The 1996 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

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The 1996 CIA World Factbook - United States. Central Intelligence Agency


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15–64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

       65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female

       all ages: 1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

      Infant mortality rate: 5.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

      Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.39 years male: 76.44 years female: 82.5 years (1996 est.)

      Total fertility rate: 1.84 children born/woman (1996 est.)

      Nationality: noun: Australian(s) adjective: Australian

      Ethnic divisions: Caucasian 95%, Asian 4%, aboriginal and other 1%

      Religions: Anglican 26.1%, Roman Catholic 26%, other Christian 24.3%

      Languages: English, native languages

      Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)

       total population: 100%

       male: 100%

       female: 100%

      Government—————

      Name of country:

       conventional long form: Commonwealth of Australia

       conventional short form: Australia

      Data code: AS

      Type of government: 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

      Executive branch:

       chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) is a

       hereditary monarch, represented by Governor General Sir William

       DEANE (since 16 February 1996) who was appointed by the queen

       head of government: Prime Minister John Winston HOWARD (since 11

       March 1996) was appointed by the governor general; Deputy Prime

       Minister Timothy Andrew FISCHER (since 11 March 1996)

       cabinet: Cabinet was selected from among the members of Federal

       Parliament by the governor general on the advice of the prime

       minister

      Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Parliament

       Senate: elections last held 2 March 1996 (next to be held NA 1999);

       results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (76 total)

       Liberal-National 37, Labor 29, Australian Democrats 8, Greens 1,

       independent 1

       House of Representatives: elections last held 2 March 1996 (next to

       be held NA 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -

       (148 total) Liberal-National 94, Labor 49, independent 5

      Judicial branch: High Court, the Chief Justice and six other

       justices are appointed by the governor general

      Political parties and leaders:

       government: coalition of Liberal Party, John Winston HOWARD and

       National Party, Timothy Andrew FISCHER

       opposition: Australian Labor Party, Kim BEAZLEY; Australian

       Democratic Party, Cheryl KERNOT; Green Party, Bob BROWN

      Other political or pressure groups: Australian Democratic Labor

       Party (anti-Communist Labor Party splinter group); Peace and Nuclear

       Disarmament Action (Nuclear Disarmament Party splinter group)

      International organization participation: AG (observer), ANZUS,

       APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, G-

       8, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,

       ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NAM

       (guest), NEA, NSG, OECD, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNAMIR,

       UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO,

       WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC

      Diplomatic representation in US:

       chief of mission: Ambassador John Phillip MCCARTHY

       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

      Economy———

      Economic overview: Australia has a prosperous Western-style capitalist economy, with a per capita GDP comparable to levels in highly industrialized West European countries. Rich in natural resources, Australia is a major exporter of agricultural products, minerals, metals, and fossil fuels. Commodities account for more than 80% of the value of total exports, so that, as in 1983–84, a downturn in world commodity prices can have a big impact on the economy. The government is pushing for increased exports of manufactured goods, but competition in international markets continues to be severe. Australia has suffered from the low growth and high unemployment characterizing the OECD countries in the early 1990s. In 1992–93 the economy recovered slowly from the prolonged recession of 1990–91, a major restraining factor being weak world demand for Australia's exports. Growth picked up so strongly in 1994 that the government felt the need for fiscal and monetary tightening by yearend. Australia's GDP grew 6.4% in 1994, largely due to increases in industrial output and business investment. A severe drought in 1994 reduced the value of Australia's net farm production, but rising world commodity prices are likely to boost commodity exports by 15% to $42.4 billion in 1995/96, according to government statistics. Short-term economic problems include a balancing of output growth and inflationary pressures and the stimulation of exports to offset rising imports.

      GDP: purchasing power parity


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