Background: 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 is now a marine reserve.
Area Total: 5 km² Land: 5 km² Water: 0 km² Note: includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and Cartier Island Comparative: about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington DC
Disputes international: Indonesian groups challenge Australia's claim to Ashmore Reef; Australia has closed the surrounding waters to Indonesian traditional fishing and created a national park in the region while continuing to prospect for hydrocarbons in the vicinity