Enhancing Australia's Economic Prosperity
Resources Energy Tourism Department

Resources

The Australian Government is committed to creating a policy framework to expand Australia's resource base, increase the international competitiveness of our resources sector and improve the regulatory regime, consistent with the principles of environmental responsibility and sustainable development.
Appendix E

Australia - General Facts

Area (kilometres2):13 590 000 (land area - including 5.90 million sq kilometres of Australian Antarctic Territory)
14 270 000 (offshore area)
Population (million):21.1 (2007)
System of Government:

Federation ('Commonwealth') of six States - New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania - and three mainland Territories - Northern Territory, Australian Capital Territory and Jervis Bay Territory and Seven External Territories - Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Australian Antarctic Territory, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands Territory, Heard and McDonald Islands and Norfolk Island.

Parliamentary democracy based on Westminster system; Federal Parliament consisting of House of Representatives and Senate

Capital:Canberra (population approximately 340,000 as at March 2008)
Main cities (population million):Sydney (4.2), Melbourne (3.6), Brisbane (1.7), Perth (1.4), Adelaide (1.1), Hobart (0.2), Darwin (0.1)
Official language:English
Gross Domestic Product:US$1046.8 billion (2008)
(Current prices)
GDP per capita:US$49,271 (2008)
(Current prices)
Page Last Updated: 13/01/2011 12:03 AM