Australia

The Democratic Republic of Australia

Motto: Be of courage, for that is the way to the stars.
Government type	Democratic Republic
Head of State	President Rowan Payne
Population	1000-3000 (official estimate, 2005)
Capital	Canberra
Independence	22nd January 2006
Area	7.7 million sq km 2.9 million sq miles
Major language	English
Religion	Christianity
Life expectancy   • For men   • For women	86-89 years 89-94 years
(UN) Monetary unit	1 Australian dollar = 100 cents
Main exports	• Ores and metals • Wool, food and live animals • Fuels, transport machinery and equipment
GNI per capita	US $26,900 (World Bank, 2005)
Internet domain	.au
International dialling code	+61

History

The British founded the first settlement and named it Sydney in 1788. Many of the first settlers were convicts. Free settlers arrived in increasing numbers, particularly after the discovery of gold in the mid-19th century.

Australia's original inhabitants, the Aborigines, numbered a few hundred thousand before the European influx. But two centuries of discrimination and expropriation followed, and at one point the number of Aborigines fell as low as 60,000.

Today 99% of the population are of European or Asian descent, but calls for a formal apology for past injustices towards the Aborigines are still made. Indigenous Australians suffer high rates of unemployment, imprisonment and drug abuse.

The gradual dismantling of the "White Australia" immigration policy in the decades after World War II heralded an increase in the number of non-European arrivals.

Migration is booming these days, many immigrents coming into the nation, and very little coming out. Fortunately, the government owns massive amounts of land, so there is no need for "one child per couple" rule. The government is very kind to the so called "boat people", but in order to stay in the country, they must pass the citizen test, and must be able to speak basic english.

On the 4th of March Australia becmae a Democratic Republic, which caused some nodding of heads from many impearial states of GATO, but was over all deemed "A great step forward for the people". As the saying goes in Australia, "that's one small signiture for a President, but one giant 7 volume encyclopedia for a nation"

The sport-mad Australians are known for their uncomplicated friendliness; the 2000 Sydney Olympics were dubbed the "friendly Games".

President: Rowan Payne

Mr Payne's conservative coalition also won control of the Senate, enabling the smoother passage of legislation through the upper house.

Having won approval for the sale of the government's stake in the telecom giant Telstra, the President has in his sights labour reform and new laws on media ownership.

He allows "boat people" in, but makes them become citizens to stay in the nation.

The President has highlighted Australia's robust economy, and the trade agreement which saw Urainum and Gold into Australia's ports in 2006, as being among his government's key achievements.

He has also overseen Australia's growing role on the world stage, with the joining of GATO and being very active on the forums.

Rowan Payne's government has sought to redefine its relationship with Australia's Aborigines, proposing a system of "mutual obligation" regarding welfare payments.

Media

Mr.Payne has being working on inproving the media system in Austrlia since his election win. Since then, the economy has nearly doubled.

Many new laws have being made revolving around more free press.

Today, Austrlaia has one of the best media systems in the world.

Location

Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean Geographic coordinates: 27 00 S, 133 00 E Map references: Oceania Area: total: 7,686,850 sq km land: 7,617,930 sq km water: 68,920 sq km note: includes Lord Howe Island and Macquarie Island Area - Coastline: 25,760 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate

Generally arid to semiarid temperate in south and east, tropical in north Terrain, mostly low plateau with deserts, fertile plain in southeast.

Elevation extremes: Lowest point: Lake Eyre -15 m. Highest point: Mount Kosciuszko 2,229 m

Natural resources

Gems, coal.

There exist rumors of more resources, but no hard evidence has being made.

Arable land

6.55% (includes about 27 million hectares of cultivated grassland) permanent crops: 0.04% other: 93.41% (2001) Irrigated land: 24,000 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards

Cyclones along the coast ravage the top end of the nation, one of the worst cyclones on the world records was Cyclone Tracy, which hit Darwin on Christmas Eve, while everyone was sleeping.

Forest fires caused by terrible droughts inland have being known to burn tens of thousands of acaes of forest, destroy homes and even lighty burn the walls of Parliment House, Canberra. One of the worst forsest firs on record was "Black Friday" which burnt most of the Victorian Coastal town of Torquay, the death toll was in the thousands.

Environment

Current issues: soil erosion from overgrazing, industrial development, urbanization, and poor farming practices; soil salinity rising due to the use of poor quality water; desertification; clearing for agricultural purposes threatens the natural habitat of many unique animal and plant species; the Great Barrier Reef off the northeast coast, the largest coral reef in the world, is threatened by increased shipping and its popularity as a tourist site; limited natural fresh water resources

People

Population: 1000-3000 (July 2005 est.)

The people are known for they're happiness even though they have a high tax rate.

It is assumed that the happiness number is 13-16 at the moment.

The death rate is very low [no number provided do to privacy laws] and the fertility is increasinly high.

Life expectancy for the female is around 89-94 with the male at 86-89.

This very high number is do to the healthy lifes Australians live. Many citizens finish school, take a year off to save money, then go off to university. Most own their own house by 24-26.

Devorce is a rare occasion, but marriage is at a all time high, most citizens marrying at 23-27, but with great a relationship before marriage.

Depression is not very common with the people, and when it does happen, the people have great phone helplines to use, and free counceling is provided by the government to most cases by request.

Government

Administrative divisions: 6 states and 2 territories*; Australian Capital Territory*, New South Wales, Northern Territory*, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia Dependent areas: Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Norfolk Island, Macquarie Island

The Government is known for it's high taxes, and it's ability to keep the citizens happy.

The Government emplys Democratic principles to the Republican form of Goverment, in a nut shell.

Economy

Economy - overview: Australia has an enviable top 100 style capitalist economy, with a per capita GDP on par with the economies. Rising output in the domestic economy, robust business and consumer confidence, and rising exports of raw materials and agricultural products are fueling the economy. Australia's emphasis on reforms, low inflation, and growing ties with GATO resources are other key factors behind the economy's strength.

Australia is on par with most of the top 100 nations, and has being enrolled in the National Development Progamme in GATO.

National Hoildays

Along with all the previous public hoildays before the Republican Revoulution, new hoildays have being put in place.

"Republican Australia Day" is celebrated on the 7th of March, in celebration of the Republican Revoulution.

"GATO Day" is celebrated on the 23rd of January, in celebration of Australia joining GATO.

And "Fallout Day",celebrated on the 14th of March, in rememberence of the people of New England who died at the hands of a sick terrorist.

Nuclear Wepons

Some time in early 2006, the Australian Government anounced that the tax revenues were enough to start buying tech advancements everyday.

11 days later, Australia was reconised as a nation that may be able to develop nuclear wepons of mass descruction.

The Government realesed to the world that it was going to try and devleop Nuclear Wepons, but aborted the plan do to the slowing development of infrastructure because of the lack of funds.

The world does know that one day, Australia will have a Nuclear Wepon.

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: 10.815 million (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular: 1300 (2003)

Telephone system: general assessment: excellent domestic and international service domestic: domestic satellite system; much use of radiotelephone in areas of low population density; rapid growth of mobile cellular telephones international: country code - 61;

Satellite earth stations - 19 (10 Intelsat - 4 Indian Ocean and 6 Pacific Ocean, 2 Inmarsat - Indian and Pacific Ocean regions, 2 Globalstar, 5 other) (2005)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 262, FM 345, shortwave 1 (1998)

Television broadcast stations: 104 (1997)

Internet country code: .au Internet hosts: 2,847,763 (2003) Internet users: 1200 (2006)

Transportation

The transportation system in Australia is among the safest, cleanest and most efficent in the world.

Solar panels line the desert and power all 506 train tracks in the largest city, Decom, with many more high speed steam powered trains speeding the citizens around the three major cities, Canberra, Sydney and the largest, Decom.

There are many inner city trams that are a famous site on the streets of Decom. These are powered by hydrogen fuel developed in Australia's labs in Sydney.

The airport system for domestic flights was recentally bought by major train corp "Oz Train", who transerfed all planes to the international airport and closed down the domestic airport.

The government approved this because all citizens are using the railway system to get around the nation.

Military

The Australian Military consists of a standing army and a defense Military.

Both are fairly small, but Australia has a very low risk of invasion and has the might of GATO behind her.

Transnational Issues

Australia is still critisied about the war and occupation of the former "Shire".

Also, the President has being knowen for being a pretty "out there" GATO member.

But over all, Australia has being fairly without any issues.

==Alliances== Australia, upon it's foundering, became a member of The Global Alliance and Treaty Organisation, and plans to open a small unofficial alliance for the Australian nations.

Latest News

5th of March, 2006: The Democratic Republic Revoulution is completed.

9th of March, 2006: Nuclear Wepons programme begins.

11th of March, 2006: The President tells the press that the Nuclear Wepons Programme is draining funds, and still isn't getting enough.

14th of March, 2006: The Government abandons the Nuclear Wepons progamme.

15th of March, 2006: "Fallout Day" is reconised as a public hoilday in Australia.