| 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 |
1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies) |
| Area |
7.7 million sq km 2.9 million sq miles |
| Major language | English |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Life expectancy • For men • For women |
78 years 83 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 continues to shape Australia and is a politically-sensitive issue. The country has taken a tough stance on unauthorised arrivals. Asylum seekers are held in detention centres, which have been criticised at home and abroad, until their cases are heard.
A few weeks ago Australia becmae a Democratic Republic, which caused some nodding of heads from King Justin the Brave.
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.
World Fact book
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 - comparative: slightly smaller than the US contiguous 48 states Land boundaries: 0 km 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: bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, gold, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas, petroleum Land use: 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; severe droughts; forest fires 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 Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol Geography - note: world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country; population concentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts; the invigorating tropical sea breeze known as the "Fremantle Doctor" affects the city of Perth on the west coast, and is one of the most consistent winds in the world
People
Population: 1000-3000 (July 2005 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 19.8% (male 2,038,809/female 1,943,563) 15-64 years: 67.2% (male 6,815,600/female 6,695,189) 65 years and over: 12.9% (male 1,145,274/female 1,452,002) (2005 est.) Median age: total: 36.56 years male: 35.74 years female: 37.4 years (2005 est.) Population growth rate: 0.87% (2005 est.) Birth rate: 12.26 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) Death rate: 7.44 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) Net migration rate: 3.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 4.69 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.08 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 80.39 years male: 77.52 years female: 83.4 years (2005 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.76 children born/woman (2005 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (2003 est.) HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 14,000 (2003 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 200 (2003 est.) Nationality: noun: Australian(s) adjective: Australian Ethnic groups: Caucasian 92%, Asian 7%, aboriginal and other 1% Religions: Catholic 26.4%, Anglican 20.5%, other Christian 20.5%, Buddhist 1.9%, Muslim 1.5%, other 1.2%, unspecified 12.7%, none 15.3% (2001 Census) Languages: English 79.1%, Chinese 2.1%, Italian 1.9%, other 11.1%, unspecified 5.8% (2001 Census) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% (1980 est.)
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 is consistently growing.
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: 14.347 million (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; submarine cables to New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia; 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: 9.472 million (2002)
Transportation
Airports: 448 (2004 est.) Airports - with paved runways: total: 308 over 3,047 m: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 133 914 to 1,523 m: 140 under 914 m: 13 (2005 est.) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 142 1,524 to 2,437 m: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 110 under 914 m: 14 (2005 est.) Heliports: 1 (2005 est.) Pipelines: condensate/gas 492 km; gas 28,680 km; liquid petroleum gas 240 km; oil 4,773 km; oil/gas/water 110 km (2004) Railways: total: 54,439 km (3859 km electrified) broad gauge: 5,434 km 1.600-m gauge standard gauge: 34,110 km 1.435-m gauge (1,397 km electrified) narrow gauge: 14,895 km 1.067-m gauge (2,462 km electrified) dual gauge: 213 km dual gauge (2004) Roadways: total: 811,601 km paved: 316,524 km unpaved: 495,077 km (2002) Waterways: 2,000 km (mainly used for recreation on Murray and Murray-Darling river systems) (2004) Merchant marine: total: 55 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,531,461 GRT/1,999,409 DWT by type: bulk carrier 16, cargo 7, chemical tanker 3, container 1, liquefied gas 4, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 8, roll on/roll off 5 foreign-owned: 16 (France 1, Germany 3, Japan 1, Philippines 1, Saudi Arabia 1, United Kingdom 2, United States 7) registered in other countries: 35 (2005) Ports and terminals: Brisbane, Dampier, Fremantle, Gladstone, Hay Point, Melbourne, Newcastle, Port Hedland, Port Kembla, Port Walcott, Sydney
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, he has being knowen for being a pretty "out there" GATO member.
==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.