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About
Australia
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Australia
is the sixth largest country in the world. It's about the
same size as the 48 mainland states of the USA and 50 per
cent larger than Europe, but has the lowest population density
in the world - only two people per square kilometre.It consists
of a federation of six states and two territories. |
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The state governments are chiefly responsible for health,
education, housing, transport and justice.
Australian democracy guarantees civic freedoms and fundamental
rights and equality, and it is the institutions of Australian
democracy that enable diversity in our society to flourish.
However, it is officially still a part of the British Empire
and the Queen is the head of state, though Australians vote
for their government the Queen has a representative in Australia
called the Governor General who is theoretically the most
powerful person in Australia, though they do not usually mingle
in the country's affairs and stick to drinking champagne at
public functions. Many Australians would like to see the country
break ties and become a republic but at the last referendum
held in 1998 it was decided by a small margin to maintain
the status quo.
This is a country with a total population of 19.9 million
where the most populous cities are Sydney, with 4 million
people, and Melbourne with 3.3 million. Australia is also
populated by about 40 million kangaroos, 75000 crocodiles,
half a million wild camels, 140 million sheep, 24 million
cows and 100 000 koalas.
Australia has more World Heritage listed sites than any other
country, fifteen of them have been classified by UNESCO; such
as the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park , the Daintree National
Park, Kakadu, Uluru, Cradle Mountain, and several dinosaur
fossil sites.
Almost 200 different nationalities living in Australia! Most
post-war immigration came from Britain and European countries
and more recently, from South East Asia and New Zealand. Aboriginals
and Torres Strait Islanders, Australia's indigenous peoples,
represent 1.5 per cent of the total population.
Australia is a relatively affluent and industrialized nation.
Japan is Australia’s biggest trading partner, with China,
Korea and the ASEAN countries becoming increasingly important.
The Australian economy is growing at a rate of around 4% per
year and inflation is low, at around 2%. In recent years,
Australia enjoyed being one of the strongest economies in
the world.
Australia has an enviable Western-style capitalist economy,
with a per capita GDP on par with the four dominant West European
economies. Rising output in the domestic economy has been
offsetting the global slump, and business and consumer confidence
remains robust. Australia's emphasis on reforms, low inflation,
and growing ties with China are other key factors behind the
economy's strength.
International Comparisons
Source: CIA – The World Factbook / www.nationmaster.com
(crime rate & education) Currency: US$
* Average years of schooling of adults are the years of formal
schooling received, on average, by adults over age 15.
** Crime Rate – Prisoners per 100,000 people
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Culture
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Contemporary
Australian culture is a vivid tapestry that weaves together
threads from every corner of the earth. From the dragons and
fireworks of Chinese New Year, to the gongs and flowers of
a Laotian Buddhist festival, multi-cultural celebrations are
as much a part of Australian culture as Christmas and cricket.
This diversity also ensures that Australia gets the best the
world has to offer in the performing and visual arts. From
orchestra, opera, avant-garde theatre, Shakespearean classics
and rock concerts, to dance, Aboriginal art, comedy, cabaret
and world-touring exhibitions, Australia is a hub of artistic
expression.
A nation of festival-goers, Australians are happy to visit
mainstream and fringe arts festivals or kick up their heels
at country folk festivals. Some of our entertainment reflects
our very dry sense of humour: try a visit to a cane toad race
or a brick throwing competition!
Capital cities hold huge annual carnivals and Sydney also
celebrates the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras every February -
attracting an international crowd of over 600,000 and lasting
an entire month! The Adelaide International Festival is held
each March and is one of the largest.
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of our festivals are 'tongue-in-cheek' - the annual Alice
Springs 'Henley-on-Todd' Regatta is a good example. A range
of competitors form teams that 'wear' homemade boats and race
on foot down a dry riverbed. Three four-wheel drive 'ships'
follow the race with flour bombs and water cannons! |
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| Lifestyle |
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With over 90 per cent of Australians living on or near the
coast, our lifestyle is very much in tune with surf, sand
and water. Australian beaches belong to everyone - there are
no private beaches and certainly no charge to use them. From
the whitest sand in the world at Hyams Beach in New South
Wales, to 90 kilometre stretches in Western Australia, our
coastline offers more beach than our population of 19 million
could ever crowd out. Sydney alone has beach and harbour shores
of over 350 kilometres!
Holding events such as boomerang throwing and swimming, and
early settlers played soccer and cricket as far back as the
late 1700s. Since then sport has been a fundamental part of
the Australian lifestyle.
Australia has a strong outback tradition. From sprawling cattle
stations to the remarkable 'red centre', the love of the land
is in our blood. For many Australians, including those on
the coast, the land is very much part of the joy of living
in Australia.
Given the multi-cultural diversity in Australia, dining out
is another key part of our lifestyle. These culinary influences
result in a fabulous variety of dishes prepared from the finest
ingredients. Australia now eats what has been described as
'fusion' food - a unique collage of culinary influences.
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