AUSTRALIAN FACTS AND FIGURES

Overview of Australia

Australian Government

See also on our website  - Australian Governor-General     Australian Prime Ministers     Australian Constitution

Government type	federal parliamentary democracy
Independence	1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)
Constitution	9 July 1900, effective 1 January 1901
Administrative divisions	6 states and 2 territories    New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria,    Western Australia, Australian Capital Territory, Northern Territory
Dependent areas	Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Norfolk Island, Macquarie Island
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 of Australia Elizabeth II (since 6 Feb 1952); represented in Australia    by Governor General. head of government:    Prime Minister Julia Eileen GILLARD (since 24 June 2010); Deputy Prime    Minister Wayne Maxwell SWAN (since 24 June 2010) cabinet    prime minister nominates, from among members of Parliament, candidates    who are subsequently sworn in by the governor general to serve as    government ministers elections    none; the monarch 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
Legislative branch	bicameral Federal Parliament consists of - Senate   76 seats - 12 from each of the 6 states and 2 from each of the two mainland   territories; one-half of state members are elected every 3 years by popular vote   to serve 6 year terms while all territory members are elected every 3 years House of Representatives   150 seats; members elected by popular preferential voting to serve terms of   up to 3 years; no state can have fewer than 5 representatives
Judicial branch	High Court (chief justice & 6 other justices are appointed by the governor general)
Political parties	Australian Democrats, Australian Greens, Australian Labor Party, Country Liberal Party, Family First Party, Liberal Party, The Nationals

Updated August 2011. You may notice that we show information from a variety of dates. We are unable to find the same type of information for more recent dates than what we show here. The information provided above is for entertainment purposes only. For more information, please visit any of the Australian government websites and the CIA World Fact Book