Oceania Continent

Australia

Its a country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area. Neighboring countries include Indonesia, East Timor and Papua New Guinea to the north; the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New Caledonia to the north-east; and New Zealand to the south-east.

NATIONAL SYMBOLS Flags When the Australian colonies federated to form the Commonwealth of Australia on 1 January 1901, the British flag had been the official flag for more than 100 years. The birth of a new nation created the opportunity to develop an emblem that represented Australia alone. An official competition for a design attracted 32 823 entries. Five of these, which contained almost identical designs, were placed equal first. Apart from later changes in the sizes of the stars and the number of points, these joint winners had produced the present Australian flag. The Australian national flag symbolizes Australias historical links with Britain (represented on the flag by the British flag, known most commonly by the nickname Union Jack) and Australias location in the southern hemisphere (represented on the flag by stars of the Southern Cross). The larger seven-pointed star represents the six original states and the territories of the Commonwealth. Other official flags of Australia include the Australian Aboriginal flag, the Torres Strait Islander flag and the respective flags of the states and territories.

National Colors Green and gold were proclaimed Australias national colors by the Governor-General on 19 April 1984. Before the proclamation Australia had no official colors, although three color combinations traditionally had a claim to be Australias national colors: red, white and blue; blue and gold; and green and gold. The colors red, white and blue were featured in the first coat of arms of the Commonwealth in 1908 and are the colors of the Australian national flag. The colors blue and gold have heraldic significance as they are the colors of the crest of the present Commonwealth coat of arms. The colors green and gold were popularly used as the national colors even before the official proclamation. They have been used in Australian and international sporting events since the nineteenth century and have been associated with many great sporting achievements since.

Floral Emblem The golden wattle was proclaimed the official national floral emblem in August 1988. It is a spreading shrub or small tree, which grows in the understory of open forest, woodland and open scrub in South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.

Since 1912, on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, Andrew Fisher, wattle has been included as the decoration surrounding the Commonwealth coat of arms and it has also been used in the design of Australian stamps and many awards in the Australian honors system.

Coat Of Arms The present Australian coat of arms was granted by King George V in 1912. It consists of a shield containing the badges of the six Australian states, enclosed by an ermine border. The shield is a symbol for the federation of the states, which took place in 1901. The crest, which is the device above the shield and helmet, is a sevenpointed gold star on a blue and gold wreath. Six of the points represent each of the states of the Commonwealth; the seventh point represents the Australias territories. The supporters of the shield are native Australian animals: the red kangaroo (Macropus rufus) and the emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae). Usually the coat of arms is depicted on a background of sprays of golden wattle (Acacia pycnantha) with a scroll beneath it containing the word Australia. The wattle and scroll, however, are not part of the armorial design and are not mentioned in the Royal Warrant of 1912. The first official coat of arms of Australia was granted by a Royal Warrant of King Edward VII in 1908. This coat of arms was used on some Australian coins even after it was superseded in 1912, and last appeared on the sixpenny piece in 1966. The Australian Government uses the coat of arms to authenticate documents and for other official purposes. Its uses range from embellishing the Australian passport to forming part of all Australian government departmental insignias. (See also the fact sheet on Australias coat of arms.) Australia has never adopted any official faunal or bird emblem, but, by popular tradition, the kangaroo and emu are widely accepted as such. Australia has no official motto. For many years, the motto Advance Australia appeared on unofficial coats of arms, even before the federation of the states in 1901. It was included in the 1908 arms, and was popularly accepted in association with the 19th century song Advance Australia Fair. A revised version of this song became Australias official national anthem in 1984 (see fact sheet on the Australian national anthem).

GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE Australia's landmass of 7,617,930 square kilometers (2,941,300 sq mi) is on the Indo-Australian Plate. Surrounded by the Indian and Pacific oceans, it is separated from Asia by the Arafura and Timor seas, with the Coral Sea lying off the Queensland coast, and the Tasman Sea lying between Australia and New Zealand. The world's smallest continent and sixth largest country by total area, Australiaowing to its size and isolationis often dubbed the "island continent", and is sometimes considered the world's largest island. Australia has 34,218 kilometers (21,262 mi) of coastline (excluding all offshore islands), and claims an extensive Exclusive Economic Zone of 8,148,250 square kilometers (3,146,060 sq mi). This exclusive economic zone does not include the Australian Antarctic Territory. Excluding Macquarie Island, Australia lies between latitudes 9 and44S, and longitudes 112 and 154E. The Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef, lies a short distance off the north-east coast and extends for over 2,000 kilometers (1,240 mi). Mount Augustus, claimed to be the world's largest monolith, is located in Western Australia. At 2,228 meters (7,310 ft), Mount Kosciuszko on the Great Dividing Range is the highest mountain on the Australian mainland. Even taller are Mawson Peak (at 2,745 meters or 9,006 feet), on the remote Australian territory of Heard Island, and, in the Australian Antarctic Territory, Mount McClintock and Mount Menzies, at 3,492 meters (11,457 ft) and 3,355 meters (11,007 ft) respectively. Australia's size gives it a wide variety of landscapes, with subtropical rain forests in the north-east, mountain ranges in the south-east, south-west and east areas, and a dry desert in its centre. It is the flattest continent, with the oldest and least fertile soils; desert or semi-arid land commonly known as the outback makes up by far the largest portion of land. The driest inhabited continent, only its southeast and south-west corners have a temperate climate. The population density, 2.8 inhabitants per square kilometer, is among the lowest in the world, although a large proportion of the population lives along the temperate south-eastern coastline. Eastern Australia is marked by the Great Dividing Range that runs parallel to the coast of Queensland, New South Wales, and much of Victoria although the name is not strictly accurate, as in parts the range consists of low hills and the highlands are typically no more than 1,600 meters (5,249 ft) in height. The coastal uplands and a belt of Brigalow grasslands lay between the coast and the mountains, while inland of the dividing range are large areas of grassland. These include the western plains of New South Wales, and the Einasleigh Uplands, Barkly Tableland, and Mulga Lands of inland Queensland. The northern point of the east coast is the tropical rain forested Cape York Peninsula. The landscapes of the northern part of the countrythe Top End and the Gulf Country behind the Gulf of Carpentaria, with their tropical climateconsist of woodland, grassland, and desert. At the north-west corner of the continent are the sandstone cliffs and gorges of The Kimberley, and below that the Pilbara.

South and inland of these lay more areas of grassland: the Ord Victoria Plain and the Western Australian Mulga shrublands. At the heart of the country are the uplands of central Australia; prominent features of the centre and south include the inland Simpson, Tirari and Sturt Stony, Gibson, Great Sandy, Tanami, and Great Victoria deserts, with the famous Nullarbor Plain on the southern coast. The climate of Australia is significantly influenced by ocean currents, including the Indian Ocean Dipole and the El Nio-Southern Oscillation, which is correlated with periodic drought, and the seasonal tropical low pressure system that produces cyclones in northern Australia. These factors induce rainfall to vary markedly from year to year. Much of the northern part of the country has a tropical predominantly summer rainfall (monsoon) climate. The southwest corner of the country has a Mediterranean climate. Much of the southeast (including Tasmania) is temperate.

ENVIRONMENT Although most of Australia is semi-arid or desert, it includes a diverse range of habitats from alpine heaths to tropical rainforests, and is recognized as a mega diverse country. Because of the continent's great age, extremely variable weather patterns, and long-term geographic isolation, much of Australia's biota is unique and diverse. About 85 per cent of flowering plants, 84 per cent of mammals, more than 45 per cent of birds, and 89 per cent of in-shore, temperate-zone fish are endemic. Australia has the greatest number of reptiles of any country, with 755 species. Australian forests are mostly made up of evergreen species; particularly eucalyptus trees in the less arid regions, wattles replace them in drier regions and deserts as the most dominant species. Among well-known Australian fauna are the monotremes (the platypus and echidna); a host of marsupials, including the kangaroo, koala, and wombat, and birds such as the emu and the kookaburra. Australia is home to many dangerous animals including some of the most venomous snakes in the world. The dingo was introduced by Austronesian people who traded with Indigenous Australians around 3000BCE. Many plant and animal species became extinct soon after first human settlement, including the Australian mega fauna; others have disappeared since European settlement, among them the thylacine. Many of Australia's ecoregions, and the species within those regions, are threatened by human activities and introduced plant and animal species. The federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 is the legal framework for the protection of threatened species. Numerous protected areas have been created under the National Strategy for the Conservation of Australia's Biological Diversity to protect and preserve unique ecosystems; 65 wetlands are listed under the Ramsar Convention, and 16

natural World Heritage Sites have been established. Australia was ranked 51st of 163 countries in the world on the 2010 Environmental Performance Index. Climate change has become an increasing concern in Australia in recent years, and protection of the environment is a major political issue. In 2007, the Rudd Government signed the instrument of ratification of the Kyoto Protocol. Nevertheless, Australia's carbon dioxide emissions per capita are among the highest in the world, lower than those of only a few other industrialized nations. Rainfall in Australia has slightly increased over the past century, both nationwide and for two quadrants of the nation, According to the Bureau of Meteorology's 2011 Australian Climate Statement, Australia had lower than average temperatures in 2011 as a consequence of a La Nina weather pattern, however, "the country's 10-year average continues to demonstrate the rising trend in temperatures, with 20022011 likely to rank in the top two warmest 10-year periods on record for Australia, at 0.52 C above the long-term average". Water restrictions are frequently in place in many regions and cities of Australia in response to chronic shortages due to urban population increases and localized drought Throughout much of the continent, major flooding regularly follows extended periods of drought, flushing out inland river systems, overflowing dams and inundating large inland flood plains, as occurred throughout Eastern Australia in 2010, 2011 and 2012 after the 2000s Australian drought.

FLORA AND FAUNA Flora Most of the Gondwanan forests were replaced by tough-leaved open forests of eucalypts and acacias. Some isolated remnants of the ancient Gondwanan forests remain. These include the cool and warm temperate rainforests of Tasmania and eastern Australia and the dry rainforests or scrub forests of northern Australia. These forests have high conservation values. In 1994, the Wollemi Pine was found in a remote valley in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales. It is believed to be representative of a now extinct group of trees that existed at the time of the dinosaurs, making it a species that has been around for 65 million years. There are now an estimated 20 000 vascular and 7700 non-vascular plants, and 250 000 species of fungi in Australia. Plants include living fossils such as the cycad palm and the grass tree, and brilliant wildflowers such as the waratah, Sturts desert pea, banksia and kangaroo paws. Australia has over 1000 species of acacia, which Australians call wattle, and around 2800 species in the Myrtaceae family, which includes eucalypts (or gum trees) and melaleucas.

Wildflowers, including everlasting daisies, turn the arid and savanna grassland areas of Australia into carpets of color after rain. Native forests are limited to wetter coastal districts, and rainforests are found mainly in Queensland. The high diversity of flora includes large numbers of species in ecologically significant genera such as Acacia, Eucalyptus, Melaleuca, Grevillea and Allocasuarina. Acacias tend to dominate in drier inland parts of Australia, while eucalypts dominate in wetter parts. Australias unique flora includes the Proteaceae family of Banksia, Dryandra, Grevillea, Hakea and Telopea (waratah). The most common vegetation types today are those that have adapted to arid conditions, where the land has not been cleared for agriculture. The dominant type of vegetation in Australia23 per centis the hummock grasslands in Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory. In the east eucalypt woodlands are prevalent, and in the west there are Acacia forests, woodlands and shrublands. Tussock grasslands are found largely in Queensland.

Fauna In Australia there are more than 378 species of mammals, 828 species of birds, 300 species of lizards, 140 species of snakes and two species of crocodiles. Of the mammals, almost half are marsupials. The rest are either placental mammals or monotremes. Among Australias best-known animals are the kangaroo, koala, echidna, dingo, platypus, wallaby and wombat. Australia has more than 140 species of marsupials, including kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, wombats and the Tasmanian Devil, which is now found only in Tasmania. There are 55 different species of kangaroos and wallabies macropods native to Australia. Macropods vary greatly in size and weight, ranging from half a kilogram to 90 kilograms. The main difference between wallabies and kangaroos is in size wallabies tend to be smaller. Some stand as tall as humans and others are as small as domestic cats. In many rural areas where their populations are high, kangaroos are regarded as pests because they compete with sheep and cattle for scarce pasture and water. Kangaroo harvesting contributes to the sustainability of the Australian environment. Estimates of Australias kangaroo population vary between 30 and 60 million. The dingo is Australias native wild dog and its largest carnivorous mammal. In some pastoral areas, dingoes are also regarded as pests due to the threat they pose to sheep and other farm animals. In an effort to keep fertile south-east

Australia relatively free of dingoes, the worlds largest fence was built, spanning 5320 kilometers from Queensland to South Australia. Australia hosts another unique animal group, the monotremes, which are egg-laying mammals, often referred to as living fossils. The most distinctive is the platypus, a riverdwelling animal with a duck-like bill, a furry body and webbed feet. Of the 828 bird species listed in Australia, about half are found nowhere else. Isolation has also contributed to the development and survival of unusual birds. These range from tiny honeyeaters to the large, flightless emu, which stands nearly two meters tall. In between is a vast array of waterbirds, seabirds and birds that dwell in open woodlands and forests. Some outstanding examples are cassowaries, black swans, fairy penguins, kookaburras, lyrebirds and currawongs. There are 55 species of parrots in Australia. Many of these birds are as numerous as they are colorful, including a spectacular variety of cockatoos, rosellas, lorikeets, cockatiels, parakeets and budgerigars. Australia has more species of venomous snakes than any other continent (21 of the worlds 25 deadliest snakes). Fear of snake bites is common among people planning to travel in Australia. However, bites are rare and most often occur when a snake is deliberately provoked by a human. Australias diverse oceans support around 4000 of the worlds 22 000 types of fish, as well as 30 of the worlds 58 seagrass species. Australia is also home to the worlds largest coral reef system, the UNESCO World Heritage -listed Great Barrier Reef. Marine species of note include the predatory great white shark, which grows up to six meters in length; the giant filter-feeding whale shark, which can reach lengths of 12 meters; the bluebottle or Portuguese man-of-war, which is a common hazard at many Australian beaches; and the box jellyfish, which is one of the most venomous animals in the world.

KANGAROOS The kangaroo is one of Australias most iconic animals, and most species are endemic to Australia. There are over 60 different species of kangaroo and their close relatives, with all kangaroos belonging to the super family Macropodoidea (or macropods, meaning great-footed). The super family is divided into the Macropodidae and the Potoroidae families. The Macropodidae (macropod) family includes kangaroos, wallabies, wallaroos, pademelons, tree-kangaroos and forest wallabies. Species in the macropod family vary greatly in size and weight, ranging from 0.5 kilograms to 90 kilograms. The Potoroinae (potoroid) family of kangaroos includes the potoroo, bettong and rat-kangaroo, which live only in Australia.

Kangaroos of different types live in all areas of Australia, from cold-climate areas and desert plains, to tropical rainforests and beaches.

ECONOMY Today, Australias economy has truly reflected this condition. Prior to the 1970s much of Australias trade was held with the European and North American markets. During this period, Australia was also considered as a relatively closed and protectionist economy. However, as key economic reforms were gradually being introduced by the Australian government, the Australian economy also started to turn their attention away from trade with the Western markets to trade within the Asia Pacific region. This shift has turned Australia into one of the fastest growing advanced economies in the world. Australia is the 13th largest economy in the world according to nominal GDP (current prices) and the 17th largest according to GDP (PPP). In 2010, Australias GDP (PPP) was US$882.344 billion a 3.94 percent increase from 2009. Australias nominal GDP (current prices, US dollars) growth during the same period was even more amazing GDP (current prices, US dollars) grew from US$994.25 billion in 2009 to US$1.219 trillion, a 22.68 percent increase. In the past two decades, Australia has enjoyed a period of uninterrupted economic growth an average of 3.3 percent in real GDP growth annually. Australia possesses a well-diversified economy boosted by the strength of its services and resources industries.

TOURISM IN AUSTRALIA Tourism is an important industry for the Australian economy. In the financial year 2010/11, the tourism industry represented 2.5% of Australia's GDP at a value of approximately A$35 billion to the national economy. This is equivalent to tourism contributing $94.8 million a day to the Australian economy. Domestic tourism is a significant part of the tourism industry, and was responsible for 73% of the total direct tourism GDP. The 2010-11 financial year saw a record number of overseas arrivals in the financial year, with 5.9 million short-term visitor arrivals to Australia (or 588 extra visitors a day extra). Tourism employed 513,700 people in Australia in 2010-11, or which 43.7% of total tourism employed persons were part-time. Tourism also contributed 8.0% of Australia's total export earnings in 2010-11. Popular Australian destinations include the coastal cities of Sydney and Melbourne, as well as other high profile destinations including regional Queensland, the Gold Coast and the Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest reef. Uluru and the Australian outback are other popular locations, as

is Tasmanian wilderness. The unique Australian wildlife is also another significant point of interest in the country's tourism.

Types Of Tourists. International Tourists New Zealand tourists make up a distinctive part of the Australian tourism market, usually taking short package tours which concentrate heavily on the iconic sights (typically Sydney, Uluru, Gold Coast and Cairns), and viewing Australian native animals (particularly the koala).

Backpackers Another major source of tourists to Australia include backpackers, mostly young people from Western European countries (particularly the United Kingdom) and North America. Spending more time in Australia, these travelers tend to explore considerably more of the country. Many backpackers participate in working holidays enabling them to stay longer in the country. Working holiday visas for Australia are available for those aged 18 to 30 for most Western European citizens, and also citizens of Canada and some developed East Asian nations such as Japan and South Korea.

Domestic Tourism Australians are big domestic travellers as well, with a profusion of seaside resort towns in every state (many located on or near good surfing beaches), mountain retreats, plentiful national parks, rivers, fishing locations, wine growing regions, as well as domestic visitation of the major tourist spots. Domestic tourism peaks during the Australian school holidays.

Major Attractions The Great Barrier Reef attracts up to two million visitors every year. Careful management, which includes permits for camping and all commercial marine tourism within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, has so far insured that tourists have a very minimal impact on the reef.

Events Major events attract a large number of tourists. The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is an annual event that attractions thousands of international tourists. The 2000 Sydney Olympics resulted in significant inbound and domestic tourism to Sydney. During the games, Sydney hosted 362,000 domestic and 110,000 international visitors. In addition, up to 4 billion people watched the games worldwide. The 2003 Rugby World Cup attracted 65,000 international visitors to Australia. Schoolies Week is an annual celebration of Year 12 school leavers in late November, many of whom travel to the Gold Coast, where in 2011 they were expected to boost the economy by $60 million

The Most Popular Cities Destination Sydney. Australia forms an important part of the city's economy. The city received 7 million domestic visitors and 2.7 million international visitors in year ending Dec 2010, making it the 42nd most visited city in the world. The most well known attractions include the Sydney Opera House, and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Other attractions include Royal Botanical Gardens, Luna Park, the beaches and Sydney Tower.

Melbourne. Located in southeastern Australia, is a major Australian tourist destination as well as the country's second most populous city. In 2009, the city was visited by approximately 15.9 million domestic and 1.4 million international tourists. Melbourne features a wide variety of tourist activities, such as sporting events and cultural and fashion events. In 2008, Melbourne exceeded Sydney for the first time in terms of money spent by domestic tourists on a per capita basis. However, in overall tourist revenue, Melbourne earned considerably less.

Brisbane. Is an important industry for the Queensland economy with approximately 4.6 million domestic visitors and 0.9 million international visitors in year-end March 2008. Brisbane was named as one of the top 5 Billboard music hotspots for 2007.

Perth. Is an important part of Western Australia's economy, with approximately 2.8 million domestic visitors and 0.7 million international visitors in the year ending March 2012.

PEOPLE, CULTURE AND LIFESTYLE Australias diverse culture and lifestyle reflect its liberal democratic traditions and values, geographic closeness to the AsiaPacific region and the social and cultural influences of the millions of migrants who have settled in Australia since World War II. Australia is a product of a unique blend of established traditions and new influences. The countrys original inhabitants, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, are the custodians of one of the worlds oldest continuing cultur al traditions. They have been living in Australia for at least 40 000 years and possibly up to 60 000 years. The rest of Australias people are migrants or descendants of migrants who have arrived in Australia from about 200 countries since Great Britain established the first European settlement at Sydney Cove in 1788. In 1945, Australias population was around 7 million people and was mainly AngloCeltic. Since then, more than 6.5 million migrants, including 675 000 refugees, have settled in Australia, significantly broadening its social and cultural profile. Today Australia has a population of nearly 23 million people. At 2009, about 25.6 per cent of the estimated resident population comprised those born overseas. Australian Bureau of Statistics projections from the 2006 census of the numbers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people suggest and Indigenous population of 575,552 people at 30 June 2011. Many of the people who have come to Australia since 1945 were motivated by a commitment to family, or a desire to escape poverty, war or persecution. The first waves of migrants and refugees came mostly from Europe. Subsequent waves have come from the AsiaPacific region, the Middle East and Africa. Migrants have enriched almost every aspect of Australian life, from business to the arts, from cooking to comedy and from science to sport. They, in turn, have adapted to Australias tolerant, informal and broadly egalitarian society.

SHARED VALUES The defining feature of todays Australia is not only the cultural diversity of its people, but the extent to which they are united by an overriding and unifying commitment to Australia. Within the framework of Australias laws, all Australians have the right to express their culture and beliefs and to participate freely in Australias national life. At the same time, everyone is expected to uphold the principles and shared values that support Australias way of life. These include: Respect for equal worth, dignity and freedom of the individual Freedom of speech and association Freedom of religion and a secular government Support for parliamentary democracy and the rule of law Equality under the law Equality of men and women Equality of opportunity Peacefulness A spirit of egalitarianism that embraces tolerance, mutual respect, and compassion for those in need. Australia also holds firmly to the belief that no one should be disadvantaged on the basis of their country of birth, cultural heritage, language, gender or religious belief.

AN EGALITARIAN SOCIETY In most practical ways, Australia is an egalitarian society. This does not mean that everyone is the same or that everybody has equal wealth or property. But it does mean that there are no formal or entrenched class distinctions in Australian society, as there are in some other countries. It also means that with hard work and commitment, people without high-level connections or influential patrons can realize their ambitions. The unemployment rate is relatively low (in December 2007 it was 4.3 per cent) and the gross per capita income is around $39 000. All people are equal under the law in Australia and all Australians have the right to be respected and treated in a fair manner.

A TYPICAL AUSTRALIAN? Given the diverse nature of todays Australia, some people question whether there is a typical Australian. There is, of course, no shortage of popular stereotypes, some of which contradict each other.

For example, some people see Australians as egalitarian, irreverent people with a deep suspicion of authority while others regard them as mostly law-abiding and even conformist. Some people, particularly those living overseas, believe Australians live mainly in country areas, the Australian outback or the bush. In fact, more than 75 per cent of Australians live a cosmopolitan lifestyle in urban centers, mainly in the capital cities along the coast. Others see Australians as people who live in a lucky country who love their leisure, particularly sport, both as spectators and as participants. In fact, Australians are among the hardest-working people in the world with some of the longest working hours in the developed world. Another common perception of Australians is that they are informal, open and direct and say what they mean. They are also seen as people who believe in the principle of giving people a fair go and standing up for their mates, the disadvantaged and the underdog. Many of these popular images have some truth to them and most Australians conform to at least some of them. But Australians, like people everywhere, cannot be so easily stereotyped. There are typical Australians everywhere. But they are not all the same.

LANGUAGE All people in Australia are encouraged to learn English, which is the national language and an important unifying element of Australian society. However, languages other than English are also valued. In fact, more than 15 per cent of Australians speak languages other than English at home. The most commonly spoken languages after English are Italian, Greek, Cantonese, Arabic, Vietnamese and Mandarin. Australians speak more than 200 languages, including Indigenous Australian languages.

AUSTRALIAN ENGLISH While English is Australias national language, there are certain words and expressions that have become regarded as uniquely Australian through common usage. Some of them might seem strange to non-Australians. The use of these colloquial or slang words, often coupled with an Australian sense of humor that is characterized by irony and irreverence, can sometimes cause confusion for international visitors. There are a number of books on Australian colloquialisms and slang, including the Macquarie Book of Slang.

RELIGIOUS WORSHIP Australia is a predominantly Christian country, with around 64 per cent of all Australians identifying as Christians. However, most other major religious faiths are also practiced, reflecting Australias culturally diverse society. Australias earliest religions or spiritual beliefs date back to t he Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, who have inhabited Australia for between 40 000 and 60 000 years. Indigenous Australians have their own unique religious traditions and spiritual values. Australia has no official state religion and people are free to practice any religion they choose, as long as they obey the law. Australians are also free not to have a religion.

VIBRANT ARTS SCENE Australia has a vibrant arts scene that reflects both the nations Indigenous cultural traditions and its rich mosaic of migrant cultures. All forms of the visual and performing arts have strong followings, including film, art, theatre, dance and music. According to one survey, almost 13 million or 88 per cent of adult Australians attend at least one cultural event or performance every year. The most popular art form is film, attended by about 70 per cent of the population each year. More than 26 per cent attend a popular music concert; 25 per cent go to an art gallery or museum; 19 per cent see an opera or musical; 18 per cent attend live theatre; 11 per cent attend a dance performance; and 9 per cent attend a classical music concert. Visual artists have played an important role in shaping and reflecting Australias image. They range from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists to the nationalist painters of the Heidelberg School in Victoria, symbolic surrealists such as Sidney Nolan, Arthur Boyd and Albert Tucker and modern artists reflecting issues confronting contemporary Australia. Other notable Australian artists include John Brack, William Dobell, Russell Drysdale, Margaret Olley, John Olsen, Margaret Preston, Clifton Pugh, Jeffrey Smart, Brett Whiteley and Fred Williams. Australia has a strong literary tradition, which started with the storytelling of Indigenous Australians and continued with the oral stories of convicts arriving in Australia in the late 18th century. Australia has one Nobel Prize for Literature to its credit, with novelist Patrick White receiving the award in 1973. Other recent Australian novelists whose work has a particularly Australian flavor include Peter Carey, Bryce Courtenay, Kate Grenville, Elizabeth Jolley, Thomas Keneally, Christopher Koch, David Malouf, Colleen McCullough, Christina Stead, Morris West and Tim Winton.

A SPORTING CULTURE Australians love their sport, both playing it and watching it. Australia has often achieved impressive results at the elite level. In the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, Australia ranked fourth overall in the medal tally behind the United States, China and Russia. In the 2006 Football World Cup, Australia reached the final 16. Australia is also ranked the top cricketing nation in the world. But its not just at this top level that Australians enjoy their sport. A recent national survey showed that more than 11 million Australians aged 15 or over participated at least once a week in physical activity for exercise, recreation and sporta participation rate of almost 70 per cent. The 10 most popular physical activities were walking, aerobics/fitness, swimming, cycling, tennis, golf, running, bushwalking, football (often referred to as soccer in Australia) and netball. Other popular sporting activities include Australian football, rugby, hockey, basketball, baseball, car racing, horse racing, sailing and snow skiing. The most watched sports in Australia include Australian Rules Football, a uniquely Australian game with roots traceable to early forms of rugby and Gaelic football, rugby league, rugby union and cricket. The Australian Open, held in Melbourne, is one of tenniss four Grand Slam events. Australia has more than 120 national sporting organizations and thousands of state and local bodies.

A NATIONAL CUISINE? Australia has one of the most diverse cuisines in the world, thanks to Asian and European migrant influences, a dining public that is happy to try innovative dishes and access to a plentiful supply of fresh and highquality produce. Australia, one of the worlds most efficient agricultural nations, produces highquality vegetables, fruit and grains, meat, poultry, seafood, and cheeses and other dairy products. In addition, many new industries have been established to accommodate the growing Australian taste for exotic foods, including Asian greens, nashi pears, lychees, olives and herbs. Aquaculture products such as farmed Atlantic salmon and southern bluefin tuna are now available as well as the great range of seafood that comes from the ocean surrounding Australia, including Moreton Bay bugs (shellfish), banana prawns, barramundi f ish and oysters. Australians enjoy a huge range of food in restaurants and homes, reflecting the countrys cultural diversity. Southern Europe has combined with Asia and the Pacific for new flavors and tastes. Italian, Chinese, Indonesian, Japanese, Greek, Thai, Malay, French and Vietnamese restaurants are common, particularly in the capital cities. Middle Eastern flavors are also rapidly emerging, with Moroccan and

Lebanese flavors being used with local ingredients in mainstream cooking with notable success. Traditional Australian bush tucker is also becoming more common, particularly in northern Australian restaurants, where kangaroo, buffalo, crocodile and emu can often be found on menus. Historically, there has never been a cuisine typically regarded as Australian. Instead, Australian fare has evolved with the distinct layers of flavors that each new culture has added. Homesick expatriate Australians sometimes hanker for Australian food such as lamingtons (a sponge cake square dipped in chocolate and coconut), pavlovas (a meringue dessert named after the Russian ballet dancer Anna Pavlova) and vegemite (a commercially produced spread made from yeast products). The Australian wine sector is recognized internationally as producing a full range of high-quality wine styles and varietals to match any dish, from full-bodied reds and deep fruity whites to sparkling, dessert and fortified wines.

OBEYING THE LAW Community behavior in Australia is governed by a combination of formal laws and informal social customs. All people in Australia must obey the nations laws or face the possibility of criminal prosecution or civil action. People are also expected to generally observe Australian social customs, habits and practices even though they are not normally legally binding. Serious criminal offences include murder, assault, sexual assault, paedophilia, violence against people or property, armed robbery or theft, dangerous driving of a motor car, possession and use of illegal drugs, fraud, and having sexual relations with young people who are aged below the legal age of consent, which is 16 in New South Wales but varies from state to state. Smoking tobacco and drinking alcohol are not illegal, but there are many restrictions on their public use. It is against the law for any person to sell or supply alcohol or tobacco products to a person under the age of 18 years. There are also laws against mistreating or neglecting animals, carrying weapons such as knives or guns, littering, polluting or disposing of wastes without permission and creating excessive noise. There is no death penalty in Australia.

WARM CLIMATE, INFORMAL PEOPLE Australia is so large that it experiences most climatic conditions, from tropical monsoons to hot, dry weather and snow. Generally, however, the climate is warm and temperate, particularly in the major coastal cities. This relatively benign climate has resulted in a country where people spend a good deal of time outdoors at beaches, in the countryside or on sporting fields as either spectators or participants. Australians tend to be gregarious and outgoing. Most are relatively informal socially and in their relationships with acquaintances and work colleagues. In the workplace and among friends, Australians generally call each other by their first names. But this informality does not extend to physical contact. When meeting someone for the first time, it is usual to shake the persons right hand with your right hand. People who do not know each other generally do not kiss or hug when meeting. Australians queue or line up when waiting to be served in a shop, a bank, a government department, a cinema, or anywhere that a number of people are all seeking a service at the same time. Australians generally wait until it is their turn to be served or attended to. Being on time for meetings and appointments is important.

CLOTHING The types of clothing that people wear reflect the diversity in Australian society and the variations in climate. There are no laws or rules on clothing, but Australians are expected to wear certain clothing in work situations most workplaces have dress standards. Outside the work situation, clothing is a personal choice people dress for comfort, the social situation or the weather. Clubs, movie theatres and other places require people to dress in neat, clean clothes and wear appropriate footwear. Australia does not have an official national dress.

CELEBRATIONS AND HOLIDAYS Most workers in Australia have around 12 national and state public holidays throughout the year, in addition to their annual holidays. These include: New Years Day, which is on 1 January every year. The most common time for people in Australia to take their annual leave is between mid-December and the end of January.

Christmas and Easter, two of the most important dates in the Christian calendar. Christmas Day is on 25 December every year, while Easter is observed at some point between late March and late April each year. Boxing Day, the day after Christmas Day, is also a public holiday. Australia Day, on 26 January, is the day Australians celebrate the founding of the first European settlement in Australia in 1788. Anzac Day, on 25 April, is the day the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (Anzac) landed at Gallipoli in Turkey in 1915 during World War I. This day is set aside in memory of those who fought for Australia and those who lost their lives in war. The day is a national public holiday and is commemorated with ceremonies, the laying of wreaths and military parades. There are also a number of other non-national holidays which are celebrated only in specific states and territories (or celebrated in all states, but at different times of the year). These include Labor (or Eight-Hour) Day and the official birthday of Queen Elizabeth. Melbourne Cup Day, which occurs on the first Tuesday of November each year, is a public holiday in metropolitan Melbourne. The Melbourne Cup is a worldfamous horse race which brings Australia almost to a standstill. For a few minutes, most people, whether at work, school or home, stop to watch the race on television.

AUSTRALIAN TRANSPORT ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION

SAFETY

BUREAU:

LEADER

IN

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is an operationally independent body that has investigated, analyzed and reported on transport safety since 1999. It operates within a defined legal framework and is a business division within the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. The ATSB undertakes independent accident and incident investigations and analyses of safety data. It has a clear organizational separation from transport regulators such as the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, Airservices Australia (Australias air traffic service provider), rail authorities, and other parties that may need to be investigated. The Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003 (TSI Act) and associated regulations came into force on 1 July 2003. It updated the ATSBs powers of aviation and marine investigation and extended them to include the defined interstate rail network. The Act reinforces the ATSBs operational independence to

conduct no blame safety investigations. It also emphasises the importance placed on cooperation with other Australian Government and state bodies including regulators and state coroners as an appropriate way to improve system safety. Australia is a member of the 36-strong council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) which is made up of 190 states (countries), and has frequently assisted with international investigations, including through analysis of black box data. Like the US National Transportation Safety Board and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, the ATSB is a member of the International Transportation Safety Association (ITSA) and the International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI). In marine transportation, the ATSB is an active member of the Marine Accident Investigators International Federation (MAIIF) and the Flag State Implementation Subcommittee of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Aviation The ATSB is responsible for independent investigations of accidents, incidents and safety deficiencies involving civil aircraft in Australia. This role is performed under the Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003. A policy of selective investigation is followed. Resources are concentrated on detailed analysis of occurrences which offers the greatest potential to enhance aviation safety. The ATSB is also empowered to assist in investigations of accidents and serious incidents involving Australian-registered aircraft overseas. All accidents and incidents related to flight safety in Australia or by Australian operators must be reported to the ATSB and they are incorporated into a safety database. The ATSB also administers an aviation confidential safety reporting process. The ATSB conducts aviation safety research in accord with obligations to the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago 1944) under Annex 13 and publishes research reports into its findings, which may include recommendations for the improvement of aviation safety.

Marine Marine transport accounts for the majority of Australian cargo imports and exports, and plays a major role in interstate trade. Marine investigations are conducted into incidents suspected to have occurred to Australian registered ships anywhere in the world, foreign flagships within the Australian territorial sea, or where evidence related to an accident is found in Australia. Marine incidents, as defined by the Transport Safety Investigation Regulations 2003 include:

death or serious injury aboard a ship the ship being lost, presumed lost or abandoned the ship being stranded or disabled the ship being involved in a collision

The ATSBs marine investigation reports and other safety and educational material are widely distributed. Specific campaigns are conducted to promote marine safety and enhance industry awareness in Australia and internationally. The ATSB also administers a marine confidential safety reporting process. Rail The Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003 enables the ATSB to conduct rail accident and incident investigations on the defined interstate rail network for both passenger and freight trains. The bureau is also requested from time to time to lead or assist in specific rail investigations within state jurisdictions. The ATSB maintains and publishes a national rail safety occurrence database. It also undertakes safety awareness promotion arising from the findings of related investigations such as those involving level crossing accidents.

Road Since 2008, road safety issues are managed by a separate unit within the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. Road safety activities include research projects to improve national road safety, research and statistical analysis, coordination of the National Road Safety Strategy and Action Plan and publication of road fatality statistics.

Sources http://www.economywatch.com/world_economy/australia/?page=full http://www.dfat.gov.au http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism_in_Australia