-Christian 11%, other 12.6%
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Languages:
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English, native
languages |
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Literacy:
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definition: age
15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (1980 est.) |
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Country name:
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conventional long
form: Commonwealth of Australia
conventional short form: Australia |
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Government type:
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democratic,
federal-state system recognizing the British monarch as sovereign |
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Capital:
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Canberra |
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Administrative divisions:
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6 states and 2
territories*; Australian Capital Territory*, New South Wales, Northern
Territory*, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western
Australia |
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Dependent areas:
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Ashmore and Cartier
Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands,
Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Norfolk Island |
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Independence:
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1 January 1901
(federation of UK colonies) |
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National holiday:
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Australia Day, 26
January (1788) |
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Constitution:
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9 July 1900, effective
1 January 1901 |
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Legal system:
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based on English common
law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age;
universal and compulsory |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor
General Rt. Rev. Dr. Peter HOLLINGWORTH (since 29 June 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister John Winston HOWARD (since
11 March 1996); Deputy Prime Minister John ANDERSON (since 20 July
1999)
cabinet: Cabinet Parliament nominates, from among its members,
a list of candidates to serve as government ministers; from this list,
the governor general makes the final selections for the Cabinet
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general
appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader
of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually
appointed prime minister by the governor general for a three-year term
note: government coalition - Liberal Party and National Party
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral Federal
Parliament consists of the Senate (76 seats - 12 from each of the six
states and two from each of the two mainland territories; one-half of
the members elected every three years by popular vote to serve
six-year terms) and the House of Representatives (150 seats - this is
up from 148 seats in 2001 election; members elected by popular vote on
the basis of preferential representation to serve three-year terms; no
state can have fewer than five representatives)
elections: Senate - last held 10 November 2001 (next to be held
by November 2004); House of Representatives - last held 10 November
2001 (next to be held by November 2004)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - Liberal Party-National Party coalition 35, Australian
Labor Party 28, Australian Democrats 8, Green Party 2, One Nation
Party 1, Country Labor Party 1, independent 1; House of
Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
Liberal Party-National Party coalition 82, Australian Labor Party 65,
independent and other 3 |
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Judicial branch:
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High Court (the chief
justice and six other justices are appointed by the governor general)
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Political parties and leaders:
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Australian Democrats
[Natasha STOTT-DESPOJA]; Australian Labor Party [Simon CREAN]; Country
Labor Party [leader NA]; Green Party [Bob BROWN]; Liberal Party [John
Winston HOWARD]; National Party [John ANDERSON]; One Nation Party
[leader NA] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Australian Democratic
Labor Party (anti-Communist Labor Party splinter group); Australian
Monarchist League [leader NA]; Australian Republican Movement [leader
NA] |
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International organization participation:
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ANZUS, APEC, ARF
(dialogue partner), AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group,
BIS, C, CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNMEE, UNTAET, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission:
Ambassador Michael J. THAWLEY
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles,
New York, and San Francisco
FAX: [1] (202) 797-3168
telephone: [1] (202) 797-3000
chancery: 1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission:
Ambassador J. Thomas SCHIEFFER
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 |
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Flag description:
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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 |
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Economy - overview:
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Australia has a
prosperous Western-style capitalist economy, with a per capita GDP on
par with the four dominant West European economies. The Australian
economy has been resilient in the face of the global economic downturn
in 2001 chalking up 2.3% GDP growth, as the domestic economy is
offsetting the external slump and business and consumer confidence
remains robust. Canberra's emphasis on reforms is a key factor behind
the economy's strength, and Australia is expected to outperform its
trading partners in 2002, with GDP growth projected to be 3% or
better. Australia probably will experience some weakness in mid-2002
as its business cycle tends to lag the US by about six months, and
larger problems could emerge if Australia's trade position worsens.
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity
- $465.9 billion (2001 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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2.3% (2001 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity
- $24,000 (2001 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 3%
industry: 25%
services: 72% (2000 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA% |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 25.4% (1994) |
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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35.2 (1994) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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4.3% (2001 est.) |
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Labor force:
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9.2 million (December
2001) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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services 73%, industry
22%, agriculture 5% (1997 est.) |
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Unemployment rate:
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6.7% (2001) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $86.8
billion
expenditures: $84.1 billion, including capital expenditures of
$NA (FY00/01 est.) |
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Industries:
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mining, industrial and
transportation equipment, food processing, chemicals, steel |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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0.4% (2001 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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202.676 billion kWh
(2000) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel:
89.79%
hydro: 8.47%
other: 1.74% (2000)
nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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188.489 billion kWh
(2000) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2000) |
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Agriculture - products:
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wheat, barley,
sugarcane, fruits; cattle, sheep, poultry |
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Exports:
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$68.8 billion (2001
est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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coal, gold, meat, wool,
alumina, iron ore, wheat, machinery and transport equipment |
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Exports - partners:
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Japan 19%, US 9%, South
Korea 7%, China 6%, New Zealand 5.8%, Singapore 4% (2001 est.) |
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Imports:
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$70.2 billion (2001
est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery and transport
equipment, computers and office machines, telecommunication equipment
and parts; crude oil and petroleum products |
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Imports - partners:
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US 20%, Japan 13%,
China 7.7%, UK 6%, Germany 5%, South Korea 4%, NZ 4%, Malaysia 3.6%
(2001 est.) |
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Debt - external:
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$168.7 billion (2001
est.) |
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Economic aid - donor:
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ODA, $894 million
(FY99/00) |
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Currency:
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Australian dollar (AUD)
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Currency code:
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AUD |
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Exchange rates:
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Australian dollars per
US dollar - 1.9354 (January 2002), 1.9320 (2001), 1.7173 (2000),
1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997) |
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Fiscal year:
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1 July - 30 June |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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10.05 million (2000)
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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8.6 million (2000) |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment:
excellent domestic and international service
domestic: domestic satellite system; much use of radiotelephone
in areas of low population density; rapid growth of mobile cellular
telephones
international: submarine cables to New Zealand, Papua New
Guinea, and Indonesia; satellite earth stations - 10 Intelsat (4
Indian Ocean and 6 Pacific Ocean), 2 Inmarsat (Indian and Pacific
Ocean regions) (1998) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 262, FM 345,
shortwave 1 (1998) |
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Radios:
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25.5 million (1997)
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Television broadcast stations:
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104 (1997) |
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Televisions:
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10.15 million (1997)
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Internet country code:
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.au |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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603 (2001) |
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Internet users:
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10.06 million (2001)
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Railways:
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total: 33,819 km
(2,540 km electrified)
broad gauge: 3,719 km 1.600-m gauge
narrow gauge: 14,506 km 1.067-m gauge
standard gauge: 15,422 km 1.435-m gauge
dual gauge: 172 km NA gauges (1999 est.) |
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Highways:
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total: 913,000
km
paved: 353,331 km (including 1,363 km of expressways)
unpaved: 559,669 km (1996) |
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Waterways:
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8,368 km (mainly used
by small, shallow-draft craft) |
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Pipelines:
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crude oil 2,500 km;
petroleum products 500 km; natural gas 5,600 km |
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Ports and harbors:
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Adelaide, Brisbane,
Cairns, Darwin, Devonport (Tasmania), Fremantle, Geelong, Hobart
(Tasmania), Launceston (Tasmania), Mackay, Melbourne, Sydney,
Townsville |
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Merchant marine:
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total: 55 ships
(1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,469,362 GRT/1,869,262 DWT
ships by type: bulk 26, cargo 5, chemical tanker 4, container
1, liquefied gas 4, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 7, roll on/roll off
6, includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: France 2, United Kingdom 2, United States 14 (2002 est.)
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Airports:
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421 (2001) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 282
over 3,047 m: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 128
914 to 1,523 m: 124
under 914 m: 9 (2001) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 139
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 111
under 914 m: 12 (2001) |
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Military branches:
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Royal Australian Army,
Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian Air Force |
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Military manpower - military age:
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17 years of age (2002
est.) |
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Military manpower - availability:
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males age 15-49:
5,013,406 (2002 est.) |
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Military manpower - fit for military service:
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males age 15-49:
4,321,387 (2002 est.) |
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Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
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males: 142,686
(2002 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$9.3 billion (FY01/02
est.) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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2% (FY01/02) |
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Transnational Issues |
Australia |
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Disputes - international:
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Australia-East
Timor-Indonesia are working to resolve maritime boundary and sharing
of seabed resources in "Timor Gap"; Australia asserts a territorial
claim to Antarctica and to its continental shelf |
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Illicit drugs:
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Tasmania is one of the
world's major suppliers of licit opiate products; government maintains
strict controls over areas of opium poppy cultivation and output of
poppy straw concentrate |
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