Ashmore and Cartier Islands is a territory of Australia
The Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands[1] is an uninhabited Australian external territory[2] consisting of four low-lying tropical islands in two separate reefs (Ashmore and Cartier), as well as the 12nmi territorial sea generated by the islands. The territory is located in the Indian Ocean situated on the edge of the continental shelf, about 320km (200miles) off the northwest coast of Australia and 144km (89miles) south of the Indonesian island of Rote.[3] [...] A British order-in-council dated 23 July 1931 stated that Ashmore and Cartier Islands would be placed under the authority of the Commonwealth of Australia when Australia passed legislation to accept them, and formal administration began two years later.[14] The Commonwealth's resulting Ashmore and Cartier Islands Acceptance Act 1933 came into operation on 10 May 1934, when the islands formally became a territory. The act authorised the Governor of Western Australia to make ordinances for the territory. In July 1938 the territory was annexed to the Northern Territory, then also administered by the Commonwealth, whose laws, ordinances and regulations applied to the Northern Territory. When self-government was granted to the Northern Territory on 1 July 1978, administration of Ashmore and Cartier Islands was retained by the Commonwealth.[3] [15] [...] Defence of Ashmore and Cartier Islands is the responsibility of Australia, with periodic visits by the Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian Air Force and the Australia Border Force.