The continent in the south

The National Flag Australia’s Coat of arms

The Commonwealth of Australia is made up of six states and three territories. Sydney Opera House

I.the 6 states of Australia: Capital: Canberra Western Australia — the largest state South Australia Queensland — the 2 nd largest state New South Wales— the most populous Victoria — the 2 nd most populous Tasmania — the smallest state Great Barrier Reef (Queensland, Australia)

3 Internal Territories  the Northern Territory  the Australian Capital Territory  the Jervis Bay Territory Urulu, aka Ayers Rock (Northern Territory)

11 ships which sailed from Great Britain on 13 May 1787 with about 1,487 people, including 778 convicts (192 women, 586 men), to establish the first European colony in Australia (New South Wales). led by Captain Arthur Phillip January 26, the date of the first European settlement in 1788, is Australia’s national day.

Port Jackson (Sydney, Australia)

Australian Penal Colonies Australia was colonized to build penal colonies for the British government. (colonies for prisoners) – About 165,000 convicts were sent to Australia during the 18 th & 19 th Centuries. Movie: Van Diemen's Land ( 范迪门斯地 )

Crime in Great Britian 19 th Century Many petty crimes had great punishment Industrial Revolution Increase in Crime rate Novels of Charles Dickens

Australian Gold Rush The gold rush made the population of Australia boom from over 400,000 people to over 1,000,000 during 1845 to 1896 (wikipedia)

Gold Rush

There are rainforests and vast plains in the north, snowfields in the south-east, desert in the center and fertile croplands in the east, south and south-west. It is the world’s driest inhabited continent; vast areas are arid or semi-desert, and virtually uninhabited.

Australia is a multicultural society with about a quarter of the population foreign-born. The population has more than doubled since 1945 ， largely due to migration. 17 million or about 2 people the square kilometer. About 75 percent of Australians say they are Christians. Many non-Christian faiths are followed, including Judaism, Buddhism, and Islam.

Australia is an independent country and a member of the British Commonwealth. Elizabeth II is the Queen of Australia, though she is represented by the Governor-General.

The Governor-General The responsibility of the Governor- General is to open & close parliament, approve laws, appoint ministers and judges with the advice of the government. The Governor-General is commander of the armed forces. Quentin Bryce

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Economy Australia has an enviable Western-style capitalist economy, with a per capital 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.

I. primary industry rural and mining sectors --- Only 6% of Australia is cultivated for crops or used for intensive grazing. ---account for around 3/4 of total exports ---the leading position of Australian wool production --- the world’s largest coal exporter ---the world’s major supplier of wheat, meat, sugar and cotton

II. secondary and tertiary industries Manufacturing represents more than 1/4 of the Australia’s total exports Food processing industry is the largest manufacturing sector The largest sector of the Australian economy is the tertiary industries. It employs more than 70% of the workforce and its share of the gross domestic product is about 60%.

Australia's emphasis on reforms, low inflation, and growing ties with China are other key factors behind the economy's strength. The impact of drought, weak foreign demand, and strong import demand pushed the trade deficit up to $14 billion in 2003 and to $11 billion in 2004 from $5 billion in 2002.

Trade Australia is a key supplier to the world of many important commodities, has a broad mix of exports and runs a large merchandise trade surplus. In the last 25 years, Australia has seen a distinct change in the pattern of its international trade.

Education Each state and territory of Australia has its own primary and secondary education system. Throughout Australia, schooling is compulsory between the ages of 6 and 15 years. There is a nationwide schools program designed to increase student’s sensitivity to the population’s multicultural background and to help ethnic communities maintain their language and culture.

Although the states and territories are responsible for all education, the federal Government provides most funding for higher education. There are a number of privately funded higher-education institutions, including theological and teachers training colleges.

the media Research shows Australians read more newspaper per head than any other nationality, and there are two national daily newspapers --- The Australian and The Australian Financial Review. Radio and television broadcasting services are provided by national, commercial, multicultural and public organizations.

National services are provided by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), a nationwide radio and television service. The leading source of overseas news for the Australian media is the Australian Associated Press (AAP), which has been a part owner of the international news agency Reuters since 1946.

Social Service The main components of today’s social security programs are pension for the aged, disabled and sole parents; payments for people who are unemployed, sick, or in special need; additional amounts for children; sheltered employment and rehabilitation allowance; and allowances for families with children.

The federal Government helps people whose source of income has ceased, because of disability or retirement, for example, or has been interrupted by unemployment or sickness. Most payments are made under the Social Security Act from consolidated revenue.

Medicare the national health-financing system in Australia. Under this system, public hospitals are provided with funds by the federal and state governments. Each and every one of the permanent Australian residents has the right to receive inpatient and outpatient treatment in public hospitals without paying directly to hospital. They can also receive medical practitioners out of the hospital and have their expenses refunded from the system.