The document provides an overview of key facts about Australia, including that its official name is the Commonwealth of Australia, its capital is Canberra, and its head of state is Queen Elizabeth II. It notes Australia's large land area of 7.7 million square kilometers and population of 20 million people. Additionally, it lists some of Australia's major ports, longest river, highest point, natural resources, and national symbols.

1. AUSTRALIA

2. Australia
 OFFITIAL NAME : Commonwealth of Australia
 CAPITAL: Canberra
 TOTAL AREA: 7,700,000 sq.km
 POPULATION: 20 million people
 HEAD OF STATE: Queen Elizabeth II represented by Governor-General
 FORM OF GVERNMENT: Constitutional monarchy
 PORTS: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane
 LONGEST RIVER: the Darling (2,740 km)
 HIGHEST POINT: Mount Kosciusko (2,230 m)
 NATURAL RESOURCES: coal, zink, nickel, gold, wool
 NATIONAL HOLIDAY: Australian Day , 16 January (1788)
 MONEY: basic unit – Australian dollar
 NATIONAL SYMBOLS: Kangaroo and Emu
 NATIONAL ANTHEM: “Waltzing Matilda”

3. Southern cross symbolizes the constellation.
The flag of Australia is the only one to fly
over a whole continent. The small Union
Union Flag Jack represents the historical link with
6th British Britain, the large seven-pointed star
colony. represents the six States and Territories,
and the small stars from the Southern
Cross – a prominent feature of the
southern hemisphere night sky.
The Commonwealth 7 pointed star represents the 7 territories .
Australia's coat of arms – the official
emblem of the Australian Government –
was granted by George V in 1912. The arms
consist of a shield containing the badges of
the six states. The supporters are native
Australian fauna – a kangaroo and an emu.
A yellow-flowered native plant, wattle, also
appears in the design.

4. States and Territories
1. New South Wales
2. Queensland
3. South Australia
4. Tasmania
5. Victoria
6. Western Australia
7. Northern Territory
8. Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

5. Languages of Australia
Official language: None
Main language: Australian English
(80%)
Indigenous language: Australian
Aboriginal languages,
Tasmanian languages, Torres
Strait Island languages.
Minority language: Mandarin
Chinese (1.6%), Italian (1.4%),
Arabic (1.3%), Vietnamese (1.7%),
Greek (1.2%), Cantonese (1.2%)
Sign language: Auslan

6. Federal parliamentary
Government constitutional monarchy
The legislature: the bicameral
Parliament, defined in section 1 of
 Monarch Elizabeth II
the constitution as comprising the
Queen (represented by the
Governor-General), the Senate,
and the House of
Representatives;
The executive: the Federal
Executive Council, in practice the
 Governor-General Quentin
Governor-General as advised by Bryce
the Prime Minister and Ministers
of State;[88]
The judiciary: the High Court of
Australia and other federal courts,  Prime Minister Julia Gillard
whose judges are appointed by
the Governor-General on advice
of the Council.

7. Legislature: Independence
(from the United Kingdom )
Parliament
 Constitution
 Upper house
1 January 1901
Senate
 Lower house  Statute of Westminster
House of Representatives 11 December 1931
 Statute of Westminster Adoption Act
9 October 1942 (with effect from 3 September
1939)
 Australia Act
3 March 1986

8. Official Websites
General Websites
Australian Federal, State, Territory and Local Governments
http://www.gov.au/
Government australia.gov.au
Executive government
The Official Web Site of the British Monarchy http://www.royal.gov.uk/Home.aspx
Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australiahttp://www.gg.gov.au/
Prime Minister of Australia http://www.pm.gov.au/
Parliamentary system
Parliament of Australia http://www.aph.gov.au/
Commonwealth Budget http://www.budget.gov.au/
Judiciary
High Court of Australia http://www.hcourt.gov.au/
Australian Law: Selected Websites http://www.nla.gov.au/
Government publications
AGIMO Government Publishing Information http://www.finance.gov.au/agimo/
GovPubs http://www.nla.gov.au/govpubs/
Australia's government overseas
Australia's Diplomatic and Consular Missions http://www.dfat.gov.au/missions/index.html
Commonwealth Secretariat http://www.thecommonwealth.org/
Historical information
National Archives of Australia http://www.naa.gov.au/
Australia's Prime Ministers http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/
Documenting a Democracy http://foundingdocs.gov.au/