Australian Capital Territory (ACT) (The Nation's Capital) Area of Territory is 2,358 km², Capital – Canberra ACT Population (2006) : 333,667 Population of Canberra is 308,086   ACT Unemployment Rate: 3.2% (2006) ACT Average Weekly Earnings for Employees: Males $1,275.60 Females $1,077.10 (2005) ACT Parliament - ACT Legislative Assembly ACT Government departments: ACT Health , ACT Planning and Land Authority , Chief Minister's Department - CMD , Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services - DHCS , Department of Education and Training - DET , Department of Justice and Community Safety - JACS , Department of Treasury - DT , Territory and Municipal Services   Prime Minister's Homepage Parliament of Australia                         ACT State Emblems: Floral: Royal Bluebell Animal: No Official Emblem Faunal: Gang-Gang Cockatoo Marine: No Official Emblem The Australian Capital Territory flag consists of the hoist third, which has the Southern Cross on a blue background, the fly two thirds has the blue and white Coat of Arms of the ACT on a yellow surroundings.  USEFUL INFO: CSU Guide to Australia - ACT Around Canberra Magazine ACT Fire Brigade ACT Ambulance Service ACT Emergency Services Bureau ACT Health - The Canberra Hospital Australian Capital Territory, Department of Health   Maps ACT The Canberra and Queanbeyan cycling and walking map ACT Planning and Land Authority The ACT Registrar-General's Office - Births, Deaths and Marriages The Australian Capital Territory Ombudsman Legal Aid Commission (ACT)   Citizens Advice Bureau ACT Australian Heritage Commission Australian Capital Territory has a moderately dry, continental climate with warm to hot summers and cool to chilly winters. Snow in Canberra is quite rare, and there may only be 1 to 2 recordings of snow per year. Autumn and spring are the best times to visit the capital. Separately from Canberra the ACT also has rural land, large areas of national parks (40% of ACT is made up of the Namadgi National Park) and small townships. Territory has internal self-government, but it does not have the full legislative independence of the other Australian states. Most of the region consists of an area formerly known as Yass-Canberra, located on the ancient lands of the Indigenous Ngunnawal people, which was ceded to the Commonwealth by NSW in 1911. The population of Canberra was 10 000 in 1939. Lake Burley Griffin was officially opened in October 1964. ACT key industries: Manufacturing, Property and Business Services, Ownership of Dwellings and Finance and Insurance. General Information - ACT WWW servers Events: February - Royal Canberra Show March - Canberra Festival - 10 days of celebrate the city's birthday, April - National Folk Festival. April/May - Australian Science Festival. September/October - Floriade Festival, a floral exhibition November - Spring Exhibition and Rose Show. December - Street Machine Summer Nats and New Year celebration   Tourism:   Canberra Tourism