The Commonwealth of Australia in the southern hemisphere with its capital Canberra comprises the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania to the south, the sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island with its tributary islands and, as outer territories, the Pacific Norfolk Island, the Cocos Islands, Christmas Island, the Ashmore and Cartier Islands as well as Heard and the McDonald Islands in the Indian Ocean, totalling 7,688,287 km². Australia's neighbouring countries are New Zealand in the south-east and Indonesia, East Timor and Papua New Guinea in the north.
Australia is a parliamentary monarchy on a democratic-parliamentary basis in the "Commonwealth of Nations" (largely former territories of the British Empire) with a democratic constitution. The British monarch is King and Head of State of Australia, who is represented by the Australian Governor-General.
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Markus J. Eser
Weinakademiker und Herausgeber „Der Weinkalender“