ARCHIVE // AU // 2011
Australia
2011 Edition — sovereign
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Communications
Broadcast media
[time series]
the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) runs multiple national and local radio networks and TV stations, as well as Australia Network, a TV service that broadcasts throughout the Asia-Pacific region and is the main public broadcaster; Special Broadcasting Service (SBS), a second large public broadcaster, operates radio and TV networks broadcasting in multiple languages; several large national commercial TV networks, a large number of local commercial TV stations, and hundreds of commercial radio stations are accessible; cable and satellite systems are available (2008)
Internet country code
[time series]
.au
Internet users
(Internet hosts)
[time series]
13.361 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 8
Internet users
[time series]
15.81 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 25
Telecommunication systems
(Telephone system)
[time series]
general assessment: excellent domestic and international service domestic: domestic satellite system; significant use of radiotelephone in areas of low population density; rapid growth of mobile telephones international: country code - 61; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3 optical telecommunications submarine cable with links to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; the Southern Cross fiber optic submarine cable provides links to New Zealand and the United States; satellite earth stations - 19 (10 Intelsat - 4 Indian Ocean and 6 Pacific Ocean, 2 Inmarsat - Indian and Pacific Ocean regions, 2 Globalstar, 5 other) (2007)
Telephones - fixed lines
(Telephones - main lines in use)
[time series]
8.66 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 24
Telephones - mobile cellular
[time series]
22.5 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 40
Economy
Agricultural products
(Agriculture - products)
[time series]
wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruits; cattle, sheep, poultry
Budget
[time series]
revenues: $399 billion expenditures: $441.2 billion (2010 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)
[time series]
-3.4% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 108
Central bank discount rate
[time series]
4.35% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 98 3.28% (31 December 2009 est.) note: this is the Reserve Bank of Australia's "cash rate target," or policy rate
Commercial bank prime lending rate
[time series]
7.279% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 147 6.021% (31 December 2009 est.)
Current account balance
[time series]
-$30.4 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 188 -$43.89 billion (2009 est.)
Debt - external
[time series]
$1.302 trillion (30 June 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 13 $1.265 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
(Distribution of family income - Gini index)
[time series]
30.5 (2006) country comparison to the world: 115 35.2 (1994)
Economic overview
(Economy - overview)
[time series]
Australia's abundant and diverse natural resources attract high levels of foreign investment and include extensive reserves of coal, iron ore, copper, gold, natural gas, uranium, and renewable energy sources. A series of major investments, such as the US$40 billion Gorgon Liquid Natural Gas project, will significantly expand the resources sector. Australia also has a large services sector and is a significant exporter of natural resources, energy, and food. Key tenets of Australia's trade policy include support for open trade and the successful culmination of the Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations, particularly for agriculture and services. The Australian economy grew for 17 consecutive years before the global financial crisis. Subsequently, the Rudd government introduced a fiscal stimulus package worth over US$50 billion to offset the effect of the slowing world economy, while the Reserve Bank of Australia cut interest rates to historic lows. These policies - and continued demand for commodities, especially from China - helped the Australian economy rebound after just one quarter of negative growth. The economy grew by 1.2% during 2009 - the best performance in the OECD - and by 3.3% in 2010. Unemployment, originally expected to reach 8-10%, peaked at 5.7% in late 2009 and fell to 5.1% in 2010. As a result of an improved economy, the budget deficit is expected to peak below 4.2% of GDP and the government could return to budget surpluses as early as 2015. Australia was one of the first advanced economies to raise interest rates, with seven rate hikes between October 2009 and November 2010. The GILLARD government is focused on raising Australia's economic productivity to ensure the sustainability of growth, and continues to manage the symbiotic, but sometimes tense, economic relationship with China. Australia is engaged in the Trans-Pacific Partnership talks and ongoing free trade agreement negotiations with China, Japan, and Korea.
Electricity - consumption
[time series]
225.4 billion kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 15
Electricity - exports
[time series]
0 kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - imports
[time series]
0 kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - production
[time series]
232 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 17
Exchange rates
[time series]
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.0902 (2010) 1.2822 (2009) 1.2059 (2008) 1.2137 (2007) 1.3285 (2006)
Exports
[time series]
$212.9 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 22 $154.8 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities
[time series]
coal, iron ore, gold, meat, wool, alumina, wheat, machinery and transport equipment
Exports - partners
[time series]
China 25.1%, Japan 18.9%, South Korea 8.9%, India 7.1%, US 4% (2010)
GDP (official exchange rate)
[time series]
$1.236 trillion (2010 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
(GDP (purchasing power parity))
[time series]
$882.4 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 18 $858.8 billion (2009 est.) $847.5 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
(GDP - composition by sector)
[time series]
agriculture: 3.9% industry: 25.5% services: 70.6% (2010 est.)
Real GDP per capita
(GDP - per capita (PPP))
[time series]
$41,000 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 18 $40,400 (2009 est.) $40,300 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars
Real GDP growth rate
(GDP - real growth rate)
[time series]
2.7% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 130 1.3% (2009 est.) 2.6% (2008 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
[time series]
lowest 10%: 2% highest 10%: 25.4% (1994)
Imports
[time series]
$194.7 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 21 $159 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities
[time series]
machinery and transport equipment, computers and office machines, telecommunication equipment and parts; crude oil and petroleum products
Imports - partners
[time series]
China 18.7%, US 11.1%, Japan 8.7%, Thailand 5.2%, Singapore 5.1%, Germany 5%, Malaysia 4.3% (2010)
Industrial production growth rate
[time series]
4.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 92
Industries
[time series]
mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing, chemicals, steel
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
[time series]
2.8% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 99 1.8% (2009 est.)
Investment (gross fixed)
[time series]
27.4% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 42
Labor force
[time series]
11.87 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 43
Labor force - by occupation
[time series]
agriculture: 3.6% industry: 21.1% services: 75% (2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares
[time series]
$1.455 trillion (31 December 2010) country comparison to the world: 11 $1.258 trillion (31 December 2009) $675.6 billion (31 December 2008)
Natural gas - consumption
[time series]
26.41 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 29
Natural gas - exports
[time series]
24.7 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 10
Natural gas - imports
[time series]
5.99 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 31
Natural gas - production
[time series]
45.11 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 20
Natural gas - proved reserves
[time series]
3.115 trillion cu m (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 12
Oil - consumption
[time series]
960,800 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 23
Oil - exports
[time series]
312,600 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 40
Oil - imports
[time series]
731,400 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 19
Oil - production
[time series]
549,200 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 30
Oil - proved reserves
[time series]
3.318 billion bbl (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 29
Population below poverty line
[time series]
NA%
Public debt
[time series]
28.8% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 94 22.6% of GDP (2009 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
[time series]
$42.27 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 41 $41.74 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of broad money
[time series]
$1.392 trillion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 11 $1.123 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
[time series]
$400.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 13 $338.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
[time series]
$514.4 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 12 $425.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit
[time series]
$1.927 trillion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 13 $1.618 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of narrow money
[time series]
$421.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 11 $334.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
[time series]
32.3% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 84
Unemployment rate
[time series]
5.2% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 48 5.6% (2009 est.)
Geography
Area
[time series]
total: 7,741,220 sq km country comparison to the world: 6 land: 7,682,300 sq km water: 58,920 sq km note: includes Lord Howe Island and Macquarie Island
Area - comparative
[time series]
slightly smaller than the US contiguous 48 states
Climate
[time series]
generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in north
Coastline
[time series]
25,760 km
Elevation
(Elevation extremes)
[time series]
lowest point: Lake Eyre -15 m highest point: Mount Kosciuszko 2,229 m
Environment - current issues
[time series]
soil erosion from overgrazing, industrial development, urbanization, and poor farming practices; soil salinity rising due to the use of poor quality water; desertification; clearing for agricultural purposes threatens the natural habitat of many unique animal and plant species; the Great Barrier Reef off the northeast coast, the largest coral reef in the world, is threatened by increased shipping and its popularity as a tourist site; limited natural freshwater resources
International environmental agreements
(Environment - international agreements)
[time series]
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Total water withdrawal
(Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural))
[time series]
total: 24.06 cu km/yr (15%/10%/75%) per capita: 1,193 cu m/yr (2000)
Geographic coordinates
[time series]
27 00 S, 133 00 E
Geography - note
[time series]
world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country; population concentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts; the invigorating sea breeze known as the "Fremantle Doctor" affects the city of Perth on the west coast and is one of the most consistent winds in the world
Irrigated land
[time series]
25,500 sq km (2008)
Land boundaries
[time series]
0 km
Land use
[time series]
arable land: 6.15% (includes about 27 million hectares of cultivated grassland) permanent crops: 0.04% other: 93.81% (2005)
Location
[time series]
Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean
Map references
[time series]
Oceania
Maritime claims
[time series]
territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Natural hazards
[time series]
cyclones along the coast; severe droughts; forest fires volcanism: volcanic activity occurs on the Heard and McDonald Islands
Natural resources
[time series]
bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, gold, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten, rare earth elements, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas, petroleum note: Australia is the world's largest net exporter of coal accounting for 29% of global coal exports
Terrain
[time series]
mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeast
Total renewable water resources
[time series]
398 cu km (1995)
Government
Administrative divisions
[time series]
6 states and 2 territories*; Australian Capital Territory*, New South Wales, Northern Territory*, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia
Capital
[time series]
name: Canberra geographic coordinates: 35 17 S, 149 13 E time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in October; ends first Sunday in April note: Australia is divided into three time zones
Constitution
[time series]
9 July 1900; effective 1 January 1901
Country name
[time series]
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Australia conventional short form: Australia
Dependent areas
[time series]
Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Macquarie Island, Norfolk Island
Diplomatic representation from the US
[time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Jeffrey L. BLEICH embassy: Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2600 mailing address: APO AP 96549 telephone: [61] (02) 6214-5600 FAX: [61] (02) 6214-5970 consulate(s) general: Melbourne, Perth, Sydney
Diplomatic representation in the US
[time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Kim Christian BEAZLEY chancery: 1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 797-3000 FAX: [1] (202) 797-3168 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco
Executive branch
[time series]
chief of state: Queen of Australia ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Quentin BRYCE (since 5 September 2008) 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 (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: 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
Flag
(Flag description)
[time series]
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
Government type
[time series]
federal parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Independence
[time series]
1 January 1901 (from the federation of UK colonies)
International law organization participation
[time series]
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
International organization participation
[time series]
ADB, ANZUS, APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, FATF, G-20, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Paris Club, PCA, PIF, SAARC (observer), Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNMISS, UNMIT, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Judicial branch
[time series]
High Court (the chief justice and six other justices are appointed by the governor general acting on the advice of the government)
Legal system
[time series]
common law system based on the English model
Legislative branch
[time series]
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 21 August 2010; House of Representatives - last held on 21 August 2010 (the latest a simultaneous half-Senate and House of Representative elections can be held is 30 November 2013) election results: Senate (effective 1 July 2011) - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Liberal/National Party 34, Australian Labor Party 31, Greens 9, others 2; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - Australian Labor Party 38.1%, Liberal Party 30.4%, Greens 11.5%, Liberal National Party of Queensland 9.3%, independents 6.6%, The Nationals 3.7%, Country Liberals 0.3%; seats by party - Australian Labor Party 72, Liberal Party 44, Liberal National Party of Queensland 21, The Nationals 7, Country Liberals 1, Greens 1, independents 4
National anthem(s)
(National anthem)
[time series]
name: "Advance Australia Fair" lyrics/music: Peter Dodds McCORMICK note: adopted 1984; although originally written in the late 19th century, the anthem did not become used for all official occasions until 1984; as a Commonwealth country, in addition to the national anthem, "God Save the Queen" is also played at Royal functions (see United Kingdom)
National holiday
[time series]
Australia Day, 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)
National symbol(s)
[time series]
Southern Cross constellation (five, seven-pointed stars); kangaroo; emu
Political parties
(Political parties and leaders)
[time series]
Australian Greens [Bob BROWN]; Australian Labor Party [Julia GILLARD]; Family First Party [Steve FIELDING]; Liberal Party [Tony ABBOTT]; The Nationals [Warren TRUSS]
Political parties
(Political pressure groups and leaders)
[time series]
other: business groups; environmental groups; social groups; trade unions
Suffrage
[time series]
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Introduction
Background
[time series]
Aboriginal settlers arrived on the continent from Southeast Asia about 40,000 years before the first Europeans began exploration in the 17th century. No formal territorial claims were made until 1770, when Capt. James COOK took possession of the east coast in the name of Great Britain (all of Australia was claimed as British territory in 1829 with the creation of the colony of Western Australia). Six colonies were created in the late 18th and 19th centuries; they federated and became the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. The new country took advantage of its natural resources to rapidly develop agricultural and manufacturing industries and to make a major contribution to the British effort in World Wars I and II. In recent decades, Australia has transformed itself into an internationally competitive, advanced market economy. It boasted one of the OECD's fastest growing economies during the 1990s, a performance due in large part to economic reforms adopted in the 1980s. Long-term concerns include ageing of the population, pressure on infrastructure, and environmental issues such as frequent droughts.
Military
Manpower available for military service
[time series]
males age 16-49: 5,316,464 females age 16-49: 5,116,722 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
[time series]
males age 16-49: 4,411,958 females age 16-49: 4,239,985 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
[time series]
male: 143,565 female: 135,800 (2010 est.)
Military and security forces
(Military branches)
[time series]
Australian Defense Force (ADF): Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian Air Force, Special Operations Command (2006)
Military expenditures
[time series]
3% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 44
Military service age and obligation
[time series]
17 years of age for voluntary military service (with parental consent); no conscription; women allowed to serve in Army combat units in non-combat support roles (2010)
People and Society
Age structure
[time series]
0-14 years: 18.3% (male 2,040,848/female 1,937,544) 15-64 years: 67.7% (male 7,469,092/female 7,266,143) 65 years and over: 14% (male 1,398,576/female 1,654,508) (2011 est.)
Birth rate
[time series]
12.33 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 158
Death rate
[time series]
6.88 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 139
Drinking water source
[time series]
improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population (2008)
Education expenditure
(Education expenditures)
[time series]
4.5% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 81
Ethnic groups
[time series]
white 92%, Asian 7%, aboriginal and other 1%
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
[time series]
0.1% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 111
HIV/AIDS - deaths
[time series]
fewer than 100 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 152
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
[time series]
20,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 77
Health expenditure
(Health expenditures)
[time series]
8.5% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 47
Hospital bed density
[time series]
3.82 beds/1,000 population (2009) country comparison to the world: 53
Infant mortality rate
[time series]
total: 4.61 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 190 male: 4.93 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)
Languages
[time series]
English 78.5%, Chinese 2.5%, Italian 1.6%, Greek 1.3%, Arabic 1.2%, Vietnamese 1%, other 8.2%, unspecified 5.7% (2006 Census)
Life expectancy at birth
[time series]
total population: 81.81 years country comparison to the world: 9 male: 79.4 years female: 84.35 years (2011 est.)
Literacy
[time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (2003 est.)
Major urban areas - population
(Major cities - population)
[time series]
Sydney 4.429 million; Melbourne 3.853 million; Brisbane 1.97 million; Perth 1.599 million; CANBERRA (capital) 384,000 (2009)
Maternal mortality ratio
(Maternal mortality rate)
[time series]
8 deaths/100,000 live births (2008) country comparison to the world: 156
Median age
[time series]
total: 37.7 years male: 37 years female: 38.4 years (2011 est.)
Nationality
[time series]
noun: Australian(s) adjective: Australian
Net migration rate
[time series]
6.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 14
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
[time series]
16.4% (2005) country comparison to the world: 27
Physician density
(Physicians density)
[time series]
2.991 physicians/1,000 population (2009) country comparison to the world: 39
Population
[time series]
21,766,711 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 55
Population growth rate
[time series]
1.148% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 101
Religions
[time series]
Protestant 27.4% (Anglican 18.7%, Uniting Church 5.7%, Presbyterian and Reformed 3%), Catholic 25.8%, Eastern Orthodox 2.7%, other Christian 7.9%, Buddhist 2.1%, Muslim 1.7%, other 2.4%, unspecified 11.3%, none 18.7% (2006 Census)
Sanitation facility access
[time series]
improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population (2008)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
[time series]
total: 21 years male: 20 years female: 21 years (2008)
Sex ratio
[time series]
at birth: 1.055 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
Total fertility rate
[time series]
1.78 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 156
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
(Unemployment, youth ages 15-24)
[time series]
total: 11.6% country comparison to the world: 93 male: 12.6% female: 10.4% (2009)
Urbanization
[time series]
urban population: 89% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 1.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
[time series]
In 2007, Australia and Timor-Leste signed agreed to a 50-year development zone and revenue sharing arrangement and deferred a maritime boundary; Australia asserts land and maritime claims to Antarctica; Australia's 2004 submission to Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) extends its continental margins over 3.37 million square kilometers, expanding its seabed roughly 30 percent beyond its claimed exclusive economic zone; a 1997 treaty between Indonesia and Australia settled some parts of their maritime boundary but some outstanding issues, especially around Timor Leste, remain; Indonesian groups challenge Australia's claim to Ashmore Reef; Australia has closed parts of the Ashmore and Cartier reserve to Indonesian traditional fishing
Illicit drugs
[time series]
Tasmania is one of the world's major suppliers of licit opiate products; government maintains strict controls over areas of opium poppy cultivation and output of poppy straw concentrate; major consumer of cocaine and amphetamines
Transportation
Airports
[time series]
465 (2010) country comparison to the world: 17
Airports - with paved runways
[time series]
total: 326 over 3,047 m: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 13 1,524 to 2,437 m: 148 914 to 1,523 m: 140 under 914 m: 14 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways
[time series]
total: 139 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 110 under 914 m: 12 (2010)
Heliports
[time series]
1 (2010)
Merchant marine
[time series]
total: 45 country comparison to the world: 73 by type: bulk carrier 10, cargo 8, liquefied gas 4, passenger 6, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 6, roll on/roll off 5 foreign-owned: 20 (Canada 7, Germany 2, Netherlands 1, Norway 1, Singapore 2, UK 5, US 2) registered in other countries: 29 (Dominica 1, Fiji 2, Liberia 2, Marshall Islands 1, Netherlands 1, NZ 1, Panama 5, Singapore 11, Tonga 1, UK 1, US 1, Vanuatu 2) (2010)
Pipelines
[time series]
gas 27,900 km; liquid petroleum gas 240 km; oil 3,257 km; oil/gas/water 1 km (2010)
Ports
(Ports and terminals)
[time series]
Brisbane, Cairns, Dampier, Darwin, Fremantle, Gladstone, Geelong, Hay Point, Hobart, Jervis Bay, Melbourne, Newcastle, Port Adelaide, Port Dalrymple, Port Hedland, Port Kembla, Port Lincoln, Port Walcott, Sydney
Railways
[time series]
total: 38,445 km country comparison to the world: 7 broad gauge: 3,355 km 1.600-m gauge standard gauge: 21,674 km 1.435-m gauge (650 km electrified) narrow gauge: 9,539 km 1.067-m gauge (2,067 km electrified); 3,877 km 1.000-m gauge (2010)
Roadways
[time series]
total: 818,356 km (2008) country comparison to the world: 9
Waterways
[time series]
2,000 km (mainly used for recreation on Murray and Murray-Darling river systems) (2006) country comparison to the world: 44