My World Factbook
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There are 27 coral islands in the group. Captain William KEELING discovered the islands in 1609, but they remained uninhabited until the 19th century. From the 1820s to 1978, members of the CLUNIE-ROSS family controlled the islands and the copra produced from local coconuts. Annexed by the UK in 1857, the Cocos Islands were transferred to the Australian Government in 1955. The population on the two inhabited islands generally is split between the ethnic Europeans on West Island and the ethnic Malays on Home Island.
Government
conventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
conventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands
non-self governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Government Attorney-General’s Department
NA
name: West Island
geographic coordinates: 12 10 S, 96 50 E
time difference: UTC+6.5 (11.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
none (territory of Australia)
none (territory of Australia)
Australia Day, 26 January (1788)
Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955 (23 November 1955) as amended by the Territories Law Reform Act of 1992
based upon the laws of Australia and local laws
18 years of age
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by the Australian governor general
head of government: Administrator (nonresident) Brian LACY (since 5 October 2009)
cabinet: NA
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elections: the monarchy is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia
unicameral Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council (7 seats)
elections: held every two years with half the members standing for election; last held in May 2007 (next to be held in May 2009)
Supreme Court; Magistrate’s Court
none
The Cocos Islands Youth Support Centre
none
none (territory of Australia)
none (territory of Australia)
the flag of Australia is used
note: as a territory of Australia, “Advance Australia Fair” remains official as the national anthem, while “God Save the Queen” serves as the royal anthem (see Australia)
Military
defense is the responsibility of Australia; the territory has a five-person police force
Transnational Issues
none
The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism - 
