The 2003 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency
and
Australian law
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by the Australian governor general
head of government: Administrator William Leonard TAYLOR (since 4
February 1999)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed
by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and
Australia
Legislative branch:
unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members elected
by popular vote to serve one-year terms)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 9
elections: last held NA December 2002 (next to be held NA December
2003)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
none
International organization participation:
none
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (territory of Australia)
Flag description:
the flag of Australia is used; note - in early 1986, the Christmas
Island Assembly held a design competition for an island flag,
however, the winning design has never been formally adopted as the
official flag of the territory
Economy Christmas Island
Economy - overview:
Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity,
but in December 1987 the Australian Government closed the mine. In
1991, the mine was reopened. With the support of the government, a
$34 million casino opened in 1993. The casino closed in 1998. The
Australian Government in 2001 agreed to support the creation of a
commercial space-launching site on the island, slated to begin
operation in 2003.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Labor force:
NA
Labor force - by occupation:
tourism 400 people, mining 100 people (1995)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries:
tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
NA kWh
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
other: NA%
nuclear: NA%
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh
Agriculture - products:
NA
Exports:
$NA
Exports - commodities:
phosphate
Exports - partners:
Australia, NZ
Imports:
$NA
Imports - commodities:
consumer goods
Imports - partners:
principally Australia
Debt - external:
$NA
Economic aid - recipient:
$NA
Currency:
Australian dollar (AUD)
Currency code:
AUD
Exchange rates:
Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.9354 (2002), 1.9320 (2001),
1.7173(2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Communications Christmas Island
Telephones - main lines in use:
NA
Telephones - mobile cellular:
NA
Telephone system:
general assessment: service provided by the Australian network
domestic: only analog mobile telephone service is available
international: satellite earth stations - one Intelsat earth station
provides telephone and telex service (2000)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
1,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
NA
Televisions:
600 (1997)
Internet country code:
.cx
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
NA
Transportation Christmas Island
Railways: 24 km to serve phosphate mines
Highways: total: 240 km paved: 30 km unpaved: 210 km (2000)
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
Flying Fish Cove
Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
1 (2002)