current issues: NA
natural hazards: Curacao and Bonaire are south of Caribbean
hurricane belt, so are rarely threatened; Sint Maarten, Saba, and
Sint Eustatius are subject to hurricanes from July to October
international agreements: party to - Whaling (extended from
Netherlands)
People
------
Population: 208,968 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 1.03% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 15.98 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 5.29 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.96 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 8.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.06 years
male: 74.78 years
female: 79.46 years (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Netherlands Antillean(s)
adjective: Netherlands Antillean
Ethnic divisions: mixed African 85%, Carib Indian, European,
Latin, Oriental
Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Seventh-Day
Adventist
Languages: Dutch (official), Papiamento a
Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect predominates, English
widely spoken, Spanish
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1981 est.)
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 99%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Netherlands Antilles
local long form: none
local short form: Nederlandse Antillen
Data code: NT
Type of government: part of the Dutch realm; full autonomy in
internal affairs granted in 1954
Capital: Willemstad
Administrative divisions: none (part of the Dutch realm)
Independence: none (part of the Dutch realm)
National holiday: Queen's Day, 30 April (1938)
Constitution: 29 December 1954, Statute of the Realm of the
Netherlands, as amended
Legal system: based on Dutch civil law system, with some English
common law influence
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (of the Netherlands
since 30 April 1980) is a constitutional monarch, represented by
Governor General Jaime SALEH (since NA October 1989), who was
appointed for a six-year term by the queen
head of government: Prime Minister Miguel POURIER (since 25 February
1994) was appointed by the Staten
cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the Staten
Legislative branch: unicameral
Staten: elections last held 25 February 1994 (next to be held NA
March 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (23
total) PAR 8, PNP 3, SPA 2, PDB 2, UPB 1, MAN 2, DP 1, WIPM 1,
DP-St.E 1, DP-St.M 1, Nos Patria 1
note: the government of Prime Minister Miguel POURIER is a coalition
of several parties
Judicial branch: Joint High Court of Justice
Political parties and leaders: political parties are indigenous to
each island
Bonaire: Patriotic Union of Bonaire (UPB), Rudy ELLIS; Democratic
Party of Bonaire (PDB), Broertje JANJA
Curacao: Antillean Restructuring Party (PAR), Miguel POURIER;
National People's Party (PNP), Maria LIBERIA-PETERS; New Antilles
Movement (MAN), Domenico Felip Don MARTINA; Workers' Liberation
Front (FOL), Wilson (Papa) GODETT; Socialist Independent (SI),
George HUECK and Nelson MONTE; Democratic Party of Curacao (DP),
Augustin DIAZ; Nos Patria, Chin BEHILIA
Saba: Windward Islands People's Movement (WIPM Saba), Ray HASSELL;
Saba Democratic Labor Movement, Steve HASSELL; Saba Unity Party,
Carmen SIMMONDS
Sint Eustatius: Democratic Party of Sint Eustatius (DP-St.E), Julian
WOODLEY; Windward Islands People's Movement (WIPM); St. Eustatius
Alliance (SEA), Ingrid WHITFIELD
Sint Maarten: Democratic Party of Sint Maarten (DP-St.M), Sarah
WESTCOTT-WILLIAMS; Patriotic Movement of Sint Maarten (SPA), Vance
JAMES; Serious Alternative People's Party (SAPP) Julian ROLLOCKS
International organization participation: Caricom (observer),
ECLAC (associate), Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WMO, WToO
(associate)
Diplomatic representation in US: none (self-governing part of the
Netherlands)
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Consul General James L. WILLIAMS
consulate general(s): J.B. Gorsiraweg #1, Curacao
mailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao
telephone: [599] (9) 61-3066
FAX: [599] (9) 61-6489
Flag: white with a horizontal blue stripe in the center
superimposed on a vertical red band also centered; five white
five-pointed stars are arranged in an oval pattern in the center of
the blue band; the five stars represent the five main islands of
Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten
Economy
-------
Economic overview: Tourism and offshore finance are the mainstays
of this small economy, which is closely tied to the outside world.
The islands enjoy a high per capita income and a well-developed
infrastructure as compared with other countries in the region.
Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, with Venezuela
and the US being the major suppliers. Poor soils and inadequate
water supplies hamper the development of agriculture.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.92 billion (1994 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 1.8% (1994 est.)
GDP per capita: $10,400 (1994 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.5% (1994 est.)
Labor force: 89,000
by occupation: government 65%, industry and commerce 28% (1983)
Unemployment rate: 13.4% (1993 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $209 million
expenditures: $232 million, including capital expenditures of $8
million (1992 est.)
Industries: tourism (Curacao and Sint Maarten), petroleum refining
(Curacao), petroleum transshipment facilities (Curacao and Bonaire),
light manufacturing (Curacao)
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity:
capacity: 200,000 kW
production: 810 million kWh
consumption per capita: 4,054 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: aloes, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruit
Illicit drugs: money-laundering center; transshipment point for
South American cocaine and marijuana bound for the US and Europe
Exports: $1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities: petroleum products 98%
partners: US 39%, Brazil 9%, Colombia 6%
Imports: $1.8 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities: crude petroleum 64%, food, manufactures
partners: Venezuela 26%, US 18%, Colombia 6%, Netherlands 6%, Japan
5%
External debt: $1.95 billion (December 1995)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Netherlands Antillean guilder, gulden, or florin
(NAf.) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Netherlands Antillean guilders, gulden, or florins
(NAf.) per US$1 - 1.790 (fixed rate since 1989)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation
--------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 944 km
paved: 299 km
unpaved: 645 km (1985 est.)
Ports: Kralendijk, Philipsburg, Willemstad
Merchant marine:
total: 119 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,141,003
GRT/1,490,958 DWT
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 38, chemical tanker 7, combination bulk
1, container 2, liquefied gas tanker 4, multifunction large-load
carrier 18, oil tanker 9, passenger 4, refrigerated cargo 27,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 8 (1995 est.)
Airports:
total: 4
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: NA
Telephone system: generally adequate facilities
domestic: extensive interisland microwave radio relay links
international: 2 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 4, shortwave 0
Radios: 205,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1
Televisions: 64,000 (1992 est.)
Defense
-------
Branches: Royal Netherlands Navy, Marine Corps, Royal Netherlands
Air Force, National Guard, Police Force
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the Netherlands
======================================================================
@New Caledonia
-------------
(overseas territory of France)
Map
---
Location: 21 30 S, 165 30 E -- Oceania, islands in the South
Pacific Ocean, east of Australia
Flag
----
Description: three horizontal bands, blue (top), red, and green,
with a yellow disk enclosing a black symbol centered to the hoist
side; the flag of France is used for official occasions
Geography
---------
Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of
Australia
Geographic coordinates: 21 30 S, 165 30 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total area: 19,060 sq km
land area: 18,575 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 2,254 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: Matthew and Hunter Islands claimed by
France and Vanuatu
Climate: tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid
Terrain: coastal plains with interior mountains
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Panie 1,628 m
Natural resources: nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese,
silver, gold, lead, copper
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 14%
forest and woodland: 51%
other: 35%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: typhoons most frequent from November to March
international agreements: NA
People
------
Population: 187,784 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 30% (male 28,941; female 27,929)
15-64 years: 64% (male 61,263; female 59,673)
65 years and over: 6% (male 4,750; female 5,228) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.72% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 21.75 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 4.88 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.02 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 13.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.35 years
male: 71.06 years
female: 77.8 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.53 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: New Caledonian(s)
adjective: New Caledonian
Ethnic divisions: Melanesian 42.5%, European 37.1%, Wallisian
8.4%, Polynesian 3.8%, Indonesian 3.6%, Vietnamese 1.6%, other 3%
Religions: Roman Catholic 60%, Protestant 30%, other 10%
Languages: French, 28 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1976 est.)
total population: 91%
male: 92%
female: 90%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies
conventional short form: New Caledonia
local long form: Territoire des Nouvelle-Caledonie et Dependances
local short form: Nouvelle-Caledonie
Data code: NC
Type of government: overseas territory of France since 1956
Capital: Noumea
Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France);
there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the
US Government, but there are 3 provinces named Iles Loyaute, Nord,
and Sud
Independence: none (overseas territory of France; a referendum on
independence will be held in 1998)
National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July
(1789)
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: the 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial autonomy
to the islands; formerly under French law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President (of France) Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May
1995) represented by High Commissioner and President of the Council
of Government Dominque BUR (since NA), who was appointed by the
French Ministry of the Interior
head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly Pierre
FROGIER (since NA) was elected by the members of the Assembly
cabinet: Consultative Committee
Legislative branch: unicameral
Territorial Assembly: elections last held 9 July 1995 (next to be
held NA July 2001); results - percent by party NA; seats - (54
total) RPCR 22, NCPT 7, other anti-independence parties 6, FLNKS 12,
other pro-independence parties 7
French Senate: elections last held 27 September 1992 (next to be
held NA September 2001); results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (1 total) RPCR 1
French National Assembly: elections last held 21 March 1993 (next to
be held 21 and 28 March 1998); results - percent of vote by party
NA; seats - (2 total) RPCR 2
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: white-dominated Rassemblement pour
la Caledonie dans la Republique (RPCR), conservative, Jacques
LAFLEUR, president - affiliated to France's Rassemblement pour la
Republique (RPR; also called South Province Party); Melanesian
proindependence Kanaka Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS),
Rock WAMYTAN; Melanesian moderate Kanak Socialist Liberation (LKS),
Nidoish NAISSELINE; National Front (FN), extreme right, Guy GEORGE;
Caledonie Demain (CD), right-wing, Bernard MARANT; Union Oceanienne
(UO), conservative, Michel HEMA; Front Uni de Liberation Kanak
(FULK), proindependence, Clarence UREGEI; Union Caledonian (UC),
Francois BURCK, president; "1999" (new party calling for an
autonomous state), Philippe PENTECOST; Nouvelle-Caledonie Pour Toute
(NCPT)
International organization participation: ESCAP (associate), FZ,
ICFTU, SPC, WFTU, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US: none (overseas territory of
France)
US diplomatic representation: none (overseas territory of France)
Flag: three horizontal bands, blue (top), red, and green, with a
yellow disk enclosing a black symbol centered to the hoist side; the
flag of France is used for official occasions
Economy
-------
Economic overview: New Caledonia has more than 20% of the world's
known nickel resources. In recent years, the economy has suffered
because of depressed international demand for nickel, the principal
source of export earnings. Only a negligible amount of the land is
suitable for cultivation, and food accounts for about 25% of imports.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.5 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: NA%
GDP per capita: $8,000 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 5%
industry: 35%
services: 60% (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.4% (1990)
Labor force: 70,044 (1988)
by occupation: agriculture 32%, industry 20%, services 40%, mines 8%
(1992)
Unemployment rate: 15% (1994)
Budget:
revenues: $540 million
expenditures: $540 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1991 est.)
Industries: nickel mining and smelting
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity:
capacity: 250,000 kW
production: 1.2 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 6,178 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: vegetables; beef, other livestock products
Exports: $477 million (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities: nickel metal 22%, nickel ore
partners: France 32.2%, Japan 23.5%, Germany 6.7%, US 3.6%, India
1.2%
Imports: $926 million (c.i.f., 1992)
commodities: foods, fuels, minerals, machines, electrical equipment
partners: France 46.3%, ECE 14.9%, Australia 10.2%, Japan 6.3%, New
Zealand 4.4%
External debt: $NA
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 CFP franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per
US$1 - 91.00 (January 1996), 90.75 (1995), 100.93 (1994), 102.96
(1993), 96.24 (1992), 102.57 (1991); note - linked at the rate of
18.18 to the French franc
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation
--------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 6,340 km
paved: 634 km
unpaved: 5,706 km (1987 est.)
Ports: Mueo, Noumea, Thio
Merchant marine:
total: 1 roll-on/roll-off ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,079
GRT/724 DWT (1995 est.)
Airports:
total: 28
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3
with paved runways under 914 m: 12
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 12 (1995 est.)
Heliports: 7 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 38,748 (1993 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios: 97,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 7
Televisions: 47,000 (1992 est.)
Defense
-------
Branches: French Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force,
Gendarmerie); Police Force
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of France
======================================================================
@New Zealand
-----------
Map
---
Location: 41 00 S, 174 00 E -- Oceania, islands in the South
Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia
Flag
----
Description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant with four red five-pointed stars edged in white centered in
the outer half of the flag; the stars represent the Southern Cross
constellation
Geography
---------
Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast
of Australia
Geographic coordinates: 41 00 S, 174 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total area: 268,680 sq km
land area: 268,670 sq km
comparative area: about the size of Colorado
note: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands,
Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 15,134 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross
Dependency)
Climate: temperate with sharp regional contrasts
Terrain: predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Cook 3,764 m
Natural resources: natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber,
hydropower, gold, limestone
Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 53%
forest and woodland: 38%
other: 7%
Irrigated land: 2,800 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna
hard-hit by species introduced from outside
natural hazards: earthquakes are common, though usually not severe;
volcanic activity
international agreements: party to - Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber
83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea,
Marine Life Conservation, Tropical Timber 94
Geographic note: about 80% of the population lives in cities
People
------
Population: 3,547,983 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 23% (male 420,900; female 400,159)
15-64 years: 65% (male 1,161,522; female 1,154,536)
65 years and over: 12% (male 177,182; female 233,684) (July 1996
est.)
Population growth rate: 1.12% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 15.78 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 7.72 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.01 years
male: 73.96 years
female: 80.21 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.01 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: New Zealander(s)
adjective: New Zealand
Ethnic divisions: European 88%, Maori 8.9%, Pacific Islander 2.9%,
other 0.2%
Religions: Anglican 24%, Presbyterian 18%, Roman Catholic 15%,
Methodist 5%, Baptist 2%, other Protestant 3%, unspecified or none
33% (1986)
Languages: English (official), Maori
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
total population: 99%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: New Zealand
abbreviation: NZ
Data code: NZ
Type of government: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Wellington
Administrative divisions: 93 counties, 9 districts*, and 3 town
districts**; Akaroa, Amuri, Ashburton, Bay of Islands, Bruce,
Buller, Chatham Islands, Cheviot, Clifton, Clutha, Cook, Dannevirke,
Egmont, Eketahuna, Ellesmere, Eltham, Eyre, Featherston, Franklin,
Golden Bay, Great Barrier Island, Grey, Hauraki Plains, Hawera*,
Hawke's Bay, Heathcote, Hikurangi**, Hobson, Hokianga, Horowhenua,
Hurunui, Hutt, Inangahua, Inglewood, Kaikoura, Kairanga, Kiwitea,
Lake, Mackenzie, Malvern, Manaia**, Manawatu, Mangonui, Maniototo,
Marlborough, Masterton, Matamata, Mount Herbert, Ohinemuri, Opotiki,
Oroua, Otamatea, Otorohanga*, Oxford, Pahiatua, Paparua, Patea,
Piako, Pohangina, Raglan, Rangiora*, Rangitikei, Rodney, Rotorua*,
Runanga, Saint Kilda, Silverpeaks, Southland, Stewart Island,
Stratford, Strathallan, Taranaki, Taumarunui, Taupo, Tauranga,
Thames-Coromandel*, Tuapeka, Vincent, Waiapu, Waiheke, Waihemo,
Waikato, Waikohu, Waimairi, Waimarino, Waimate, Waimate West,
Waimea, Waipa, Waipawa*, Waipukurau*, Wairarapa South, Wairewa,
Wairoa, Waitaki, Waitomo*, Waitotara, Wallace, Wanganui, Waverley**,
Westland, Whakatane*, Whangarei, Whangaroa, Woodville
note: there may be a new administrative structure of 16 regions
(Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay,
Marlborough, Nelson, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Tasman,
Waikato, Wanganui-Manawatu, Wellington, West Coast) that are
subdivided into 57 districts and 16 cities* (Ashburton, Auckland*,
Banks Peninsula, Buller, Carterton, Central Hawke's Bay, Central
Otago, Christchurch*, Clutha, Dunedin*, Far North, Franklin,
Gisborne, Gore, Grey, Hamilton*, Hastings, Hauraki, Horowhenua,
Hurunui, Hutt*, Invercargill*, Kaikoura, Kaipara, Kapiti Coast,
Kawerau, Mackenzie, Manawatu, Manukau*, Marlborough, Masterton,
Matamata Piako, Napier*, Nelson*, New Plymouth, North Shore*,
Opotiki, Otorohanga, Palmerston North*, Papakura*, Porirua*,
Queenstown Lakes, Rangitikei, Rodney, Rotorua, Ruapehu, Selwyn,
Southland, South Taranaki, South Waikato, South Wairarapa,
Stratford, Tararua, Tasman, Taupo, Tauranga, Thames Coromandel,
Timaru, Upper Hutt*, Waikato, Waimakariri, Waimate, Waipa, Wairoa,
Waitakere*, Waitaki, Waitomo, Wanganui, Wellington*, Western Bay of
Plenty, Westland, Whakatane, Whangarei)
Dependent areas: Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau
Independence: 26 September 1907 (from UK)
National holiday: Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840) (Treaty of
Waitangi established British sovereignty)
Constitution: no formal, written constitution; consists of various
documents, including certain acts of the UK and New Zealand
Parliaments; Constitution Act 1986 was to have come into force 1
January 1987, but has not been enacted
Legal system: based on English law, with special land legislation
and land courts for Maoris; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) is a
hereditary monarch, represented by Governor General Sir Michael
HARDIE BOYS (since 21 March 1996)
head of government: Prime Minister James BOLGER (since 29 October
1990) and Deputy Prime Minister Donald McKINNON (since 2 November
1990) were appointed by the governor general
cabinet: Executive Council was appointed by the governor general on
the recommendation of the prime minister