"text":"These uninhabited islands came under Australian authority in 1931; formal administration began two years later. Ashmore Reef supports a rich and diverse avian and marine habitat; in 1983, it became a National Nature Reserve. Cartier Island, a former bombing range, became a marine reserve in 2000."
}
},
"Geography":{
"Location":{
"text":"Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, midway between northwestern Australia and Timor island"
"text":"surrounded by shoals and reefs that can pose maritime hazards"
},
"Environment - current issues":{
"text":"illegal killing of protected wildlife by traditional Indonesian fisherman, as well as fishing by non-traditional Indonesian vessels, are ongoing problems; sea level rise, changes in sea temperature, and ocean acidification are concerns; marine debris"
},
"Geography - note":{
"text":"Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983; Cartier Island Marine Reserve established in 2000"
"text":"8,884,864 no indigenous inhabitants (July 2021 est.)",
"note":"<p><strong>note:</strong> Indonesian fishermen are allowed access to the lagoon and fresh water at Ashmore Reef's West Island; access to East and Middle Islands is by permit only</p>"
},
"Population growth rate":{
"text":"0.32% (2021 est.)"
},
"Death rate":{
"text":"9.85 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)"
},
"Net migration rate":{
"text":"3.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)"
},
"Infant mortality rate":{
"total":{
"text":"3.29 deaths/1,000 live births"
},
"male":{
"text":"3.7 deaths/1,000 live births"
},
"female":{
"text":"2.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)"
"text":"named after British Captain Samuel ASHMORE, who first sighted his namesake island in 1811, and after the ship Cartier, from which the second island was discovered in 1800"
}
},
"Dependency status":{
"text":"territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport"
},
"Legal system":{
"text":"the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia and the laws of the Northern Territory of Australia, where applicable, apply"
"text":"<p>Australia has closed parts of the Ashmore and Cartier reserve to Indonesian traditional fishing; Indonesian groups challenge Australia's claim to Ashmore Reef</p>"