On Friday, December 9, 2005 the population of Queensland officially reached 4 million. Queensland is the fastest growing state in Australia, with nine hundred people moving to the state a week. Predictions have been made that by 2051 Queensland will become Australia's 2nd most populous state of 7.5 million behind New South Wales.
* West To the west, Queensland is bordered by the Northern Territory, at the 138° E. longitude, and to the south-west by the north-eastern corner of South Australia.
Highest maximum temperature: 49.5C (121.1F), Birdsville, 24 December1972 (The temperature of 53.1C (127.5F) at Cloncurry on 16 January1889 is not considered official, the figure quoted from Birdsville is the next highest, so that record is considered as being official).
Queensland cities, towns, settlements and road network
Demographics
The population of Queensland officially reached 4 million in December, 2005. Queensland's population is less centralised in the capital city than the rest of the country. At 30 June2004 the capital city represented 45.7% of the population; for the whole country, capital cities represented 63.8% of the total population.
Queensland's economy has enjoyed a boom in the tourism and mining industries over the last twenty years. A sizeable influx of interstate and overseas migrants, large amounts of federal government investment, increased mining of vast mineral deposits and a ever expanding aerospace sector ensure that the state will remain Austalia's fastest growing economy in the foreseeable future.
Between 1992 and 2002, The growth in the Gross State Product of Queensland outperformed that of all the other states and territories. In that period Queensland's GSP grew 5.0% each year, while growth in Australia's GDP rose on average 3.9% each year. Queensland's contribution to the Australian GDP also increased (by 10.4%) in that period, one of only three states to do so.[link]
In 2003 Brisbane city had the lowest cost of living of all Australia's capital cities. As of late 2005 Brisbane is the third most expensive capital for housing after Sydney and Canberra and just ahead of Melbourne by $15,000.
Secondary industries are mostly further processing of the above-mentioned primary produce: bauxite from Weipa is converted to alumina at Gladstone. There are also copper refining and the refining of sugar cane to sugar.
Brisbane city by night, looking north along the Brisbane River towards the CBD.
Tourism
Tourism is a billion dollar industry in Queensland, with millions of tourists flocking to the state's world class beaches and the Great Barrier Reef. The premier attractions are located all over the state, such as Surfers Paradise, which is renowned for its beaches and world class luxury hotels. Queensland is also referred to as "Australia's Theme Park Capital", with five amusement parks located in the state serving as a hub for many tourists.
South-East Queensland is governed by an integrated public transport system, TransLink, which provides bus, rail and ferry services. Regional bus and long-distance rail services are also provided throughout the State.
The Queensland State Parliament, known as the Queensland Parliament or the Legislative Assembly is unicameral. It is the only Australian state with a unicameral legislature. A bicameral system existed until 1922, when the Legislative Council was abolished by the Labor members' "suicide squad," so called because they took the unusual step of voting to abolish their own offices. Hanging was also abolished in 1922.
Constitution
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 June2002, the anniversary of the formation of the independent colony of Queensland by the signing of Letters Patent by Queen Victoria in 1859.
Queensland does not have separate Local Government district based Police forces, nor a metropolitan force.
Some (Quasi-)Police powers are exercised by Local Government Officers (especially Parking, Public Health & Safety) and by some Government and NGO officers such as those from the Department of Primary Industries (especially Fisheries) and the Queensland Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
