Ruqayyah Snyder
Australia is a unique country as it is the world's only country that is also a continent. As an island, it has no land borders with other nations. However, Australia shares maritime borders with several countries. These include Indonesia, East Timor, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, and New Zealand.
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What You'll Learn
Australia's unique geography
Australia is a continent and a sovereign country. It is the world's smallest continent and one of the largest countries on Earth, covering an area of 7,692,024 square kilometres. This makes Australia the sixth-largest country in the world. The continent is located in the Southern Hemisphere and borders the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. The country consists of mainland Australia, the island of Tasmania, and many smaller islands.
Australia has no land borders with other nations. However, it shares maritime borders with several countries. These include Indonesia, East Timor, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, and Vanuatu. Australia also has strong bilateral relations with its neighbouring countries and is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.
The Australian mainland extends for nearly 2,500 miles from west to east and nearly 2,000 miles from northeast to southeast. The country's jurisdiction extends further south to the island of Tasmania and north to the shores of Papua New Guinea. Australia is separated from Indonesia to the northwest by the Timor and Arafura Seas and from Papua New Guinea to the northeast by the Coral Sea and the Torres Strait.
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Maritime borders
Australia shares maritime borders with several countries. Indonesia is one of Australia's nearest neighbours and shares a maritime border with the country. The maritime border between the two countries is described by four signed treaties, one of which is yet to be ratified. The border dispute between the two countries was centred around the control of oil reserves in the area. The first two treaties between the nations caused some discontent among Indonesians as the method used to decide the border's location had the potential to deny Indonesia oil reserves.
Australia and Papua New Guinea also share a maritime border. In 1978, the two countries signed a treaty that defined the maritime border between them. Australia also shares a maritime border with the Solomon Islands, established by a treaty signed in 1988. Additionally, Australia has a maritime border with New Caledonia, a French-controlled territory. The treaty detailing this border was signed in 1982 and came into effect a year later.
Australia also shares a maritime border with New Zealand. New Zealand is considered one of Australia's closest neighbours and is a popular tourist destination. The Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau are considered constituent parts of New Zealand, and therefore, Australia shares maritime borders with these territories as well.
Australia has also established maritime boundaries with the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, with a treaty coming into force in 2019. This treaty establishes permanent maritime boundaries between the two countries and a stable legal framework for the development of gas and oil resources in the Timor Sea.
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Indonesia and Australia's treaties
Australia is a continent and a sovereign country. It is the world's smallest continent and shares maritime borders with some nations. As an island, it has no land borders with other nations.
Indonesia is one of Australia's neighbouring countries. The two countries share a maritime border described by four signed treaties, with one yet to be ratified. Australia and Indonesia have had diplomatic relations since 27 December 1949, when Australia recognised Indonesia's independence.
The first two treaties between the two nations caused discontent among Indonesians as the method used to decide the border's location had the potential to deny Indonesia oil reserves. The Timor Gap Treaty, signed in 1989, established a zone of cooperation in the Timor Gap, an oil and gas-rich area between the two countries' maritime borders. It resolved competing claims dating back to Indonesia's annexation of Timor.
The final treaty, signed in 1997, included elements of both countries' arguments to determine the border location. The Maritime Boundary Treaty of 1997 finalised the border in areas not addressed by existing agreements.
In 1992, Australia and Indonesia signed an agreement to avoid double taxation on income tax and to cooperate on preventing tax evasion. In December 1995, the two countries signed a security agreement, committing them to consultation on matters affecting their common security, promotion of cooperative activities, and joint responses to mutual threats. This was followed by an extradition treaty in 1995, providing for extradition for a range of crimes excluding political crimes.
In 2006, Australia and Indonesia signed the Lombok Treaty, a security agreement that remains in force as of May 2019. In 2024, the two countries finalised a new bilateral defence treaty to enhance their ability to operate their militaries in each other's territories.
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Australia's closest neighbours
Australia is a unique country as it is the world's only country that is also a continent. As an island, it has no land borders with other nations. However, it does share maritime borders with some of its closest neighbours.
Papua New Guinea lies to the north of Australia and is one of its closest neighbours. In 1978, Australia and Papua New Guinea signed a treaty that defined the maritime border between the two countries.
Indonesia is another of Australia's closest neighbours, located to the northwest and separated from Australia by the Timor and Arafura Seas. Australia and Indonesia share a maritime border described by four signed treaties, one of which is yet to be ratified.
New Zealand is Australia's closest neighbour to the southeast. The two countries signed a treaty in 2004 to establish their official border, which became effective in 2006.
Australia's other close neighbours include East Timor, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, and Malaysia.
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Australia's isolation
Australia is a continent and a sovereign country. As an island, it has no land borders with other nations. However, it shares maritime borders with several neighbouring countries, including Indonesia, East Timor, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and New Zealand. These maritime borders are of significant importance due to the presence of vast natural resources in these regions, which has resulted in conflicts between nations.
The geographical isolation of Australia has contributed to the evolution of its unique wildlife, which has developed independently from other regions. Additionally, Australia's isolation has influenced its immigration policies, resulting in a controversial immigration system that has been described as "draconian" and "cruel." This system involves indefinite offshore detention, the construction of holding centres with harsh conditions, and the blacklisting of individuals who attempt dangerous boat journeys to the country.
Furthermore, Australia's isolation has not prevented it from engaging in international affairs and exerting influence on a global scale. Australia has played an active role in foreign policy, as evidenced by its involvement in the Israel-Gaza conflict, where it joined other nations in condemning the denial of aid and the killing of civilians. Australia's prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has been vocal in expressing concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
In conclusion, while Australia is geographically isolated, its impact on the global stage extends beyond its borders. Its unique geographical position has influenced the evolution of its wildlife, culture, and immigration policies, contributing to a distinct Australian character.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia is an island country and continent, so it does not share a land border with any country.
Yes, Australia shares maritime borders with Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, New Zealand, the Solomon Islands, and the islands of New Caledonia.
Papua New Guinea and New Zealand are Australia's closest neighbours.
Australia is the smallest continent in the world. It covers nearly 3 million square miles, making it the sixth-largest country in the world.
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