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Country Name

conventional long form: 11% (2012)

conventional short form: Commonwealth of Australia

Administrative Divisions

Australia has three time zones

Independence

6 states and 2 territories*; Australian Capital Territory*, New South Wales, Northern Territory*, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

National Holiday

Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Macquarie Island, Norfolk Island

Constitution

1 January 1901 (from the federation of UK colonies)

Legal System

Australia Day (commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of Australian settlers), 26 January (1788); ANZAC Day (commemorates 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)

International Law Organization Participation

9 July 1900; effective 1 January 1901; amended several times, last in 1977; note - a referendum to amend the constitution to reflect the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Recognition Act 2013 is to be completed by the end of 2014 (2013)

Citizenship

Suffrage

common law system based on the English model

Executive Branch

chief of state: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

head of government: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

cabinet: Queen of Australia ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Sir Peter COSGROVE (since 28 March 2014)

Legislative Branch

prime minister nominates, from among members of Parliament, candidates who are subsequently sworn in by the governor general to serve as government ministers

Judicial Branch

highest court(s): 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

judge selection and term of office: bicameral Federal Parliament consists of the Senate (76 seats; 12 members from each of the six states and 2 from each of the two mainland territories; one-half of state members are elected every three years by popular vote to serve six-year terms while all territory members are elected every three years) and the House of Representatives (150 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve terms of up to three-years; no state can have fewer than 5 representatives) elections: Senate - last held on 7 September 2013; House of Representatives - last held on 7 September 2013 (the latest a simultaneous half-Senate and House of Representative elections can be held is 30 November 2016) election results: Senate NA; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - Liberal/National Coalition 53.45%, Australian Labor Party 46.55%; seats by party - Liberal/National Coalition 90 (Liberal 58, Liberal National 22, Nationals 9, Country Liberals 1), Australian Labor Party 55, Australian Greens Party 1, Katter's Australian Party 1, Palmer United Party 1, independents 2

subordinate courts: High Court of Australia (consists of 7 justices, including the chief justice); note - each of the 6 states, 2 territories, and Norfolk Island has a Supreme Court; the High Court is the final appellate court beyond the state and territory supreme courts

Political Parties and Leaders

justices appointed by the governor-general in council for life with mandatory retirement at age 70

Flag Description

Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

National Symbols

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

National Anthem

name: Southern Cross constellation (five, seven-pointed stars); kangaroo; emu

lyrics:

note: Peter Dodds McCORMICK

Year	2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000

Government Type

Australia

Capital

Name
federal parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Geographic Coordinates
Canberra
Time Difference
35 16 S, 149 08 E
Daylight Saving Time
UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Note
+1hr, begins first Sunday in October; ends first Sunday in April

Diplomatic Representation in the US

Chief Of Mission
ADB, ANZUS, APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CD, CP, EAS, EBRD, EITI (implementing country), FAO, FATF, G-20, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF, SAARC (observer), SICA (observer), Sparteca, SPC, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNMISS, UNMIT, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Chancery
Ambassador Kim Christian BEAZLEY (since 7 February 2010)
Telephone
1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
FAX
[1] (202) 797-3000
Consulate(s) General
[1] (202) 797-3168

Diplomatic Representation from the US

Chief Of Mission
Atlanta, Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco
Embassy
Ambassador John BERRY (since 25 September 2013)
Mailing Address
Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2600
Telephone
APO AP 96549
FAX
[61] (02) 6214-5600
Consulate(s) General
[61] (02) 6214-5970

International Organization Participation

Business groups
Environmental groups

Social groups
Trade unions