Leslie Massey
Australia is a federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy, comprising six states and ten territories, including the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and Norfolk Island. The country is the world's smallest continent and largest island, with a highly urbanised population of almost 28 million people. The six states are New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia.
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What You'll Learn
- Australia is a federation of six states and ten territories
- The six states are New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, and Tasmania
- The capital, Canberra, is in the Australian Capital Territory
- Australia is the smallest continent and the world's largest island
- Australia also administers several external territories
Australia is a federation of six states and ten territories
The ten territories include internal territories and external territories. The internal territories are the Australian Capital Territory, which contains Canberra, the nation's capital, and the Northern Territory. The external territories are Norfolk Island, the Coral Sea Islands, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Christmas Island, Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, and the Australian Antarctic Territory.
Australia also has a history of administering other territories, such as the Territory of New Guinea, which gained independence in 1975, and Nauru, which gained independence in 1966. The country is the smallest continent and the world's sixth-largest country. It has a highly urbanized population of almost 28 million, with the majority concentrated on the eastern seaboard.
The capital cities of the six states are Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart, Melbourne, and Perth, respectively. Each state and territory has its own unique mix of environments, cultures, and attractions, from rolling deserts to lush rainforests and vibrant cities. Australia's name was popularised by explorer Matthew Flinders, who circumnavigated the continent in 1803.
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The six states are New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, and Tasmania
Australia is a federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy comprising six states and ten territories. It is the smallest continent and the world's largest island. The six states are New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, and Tasmania. Each state has its own unique mix of environments, cultures, and rhythms.
New South Wales (NSW) is known for its indulgent wine regions, pristine seaside villages, and mountain wilderness. The state's capital, Sydney, is Australia's biggest city and is home to some of Australia's most famous landmarks, including Sydney Harbour, the Sydney Opera House, and Bondi Beach. New South Wales includes Lord Howe Island.
Victoria (VIC) is the thriving cultural heart of Australia, centred in the state's capital, Melbourne. Melbourne has been the recipient of the 'Most Liveable City in the World' title multiple times, owing to its cultural diversity, modern cityscape, and friendly atmosphere.
Queensland (QLD) is known as the 'Sunshine State' and is a subtropical stretch of land in the northeast of Australia. It is home to the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef, the ancient Daintree Rainforest, and the beautiful Whitsunday Islands. The state's capital, Brisbane, enjoys more winter sunshine and warmth than almost anywhere else in the country.
Western Australia has a capital city of Perth.
South Australia (SA) is one of the most laid-back destinations to visit, perfect for a relaxing getaway. The state's capital, Adelaide, is a great base for exploring the Barossa Valley wineries, the Flinders Ranges, and Kangaroo Island. SA is also home to a thriving arts scene and is known as the 'Festival State', with more than 500 events and festivals taking place each year.
Tasmania (TAS) is separated from mainland Australia by the Bass Strait. Its capital is Hobart. The island state boasts dazzling beaches, rugged mountains, and gorgeous rivers winding through some of the most picturesque places on the planet. Its stunning landscapes and vast wilderness make for some of the most breathtaking walks and hikes on the continent.
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The capital, Canberra, is in the Australian Capital Territory
Australia is a federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy comprising six states and ten territories. The capital, Canberra, is in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), in southeastern Australia. Canberra is about 150 miles (240 km) southwest of Sydney. It is the territory's primate city and is renowned for its cosmopolitan atmosphere. The territory hosts the parliament house, the High Court of Australia, the National Gallery of Australia, the National Museum of Australia, and the head offices of many Australian Government agencies.
Canberra was officially named in 1913 and its urban development began in the mid-1960s. The city has been expanding, and its population has grown steadily. The Australian federal government retains some influence over the ACT government. In the administrative sphere, this is through the actions of the National Capital Authority, which is responsible for planning and development in areas of Canberra that are considered to be of national importance. The National Capital Authority also retains control over the Territory Assembly through the provisions of the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988.
The ACT Legislative Assembly performs the roles of both a city council for Canberra and a territory government for the rest of the Australian Capital Territory. The assembly consists of 25 members elected from five districts using proportional representation. The Chief Minister is elected by the Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA). The ACT has been dominated by Labor, but the Liberals have been able to gain some footing in the ACT Legislative Assembly.
Canberra is home to several major universities, including the Australian National University, the University of Canberra, the University of New South Wales, Charles Sturt University, and the Australian Catholic University. The city also has a flourishing restaurant scene, a stunning wine region, and an impressive array of parks and gardens.
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Australia is the smallest continent and the world's largest island
Australia is a continent surrounded by oceans, making it the world's largest island. It is also the smallest of the seven traditional continents. The continent includes mainland Australia, Tasmania, the island of New Guinea (Papua New Guinea and West Papua/Western New Guinea, a province of Indonesia), the Aru Islands, the Ashmore and Cartier Islands, most of the Coral Sea Islands, and some other nearby islands. The country of Australia comprises most of the continent and has a total land area of 7,688,287 square kilometres (3,310,000 sq mi), accounting for just 5% of the world's land area.
The continent of Australia is sometimes referred to as Sahul, Australinea, Meganesia, or New Holland to differentiate it from the country of Australia. The name "Sahul" comes from the Sahul Shelf, which is part of the continental shelf of the Australian continent. The term Oceania was originally used in the 1810s as a "great division" of the world, but in the 1950s, the concept of Australia as one of the world's continents became more popular in English-speaking countries.
The country of Australia is a federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy comprising six states and ten territories. The six states are New South Wales (including Lord Howe Island), Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania (including Macquarie Island), Victoria, and Western Australia. The capital of Australia is Canberra, and its most populous cities are Sydney and Melbourne, each with a population of more than five million.
Each state in Australia has its own unique mix of environments, cultures, and attractions. New South Wales, for example, offers indulgent wine regions, pristine seaside villages, and mountain wilderness, while Queensland is known as the "Sunshine State," boasting the Great Barrier Reef, the ancient Daintree Rainforest, and the beautiful Whitsunday Islands. Tasmania, an island state, features dazzling beaches, rugged mountains, and gorgeous rivers, making it one of the most picturesque places on the planet.
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Australia also administers several external territories
Australia is a continent that consists of six states: New South Wales (including Lord Howe Island), Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania (including Macquarie Island), Victoria, and Western Australia. In addition to these states, Australia also administers several external territories. These external territories include Ashmore and Cartier Islands, the Australian Antarctic Territory, Christmas Island, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, the Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, and Norfolk Island.
The Australian government has responsibility for the Indian Ocean Territories of Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, which are located in the Indian Ocean northwest of Perth and southwest of Jakarta, Indonesia. These territories are known for their natural attractions, including some of the world's best diving spots and unique local cultures. Christmas Island is also known for its annual crab migration.
The Australian Antarctic Territory covers 42% of the Antarctic continent, although this claim is only recognised by four other countries. The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water has responsibility for this territory, as well as for Heard Island and McDonald Islands. These territories are treated as constitutionally part of Australia by the central government, although they are uninhabited.
Norfolk Island is an external territory of Australia located in the Pacific Ocean about 1,600 kilometres northeast of Sydney. It is one of Australia's most geographically isolated communities and oldest territories. Norfolk Island's status is controversial, with the present government taking measures to integrate the territory into Australia proper, including representation in parliament and compulsory voting. However, the Norfolk Islanders have not formally consented to this change and assert that they are not Australian.
The Coral Sea Islands Territory is made up of islands situated in an area of approximately 780,000 square kilometres of the Coral Sea, extending from the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef. This territory was part of Queensland before becoming an external territory of Australia.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia is a union of six states: New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia.
Australia has two internal territories: the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory. It also has six external territories: Norfolk Island, Coral Sea Islands, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Christmas Island, Ashmore and Cartier Islands, and Heard Island and McDonald Islands.
The capitals of the six states in Australia are: Sydney (New South Wales), Brisbane (Queensland), Adelaide (South Australia), Hobart (Tasmania), Melbourne (Victoria), and Perth (Western Australia).
The capital of Australia is Canberra, which is located in the Australian Capital Territory.
