The Australian Bureau of Statistics' (ABS) latest flagship publication, Year Book Australia, is packed full of essential and interesting facts about Australian life. It also highlights how well Australia compares with the rest of the world.
Launched today by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, the Honourable Chris Pearce MP, the 2006 edition of Year Book Australia provides a valuable snapshot of the nation in a single volume.
Quoting from the book's comprehensive and detailed statistical review of the economy and social conditions in Australia, Mr Pearce said: "There are those who claim that we suffer because of our island nation status, but the Year Book Australia indicates that many social and economic aspects of Australian life compare favourably with other nations".
Australia's population has continued to grow by 1.2% over the past year - a growth rate double that of the world's most populous country, China, and higher than that of Canada, the United States of America, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, Japan and Germany.
Our life expectancy also compares well with other developed nations, Mr Pearce said. "Babies born in Australia on average can expect to live longer than babies in New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States of America.
"Another of the fascinating details in the Year Book refers to marriage," Mr Pearce said. It's interesting to discover that Australian marriages are lasting longer, even for those who end up separating or getting a divorce. The median duration of marriage prior to divorce is 12.2 years, up from 10.7 years a decade ago.
Mr Pearce said the Year Book Australia is a key publication that unlocks important information about our nation. "It's in constant use as the most authoritative resource of facts about Australia, its people and economy," he said. "No wonder it's become the major reference work being used across Australia ."
The 2006 Year Book Australia is also available www.abs.gov.au - the ABS web site.
CANBERRA
20 January 2006
Contact: Gillian Harvey 03 9887 3890