Australia By : Liam / Kevin

Country Profile
Physical Geography
1. Official Name of Country- Commonwealth of Australia
2. Climate- generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in north
Map- 27 00 S, 133 00 E Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean
country comparison to the world: 12.
1. Absolute Location (find the latitude and longitude)
27 00 S, 133 00 E
2. Relative location (is it the 7th largest country in the world? What countries, bodies of water, mountains, and desserts are it next to?)
Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean
Political Geography
1. Type of government, names of the officials, and major political parties
Political parties and leaders:

Australian Democrats [Lyn ALLISON]; Australian Greens [Bob BROWN]; Australian Labor Party [Kevin RUDD]; Country Liberal Party [Terry MILLS]; Family First Party [Steve FIELDING]; Liberal Party [Malcolm TURNBULL]; The Nationals [Warren TRUSS]
Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen of Australia ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Quentin BRYCE (since 5 September 2008)
head of government: Prime Minister Kevin RUDD (since 3 December 2007); Deputy Prime Minister Julia GILLARD (since 3 December 2007)
cabinet: prime minister nominates, from among members of Parliament, candidates who are subsequently sworn in by the governor general to serve as government ministers
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is sworn in as prime minister by the governor general


Legislative branch:

bicameral Federal Parliament consists of the Senate (76 seats; 12 members from each of the six states and 2 from each of the two mainland territories; one-half of state members are elected every three years by popular vote to serve six-year terms while all territory members are elected every three years) and the House of Representatives (150 seats; members elected by popular preferential vote to serve terms of up to three-years; no state can have fewer than 5 representatives)
elections: Senate - last held 24 November 2007 (next to be held no later than 2010); House of Representatives - last held 24 November 2007 (next to be called no later than 2010)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Liberal Party-National Party coalition 37, Australian Labor Party 32, Australian Greens 5, Family First Party 1, independent 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Australian Labor Party 83, Liberal Party 55, National Party 10, independents 2


Judicial branch:

High Court (the chief justice and six other justices are appointed by the governor general)

2. Capital Canberra
International Organization participation
Cultural Geography
1. Official language, and other languages spoken, ethnic composition, and major religions- English

2. Population, population growth rate, and population distribution

Population growth rate:

1.195% (2009 est.)

3. Major cities
The Major cities are
1. Sydney
2. Mackay
3. brisbane
4. Alice Springs
4. Infant mortality rate and average life expectancy

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.75 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 196
male: 5.08 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

5. Teachers and doctors per population
2.5 in 100
Economic Geography
1. Natural resources coal

2. Major agricultural and industrial products
Agriculture - products:

wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruits, cattle, sheep, poultry

3. Major exports and imports
Exports:

$190.2 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
$142.4 billion (2007 est.)
Imports:

$193.3 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
$160.2 billion (2007 est.)

4. Currency (include exchange rate vs. TWD)-1.00 AUD= 28.3344 NTD

5. Balance of trade (include amounts in TWD currency of total exports and imports)

6. Historical events (Timeline format from 1980 to present; give your teacher 10 major events)
1804: Hobart Town is established in Van Diemens Land which is now known as Tasmania.
1833: Port Arthur opens as a penal settlement in Tasmania.
1851: The gold rush begins near Bathurst in New South Wales.
1853: The last convicts are shipped to Tasmania.
1868: The last convicts are transported to Australia.
1873: Ayers Rock is first sighted by Europeans.
1876: The last full blooded Tasmanian aboriginal, Truganini, dies.
1901: The Commonwealth of Australia becomes a reality.
1914-1918: Australian troops fight in World War 1.
1920: QANTAS is formed as a local airline.
1923: Vegemite is first produced.
1927: The first Federal Parliament is held in Canberra.
1932: Sydney Harbour Bridge opens.
1933: Western Australia produces a referendum for secession from England but it is rejected by Parliament.
1939-1945: Australian troops fight in World War 2.
1948: The first all Australian car is produced-the Holden.
1956: Melbourne hosts the Olympics.
1965: Australian troops sent to the Vietnam War.
1971: Neville Bonner becomes the first Aboriginal to be a Member of Parliament.
1973: The Sydney Opera House opens.
1981: Asian immigration increases.
1983: Australia wins the America's Cup.
1988: Bicentenary: The new Parliament House opens in Canberra.
2000: The Sydney Olympics held.