Queensland

Queensland is a state of Australia, in the northeast of the country. The capital city is Brisbane. It is the only Australian state with a unicameral legislature.

Geography

• Famous for the Great Barrier Reef, Fraser Island, Great Dividing Range.
• The northernmost part of the state is the triangular Cape York Peninsula which points toward New Guinea. The western side of the peninsula is washed by the Gulf of Carpentaria, while its eastern side, along with the whole of Queensland's eastern shore, borders the Coral Sea which is an arm of the Pacific Ocean. To the west, Queensland is bordered by the Northern Territory, to its south by New South Wales, and to its south west by the north eastern corner of South Australia.
• oceans, lakes
• The State capital Brisbane, is located on the coast 100km by road north of the New South Wales border.
• The largest city by area in the world, Mount Isa, is located in Queensland. The city area is in excess of 40 000 km².

Demographics

• Population 3 729 000 (2002 census)
• racial/ethnic makeup of state
• Religion Christian: 77% (Anglican: 24.6%, Catholic: 26.2%, Lutheran: 2.2%, Uniting Church: 10.8%, Other: 13.4%), Non-Christian: 0.9% (Buddhism: 0.2%, Hinduism: 0.1%, Other: 0.6%), No Religion: 14.9%, Not Stated: 6.9%

 (2002 census)

Economy

• State income, GDP
• Major industries/products
• state taxes

Law/Government of state

Queen Elizabeth II is represented as head of state by the locally appointed Governor, Ms Quentin Bryce, AC. The elected head of government is the Labor Premier, the Hon Peter Beattie who appoints an Executive Council from the members of the Legislative Assembly of 89 members (MLAs). The Queensland's State Parliament has been unicameral since 1922, when the Legislative Council was abolished.

In 2001 the state adopted a new codified constitution, repealing most of the assorted acts that had previously made up the constitution. The new constitution took effect on 6 June 2002 when Queen Victoria signed Letters Patent.

• structure of state judiciary
• does it have referenda?

History

• 1824 Moreton Bay penal colony established
• 1825 Brisbane is established
• 1839 Transportation of convicts ceases
• 1842 Free settlement is permitted
• 1859 Colony of Queensland formed
• 1901 Federation of Australia
• 1904 Women's suffrage in state elections
• 1909 University of Queensland established
• 1922 Upper house of Parliament abolished

Colleges/Universities

• Bond University
• Central Queensland University
• Griffith University
• James Cook University
• Queensland University of Technology
• University of Queensland
• University of Southern Queensland
• University of the Sunshine Coast

See also

• Australian States and Territories
• Local Government Areas of Queensland

Towns and settlements

External Links

• Government of Queensland
• Parliament of Queensland
• Premier of Queensland
• Independent and unofficial portal for Queensland