Total
Area: |
7,682,292 sq kms (2,966,133 sq miles)
3200 kms north to south 4000 kms east to west.
World's sixth largest country.
World's smallest continent
A bit smaller than the USA , 31 times larger than the UK, 22 times larger than Germany. |
| Population: |
24,338,000 people(roughly 0.3% of the
world's population).
Nearly 23% of the population was born overseas.
Nearly90% of the population live in cities along
the coast.
Life Expectancy: 75 for men 81 for women.
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| Language: |
English |
| People: |
94% European
4.5% Asian
1.5% Aboriginal
Australia is a country mostly of immigrates.
They came from all over the world
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| Government: |
Federal parliamentary democracy
British model
3 year term of office
Voting is compulsory
Voting age is 18
Bi-cameral legislature (two houses of parliament)
House of Representatives
Senate
Head of State - The Governor General
The representative of the Monarch - Elizabeth
II of the United Kingdom.
Head of Government - The Prime Minister
Who is the leader of the political party with
the majority in the House of Representatives.
Responsibilities
Taxation, Defence, Foreign Affairs, Social
Security, Transportation, Immigration
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| Flag: |
 Australian flag.
Union Jack (the
British flag) - represents the past link with England.
even Pointed Star - represents the six states and the territories.
The Southern Cross - the small stars represent the southern cross
a group of stars that can be see in the Australian night sky.
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| Location |
The climate in Australia is the opposite of that
in the Northern Hemisphere (Europe, the US etc). Summer in Australia starts
in December and Winter in June.
Over 90% of Australia is dry, flat and arid.
The north has tropical weather and the southeast parts are temperate.
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| Major Cities: |
Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra , Darwin, Hobart |
| Currency: |
 Decimal Currency (Dollars and Cents)
Australian notes are made of a special plastic.
They are each of a different colour and size. They also have a special
"see-thru" window to make then hard to counterfeit. The colours below are the approximate colours of the currency:
Notes $5, $10, $20, $50, $100
Coins:$1, $2 (1c and 2c coins are no longer used)
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| Economy: |
Capitalist(based on minerals and agriculture)
Trading Position: 12th
Major Exports: meat (largest exporter),
wool (30% of worlds' supply), wheat (9th largest exporter), machinery,
alumina (largest producer) , coal, gold, iron, industrial diamonds (largest
producer)
Major Imports: computers and office equipment,
aircraft, transport equipment, crude oil and petroleum products.
Major Trading Partners: China, Japan, USA, Korea, ASEAN,
European Union, New Zealand .
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| Employment: |
Job Type:
Average Yearly Earning:A$27,675
Females in Workforce: 42%
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| Lifestyle: |
Ownership (per household):
Refrigerator - 99.7%
Washing Machine - 90%
Telephone - 95%
Freezer - 47%
Dishwasher - 20%
Car
One - 85%
Two - 32%
Three - 12%
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