Australia Facts & Useful Information

Commonwealth of Australia 1

U.S. Embassy Canberra 1

Melbourne 2

U.S. Consulate General Melbourne 2

Sydney 2

U.S. Consulate General Sydney 2

Perth 2

U.S. Consulate Perth 2

Australian Embassy Washington, D.C. 2

Holidays, U.S. and Australian 2

Commonwealth of Australia

- Country Code............................................................................................................................................. 61

- International Access Code....................................................................................................................... 0011

- Australian Federal Police 24-Hour Phone............................................................................... +61-417-221-370

- EAP/ANP: Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands Affairs HST, Rm#4206.................. x79990/64659/64675

- Voltage............................................................................................................................. 240 volts, 50 cycles

- Population........................................................................................................... 20,113,300 million (Jun 2004)

- Area.......................................................................................... 7,682,400 sq km (61% agricultural, 5% forest)

- Religions.................................................................................. 70% Christians, 27% Catholics, 22% Anglicans

- Climate.......... north is tropical (only summer (wet) and winter (dry) seasons) and south is temperate (4 seasons)

- Exchange Rate as of 12/22/2005......................................................................................... 1.363 = $1.00 USD

- GDP................................................................................................................................ $670,300,000 (2005)

- GDP per capita........................................................................................................................ $32,892 (2005)

- Inflation....................................................................................................................................... 3.1% (2005)

- Visas All travellers, except New Zealand citizens, must obtain a visa or travel authority before travelling to Australia.

- Australian Visa Information Service..................................................................................... +1 (888) 990-8888

- Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) online application (replaces visa)......................... http://www.eta.immi.gov.au

- Parliament......................................................... 76-member Senate and 150-member House of Representatives

- Main exports 2004................................ metal ores, minerals & metals; coal, coke & petroleum; machinery; gold

- Main imports 2004....................................... machinery; consumer goods; transport equipment; fuel & lubricants

- Fiscal year.................................. July 1 - June 30. Most Australian statistics are reported on a fiscal-year basis.

- Economist Australia Country Guide............................................ http://www.economist.com/countries/Australia/

- Constitution of 1901.............................................. http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/general/constitution/constit.doc

- CDC Australia/South Pacific Health Info.............................................. http://www.cdc.gov/travel/austspac.htm

- Consular Information Sheet............................................ http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_954.html

- EAP Intranet............................................................................................................. http://web.eap.state.gov/

U.S. Embassy Canberra

- Phone/Fax.................................................................................................................. +61 (2) 6214-5600/5970

- After-Hours Emergency Phone............................................................................................ +61 (2) 6214-5900

- Duty Officer Cell.................................................................................................................. +61-411-424-608

- Ambassador's Office Phone/Fax.................................................................................. +61 (2) 6214-5878/5930

- DCM's Office Phone/Fax............................................................................................ +61 (2) 6214-5843/5930

- IVG......................................................................................................................................................... 679

- Physical Address.................................................................... Moonah Place, Yarralumla ACT 2600, Australia

- Mailing Address...................................................................................................... PSC 277, APO, AP 96549

- Days/Hours of Operation........................................................................................................ M-F, 8:00 - 5:00

- Internet.................................................................................................... http://usembassy-australia.state.gov/

- Intranet..................................................................................................................... http://canberra.state.gov/

- Mission Australia Key Officers' List...... http://mmsweb.a.state.gov/asp/Key_Off/key_country.asp?ID=Australia

- Post Report html................................................................ http://canberra.state.gov/mission/2005postreport.htm

- Post Report pdf.................................................................. http://canberra.state.gov/mission/2005postreport.pdf

- Post Profile...................................... http://www.a.state.gov/postprofiles/default.asp?Bureau_id=2&Post_ID=48

- Mission MPP FY2006............................................................ http://spp.rm.state.gov/uploadedfiles/australia.doc

- Australia Background Notes, Oct 1998.................... http://canberra.state.gov/mission/WelcometoAustralia98.pdf

Melbourne

- City Code................................................................................................................................................... 03

- Time Zone.............................................................. +16 hrs from EST (Oct-Mar), +14 hrs from EST (Apr-Sep)

- Per Diem Rate as of 12/01/2005................................................................. Lodging $158 + M&IE $113 = $271

- COLA.................................................................................................................................................... 25%

- Population....................................................................................................................... 3,555,000 (Jun 2003)

U.S. Consulate General Melbourne

- Phone/Fax.......................................................................................................... +61 (3) 9526-5900/9510-4646

- After-Hours Emergency Phone............................................................................................ +61 (3) 9389-3601

- Duty Officer Cell.................................................................................................................. +61-407-909-612

- Physical Address.............................................................. 553 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia

- Postal Address...................................................... P.O. Box 6722, St. Kilda Road Central, VIC, 8008, Australia

- Mailing Address...................................................................................................... PSC 278, APO, AP 96551

- Days/Hours of Operation........................................................................................................ M-F, 8:00 - 5:00

- Internet......................................................................... http://melbourne.usconsulate.gov/melbourne/index.html

- Intranet.................................................................................................................... http://melbourne.state.gov

- Medical Report 2005...................................... http://melbourne.state.gov/MGMT/docs/MelbMedReport2005.doc

- Post Profile.................................... http://www.a.state.gov/postprofiles/default.asp?Bureau_id=2&Post_ID=146

Sydney

- City Code................................................................................................................................................... 02

- Per Diem Rate as of 12/01/2005................................................................. Lodging $131 + M&IE $108 = $239

- Population....................................................................................................................... 4,199,000 (Jun 2003)

U.S. Consulate General Sydney

- Phone/Fax.................................................................................................................. +61 (2) 9373-9200/9125

- Physical Address.......................................................................... 59th Floor, MLC Centre, 19-29 Martin Place

- Mailing Address............................................................................ PSC 280, Unit 11026, APO, AP 96554-0002

- Days/Hours of Operation........................................................................................................ M-F, 8:15 - 5:00

- Internet................................................................................................... http://sydney.usconsulate.gov/sydney

Perth

- City Code................................................................................................................................................... 08

- Per Diem Rate as of 12/01/2005................................................................. Lodging $124 + M&IE $113 = $237

- Perth............................................................................................................................... 1,432,000 (Jun 2003)

U.S. Consulate Perth

- Phone/Fax.......................................................................................................... +61 (8) 9202-1224/9231-9444

- Physical Address................................................................................................. Level 13, 16 St Georges Tce

- Mailing Address................................................................................................... Unit 11021, APO, AP 96530

- Days/Hours of Operation........................................................................................................ M-F, 8:00 - 5:00

- Internet................................................................................................................. http://perth.usconsulate.gov

Australian Embassy Washington, D.C.

- Phone/Fax.......................................................................................................................... +1 (202) 797-3000

- Physical Address................................................. 1601 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036

- Internet...................................................................................................................... http://www.austemb.org

Holidays, U.S. and Australian

- January 1............................................................................................................................. New Year's Day

- January 26................................................................................................................................ Australia Day

- March 25-28, 2005................................................................................................................................ Easter

- First Monday in March.......................................................................................................... Perth Labor Day

- Second Monday in March.............................................................................................. Melbourne Labor Day

- Third Monday in March............................................................................................................. Canberra Day

- April 25, 2005................................................................................................................................ Anzac Day

- First Monday in June...................................................................................................... Perth Foundation Day

- Second Monday in June; June 13, 2005........................................... Queen's Birthday, except Western Australia

- First Monday in October................................................................................ Canberra and Sydney Labor Day

- First Monday in October.............................................................................................. Perth Queen's Birthday

- First Tuesday in November............................................................................................... Melbourne Cup Day

- December 25, 2005.................................................................................................................. Christmas Day

- December 26, 2005.................................................................................... Boxing Day, except South Australia

- First term school holiday (dates may vary slightly from state to state)........................ Early February to mid April

- Second term school holiday (dates may vary slightly from state to state)............................ End April to end June

- Third term school holiday (dates may vary slightly from state to state).............. Mid July to third week September

- Fourth term school holiday (dates may vary slightly from state to state).... Early October to third week December