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<Country Profile - Australia
For a downloadable PDF of this profile, click here Most of Australia is fairly low and flat which means that contrasts of weather and climate are gradual and there are few sharp local changes. Much of Australia is warm or hot throughout the year, and even along the cooler southern coasts the winters are mild rather than cold. Only Tasmania, which is in the same latitude as New Zealand, has a temperate climate comparable with that of Britain or northwest Europe. The east and southeast coasts of Australia get rain at all seasons, with higher levels in the summer. The south and southwest coasts of South and Western Australia are affected by westerly cyclonic disturbances during the cooler winter season and have their maximum rainfall at this time. As Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere summer starts in December and winter starts in June. The sun is very strong in Australia so caution is advised at all times.
Population and SettlementThe Australian population is estimated to be 21,880,000 (September 2009). Historically the population is predominantly Anglo-Celtic. Approximately 24% of Australians were born overseas with the three main countries of birth being the United Kingdom, New Zealand and China (2006 Census). The first European settlements began in 1788 at a time when Australia was sparsely populated by the aboriginal people. The settlements began with the establishment by the British of a penal colony in New South Wales.
English is the language of Australia and approximately 21% of the population speak a language other than English at home. Over 200 languages are spoken including 45 Indigenous languages. Back to top Christianity is the faith most widely professed. The main denominations are Roman Catholic, Anglican and Uniting Church. Back to top Australia is an independent state within the British Commonwealth. Queen Elizabeth II is represented by the Governor General who has wide powers, but by convention acts only on the advice of ministers on virtually all matters. Under the Australian federal system, powers are distributed between a national government (House of Representatives) and the six States; three Territories - the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory, and Norfolk Island have self-government arrangements (The Senate). National elections must be held every three years and voting is compulsory for those 18 yrs and over.
Australian law is based on the English model of common law. The Australian Federal Government has the responsibility for crimes against the revenue (eg. tax evasion), breaches of corporate law and border control. Crimes against the person (eg. assault, murder) are the responsibility of State/Territory governments. Civil litigation (eg. negligence) is generally conducted in State courts. The High Court is the highest court in the Australian judicial system. Australia has had one of the strongest economies in the world over the past 2 decades. Australia’s high economic performance resting on strong growth, low inflation and low interest rates has been the result of effective economic management and ongoing structural reform, along with a competitive and dynamic private sector and a skilled, flexible workforce. The Australian economy has shown impressive resilience by surpassing internal and external events over the past decade. The tax year begins on 1 July. Since 1st July 2000 a 10% Goods and Services Tax (GST) applies on most supplies of goods and services consumed in Australia. Income tax is imposed by the Commonwealth Government of Australia. Other taxes, such as petrol, stamp duty and payroll taxes are levied by the state governments. Real estate taxes are levied by local governments/councils. New settlers must lodge an application with the Taxation Office to obtain a personal tax file number (TFN) which must be disclosed to employers, banks, building societies etc. Back to top The Federal Government helps people whose source of income has ceased, because of disability or retirement, or has been interrupted by unemployment or sickness. Age Pensions are paid to men from the age
Health care in Australia relies on private and public facilities: a predominantly private medical profession, private and public hospitals, and private and public health financing. Medicare, the national health care system, is funded through progressive income tax and an income related levy. Medicare provides access to free treatment as a public patient in a public hospital, free or subsidised treatment by practitioners such as doctors, including specialists, optometrists or dentists. Medicare pays 85% of the scheduled fee and the patient pays the difference. The difference between what Medicare pays and the Schedule fee is called the gap amount, which has a maximum limit. Most medicines available on prescription are subsidised under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Back to top Preschool and school education has a similar structure across Australia with only slight variations amongst the States and Territories. School education is thirteen years with some variations in Queensland and Driving is on the left. Each of the states and territories has a separate authority responsible for the issuing of driver’s licences which are then valid Australia wide. The minimum age for driving is either 17 or 18 Back to top Great distances in Australia have led to a significant role for transport and communications. Australia has about 913,000 km of public roads. Private travel accounts for almost half of all road use. For non-bulk merchandise, road is Australia's dominant domestic transport mode (about 69%). There are rail links between the major cities but no rail service in Tasmania. Air transport is a major factor because of the distances with scheduled domestic flights carrying more than 18 million passengers a year. The two main domestic airlines are Qantas and Virgin Blue. Coastal shipping is mainly for freight, with passenger and car ferries operating between Victoria and Tasmania. Australia has one of the highest proportions of personal computer and mobile telephone ownership in the world and the Internet takeup rate is second only to the USA. There are about 400 radio stations in Australia, over half of them commercial, and a number of television channels. Australia has 12 metropolitan daily newspapers, 38 regional dailies and 138 suburban papers. Thirty Australian magazines have a circulation of between 80,000 and a million copies per issue. Australia uses the AC 240 volts 50 cycle electrical system, although many homes also have 110 volt sockets for electric razors. Back to top In Australia approximately 70% of people either own their own home with or without a loan. The average home consists of three/four bedrooms, combined lounge/dining room, kitchen, bathroom, toilet and separate laundry room. The greatest proportion of Australians live in detached bungalows standing in their own gardens, often with a backyard swimming pool. A combination of both timber and brick dwellings provides character and individuality in most neighbourhoods. Prices of houses vary considerably depending on factors such as locality, distance from the city and availability of services. Rental accommodation sought through real estate agents is usually for a fixed period of time. A bond equivalent to one month's rent and two weeks rent in advance is usual.
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