|RConstitution:|N Federal republic type, but formally monarchy within the Commonwealth of Nations.
The federal parliament has two chambers elected by universal suffrage.
The Senate has 76 members, 12 from each state elected for six years and two from each territory elected for three years. The House of Representatives has 178 members elected for three years.
|RDefense:|N The total strength is just above 60 000 men, based on voluntary service.
|RNational holiday:|N Australia Day, January 26.
|RNature and climate:|N Australia is a very flat continent, mainly lowlands and plateaus, above which only occasional mountains and mountainchains raises. Highest peak in the Australalps 2 230 m.a.s.l. Greatest lake, Lake Eyre, lies 12 m under sea level.
Most of the continent has a warm and dry climate, hence large parts are deserts or steppes. Common percipitation between 100 and 500 mm. In the southmost parts though, between 500 and 1000 mm.
In Australia live many animals that are not found anywhere else, for example the kangaroo.
Northern Australia has an average temperature of 25°C - 28°C the whole year.
In the south + 10°C in July and + 20°C in January.
|RPeople:|N Extermination threatened the original population, the Aborigines, but since 1960 there has been a slight growth of this population. Now 1,5% of the total population.
The original population on Tasmania was totally exterminated during the 19th century.
The population consists of immigrated British, 95%, and Chinese, 4%.
|REducation:|N Compulsory between 6 and 15 years. There are 38 universities.
|REconomy:|N Australia is the world leading exporter of sheep's wool. Also exports a lot of meat, corn and sugar.
Australia has many minerals. Extracted are gold, silver, lead, zinc, copper, coal, iron ore, bauxite, tin, nickel, uranium and oil.
Extensive industry of various kinds.
|RHistory:|N Caucasoid people migrated from South Asia about 40 000 years ago and spread all over the Australian continent. They were hunters and gatherers and lived in small kin-based groups. When the Europeans arrived here were more than 500 different groups speaking several hundred different languages.
Dutch and Spanish sailors discovered Australia during the 17th century, but the colonization was started by the British at the end of the 18th century through James Cook.
Penalty colony from 1788. The population grew very slowly till 1851 when gold was found, thereafter very quickly.
Consists of the independent states New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory (Canberra). These states in 1901 constituated the Commonwealth of Australia. Member of the Commonwealth of Nations and recognizes the British monarch as head of state.