Canberra is the Capital of the Commonwealth of Australia, governing over 6 states and 2 territories*. Those being, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia, *Australian Capital Territory and *Northern Territory. There are several surrounding islands also under the Australian umbrella: Ashmore and Carter Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling Islands), Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Norfolk Island and Macquarie Island.

Receiving her independence on January 1, 1901, Australia observes 2 national holidays: Australia Day, January 26, and ANZAC Day, April 25 which commemorates the anniversary of their troops landing at Gallipoli, Turkey during World War I.

Chief of State: Queen of Australia (Current King or Queen of Great Brittan); represented by the Governor General (The monarch is hereditary. The governor general is appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister.)

Head of Government: 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.)

Australia enjoys universal suffrage of all citizens over the age of 18 who vote for members of the bicameral Federal Parliament which consists of the Senate (76 seats; 12 members from each of the six states and 2 from each of the two mainland territories 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).

The Judicial High Court consists of the chief justice and six other justices who are appointed by the governor general.

Australia participates in numerous international organizations including: ADB, ANZUS, APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCT, ICRM, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, Paris Club, PCA, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, and ZC.

The Ambassador to the US is Dennis J. Richardson (as of 2008) serving from the chancery at 1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 – telephone [1] (202) 797-3000 - FAX: [1] (202) 797-3168 and has consulates general in Atlanta, Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco

US Ambassador Robert D. McCallum, Jr. (as of 2008) serves from the embassy at Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2600 (mailing address: APO AP 96549), telephone
[61] (02) 6214-5600 FAX: [61] (02) 6214-5970 with consulates general in Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.