Australia

Broadcast media

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

.au

Internet hosts

13.361 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 8

Internet users

15.81 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 25

Telephone system

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 - main lines in use

8.66 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 24

Telephones - mobile cellular

22.5 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 40

Agriculture - products

wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruits; cattle, sheep, poultry

Budget

revenues: $399 billion expenditures: $441.2 billion (2010 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-3.4% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 108

Central bank discount rate

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

7.279% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 147 6.021% (31 December 2009 est.)

Current account balance

-$30.4 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 188 -$43.89 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$1.302 trillion (30 June 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 13 $1.265 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

30.5 (2006) country comparison to the world: 115 35.2 (1994)

Economy - overview

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

225.4 billion kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 15

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

232 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 17

Exchange rates

Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.0902 (2010) 1.2822 (2009) 1.2059 (2008) 1.2137 (2007) 1.3285 (2006)

Exports

$212.9 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 22 $154.8 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

coal, iron ore, gold, meat, wool, alumina, wheat, machinery and transport equipment

Exports - partners

China 25.1%, Japan 18.9%, South Korea 8.9%, India 7.1%, US 4% (2010)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.236 trillion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$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

agriculture: 3.9% industry: 25.5% services: 70.6% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$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

GDP - real growth rate

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

lowest 10%: 2% highest 10%: 25.4% (1994)

Imports

$194.7 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 21 $159 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment, computers and office machines, telecommunication equipment and parts; crude oil and petroleum products

Imports - partners

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

4.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 92

Industries

mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing, chemicals, steel

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.8% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 99 1.8% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

27.4% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 42

Labor force

11.87 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 43

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 3.6% industry: 21.1% services: 75% (2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$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

26.41 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 29

Natural gas - exports

24.7 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 10

Natural gas - imports

5.99 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 31

Natural gas - production

45.11 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 20

Natural gas - proved reserves

3.115 trillion cu m (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 12

Oil - consumption

960,800 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 23

Oil - exports

312,600 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 40

Oil - imports

731,400 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 19

Oil - production

549,200 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 30

Oil - proved reserves

3.318 billion bbl (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 29

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

28.8% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 94 22.6% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$42.27 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 41 $41.74 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$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

$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

$514.4 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 12 $425.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.927 trillion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 13 $1.618 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$421.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 11 $334.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

32.3% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 84

Unemployment rate

5.2% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 48 5.6% (2009 est.)

Area

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

slightly smaller than the US contiguous 48 states

Climate

generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in north

Coastline

25,760 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Lake Eyre -15 m highest point: Mount Kosciuszko 2,229 m

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 24.06 cu km/yr (15%/10%/75%) per capita: 1,193 cu m/yr (2000)

Geographic coordinates

27 00 S, 133 00 E

Geography - note

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

25,500 sq km (2008)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 6.15% (includes about 27 million hectares of cultivated grassland) permanent crops: 0.04% other: 93.81% (2005)

Location

Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

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

cyclones along the coast; severe droughts; forest fires volcanism: volcanic activity occurs on the Heard and McDonald Islands

Natural resources

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

mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeast

Total renewable water resources

398 cu km (1995)

Administrative divisions

6 states and 2 territories*; Australian Capital Territory*, New South Wales, Northern Territory*, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

Capital

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

9 July 1900; effective 1 January 1901

Country name

conventional long form: Commonwealth of Australia conventional short form: Australia

Dependent areas

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

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

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

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 description

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

federal parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

Independence

1 January 1901 (from the federation of UK colonies)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

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

High Court (the chief justice and six other justices are appointed by the governor general acting on the advice of the government)

Legal system

common law system based on the English model

Legislative branch

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

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

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)

Southern Cross constellation (five, seven-pointed stars); kangaroo; emu

Political parties and leaders

Australian Greens [Bob BROWN]; Australian Labor Party [Julia GILLARD]; Family First Party [Steve FIELDING]; Liberal Party [Tony ABBOTT]; The Nationals [Warren TRUSS]

Political pressure groups and leaders

other: business groups; environmental groups; social groups; trade unions

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Background

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.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 5,316,464 females age 16-49: 5,116,722 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 4,411,958 females age 16-49: 4,239,985 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 143,565 female: 135,800 (2010 est.)

Military branches

Australian Defense Force (ADF): Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian Air Force, Special Operations Command (2006)

Military expenditures

3% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 44

Military service age and obligation

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)

Age structure

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

12.33 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 158

Death rate

6.88 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 139

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population (2008)

Education expenditures

4.5% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 81

Ethnic groups

white 92%, Asian 7%, aboriginal and other 1%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 111

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 100 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 152

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

20,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 77

Health expenditures

8.5% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 47

Hospital bed density

3.82 beds/1,000 population (2009) country comparison to the world: 53

Infant mortality rate

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

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

total population: 81.81 years country comparison to the world: 9 male: 79.4 years female: 84.35 years (2011 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (2003 est.)

Major cities - population

Sydney 4.429 million; Melbourne 3.853 million; Brisbane 1.97 million; Perth 1.599 million; CANBERRA (capital) 384,000 (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

8 deaths/100,000 live births (2008) country comparison to the world: 156

Median age

total: 37.7 years male: 37 years female: 38.4 years (2011 est.)

Nationality

noun: Australian(s) adjective: Australian

Net migration rate

6.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 14

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

16.4% (2005) country comparison to the world: 27

Physicians density

2.991 physicians/1,000 population (2009) country comparison to the world: 39

Population

21,766,711 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 55

Population growth rate

1.148% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 101

Religions

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

improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population (2008)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 21 years male: 20 years female: 21 years (2008)

Sex ratio

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

1.78 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 156

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 11.6% country comparison to the world: 93 male: 12.6% female: 10.4% (2009)

Urbanization

urban population: 89% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 1.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

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

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

Airports

465 (2010) country comparison to the world: 17

Airports - with paved runways

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

total: 139 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 110 under 914 m: 12 (2010)

Heliports

1 (2010)

Merchant marine

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

gas 27,900 km; liquid petroleum gas 240 km; oil 3,257 km; oil/gas/water 1 km (2010)

Ports and terminals

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

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

total: 818,356 km (2008) country comparison to the world: 9

Waterways

2,000 km (mainly used for recreation on Murray and Murray-Darling river systems) (2006) country comparison to the world: 44