Australia Today
Australia is a stable, democratic society with a skilled workforce and a strong, competitive economy. With a population of 20 million, Australia is the only nation to govern an entire continent and is the sixth largest country in the world in land area. Australia's multicultural society includes its Indigenous peoples and migrants from some 200 countries.An island continent located between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, Australia combines a wide variety of landscapes. The highest mountains are part of the Great Dividing Range that line the east coast from Cape York Peninsula south to the state of Victoria.
The Great Artesian Basin provides underground water for a region that would otherwise be desert. Vegetation ranges from rain forests in the far north to steppes and deserts in the vast interior (which Australians call the outback). There are more than 130 species of marsupials, such as kangaroos, koalas, and wombats. The Murray-Darling River Basin, covering about 14 percent of the continent, helps sustain wheat and wool industries.
A strong economy
Australia has one of the most stable economic, political and social environments in the region, which has led to increased investment from overseas in recent years. As a result of major diversification in Australia's export base, Australia is now not only a commodity exporter, it also has sophisticated manufacturing and service industries.
Australia has one of the world's most open and innovative economies and the Australian Government is committed to maintaining this direction.
ECONOMY
Industry: mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing, chemicals, steel.
Agriculture: wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruits; cattle.
Exports: coal, gold, meat, wool, alumina, iron ore.
A culturally diverse society
Australia is a tolerant and inclusive society, a nation built by people from many different backgrounds - Vietnam, China, Greece and the UK are among the top 10 countries that Australians have migrated from. Cultural diversity has become a touchstone of Australia's national identity.
A vibrant scene for culture and the arts
Australia's contemporary arts are as unique and diverse as the society and continent they come from. They reflect an ancient landscape that is home to both the world's oldest continuous cultural traditions and also to a rich mix of migrant cultures. Australian arts and artists have much to say and many unique ways to say it - Australia's physical isolation, rich Indigenous artistic traditions and diverse cultural influences have created a whole range of vibrant new art to share with the world.
Australia's contemporary arts are as unique and diverse as the society and continent they come from. They reflect an ancient landscape that is home to both the world's oldest continuous cultural traditions and also to a rich mix of migrant cultures. Australian arts and artists have much to say and many unique ways to say it - Australia's physical isolation, rich Indigenous artistic traditions and diverse cultural influences have created a whole range of vibrant new art to share with the world.
A proud record of delivering education
Australia has a well-developed education system with very high rates of participation and secondary completion. Australian governments at all levels continually review and reform education and training to address the issues that arise from social and economic change.
Australia has a well-developed education system with very high rates of participation and secondary completion. Australian governments at all levels continually review and reform education and training to address the issues that arise from social and economic change.
A strong commitment to science and technology
Australia is committed to establishing a culture of innovation to make the best use of national and international information networks, encourage creativity in all forms of research, promote collaboration between university researchers and industry, and disseminate the outcomes of research to the wider community.
Innovations in science and technology are strong drivers of economic growth. Australia is both well positioned and well resourced to make a difference in the global innovation race.
Australian innovations are world renowned, from medical breakthroughs such as the bionic ear and revolutionary flu treatments through to the world's first nanomachine, contactless smartcards, and the orbital engine.
Innovations in science and technology are strong drivers of economic growth. Australia is both well positioned and well resourced to make a difference in the global innovation race.
Australian innovations are world renowned, from medical breakthroughs such as the bionic ear and revolutionary flu treatments through to the world's first nanomachine, contactless smartcards, and the orbital engine.
A great place to visit
Australia's spectacular natural environment, multicultural communities, food and wine, the friendliness of its people, combined with its weather and lifestyle make it one of the world's most popular tourist destinations. These qualities also make it one of the best places in the world in which to live and conduct business.
Australia's spectacular natural environment, multicultural communities, food and wine, the friendliness of its people, combined with its weather and lifestyle make it one of the world's most popular tourist destinations. These qualities also make it one of the best places in the world in which to live and conduct business.
Australia's unique environment has many native plants, animals and birds that exist nowhere else in the world.
Despite the vast size of the continent however, the majority of Australians live on the coast and in major cities - around 75 per cent of Australia's population lives in urban areas. Australia is the driest inhabited continent on earth.
Animals
Australia has many kinds of animals that are found no where else in the world. Australia is also populated by about 40 million kangaroos, 75000 crocodiles, half a million wild camels, 140 million sheep, 24 million cows and 100 000 koalas. Many of the animals in Australia are unique, and a lot of them are considered dangerous.
Famous Australian Animals: Koala, Kangaroo, Australian Dingo, Wombat, Quoll, Tasmanian Devil, Green Tree Frog, Frilled Neck Lizard, Blue Tongue Lizard
Most Dangerous Australian Animals: Saltwater Crocodile, Box Jellyfish, Blue Ring Octopus, Stone Fish, Great White Shark, Brown Snake, Tiger Snake, Taipan, Red Bellied Black Snake, Sydney Funnel-web Spider.
Most Unusual Australian Animals: Platypus, Echidna, Thorny Devil, Tree Kangaroo, Sugar Glider
More Australian Animals: Camels In Australia, Quokka, Cassowary, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Kookaburra, Freshwater Crocodile, Monitor Lizard or Goanna
Most Dangerous Australian Animals: Saltwater Crocodile, Box Jellyfish, Blue Ring Octopus, Stone Fish, Great White Shark, Brown Snake, Tiger Snake, Taipan, Red Bellied Black Snake, Sydney Funnel-web Spider.
Most Unusual Australian Animals: Platypus, Echidna, Thorny Devil, Tree Kangaroo, Sugar Glider
More Australian Animals: Camels In Australia, Quokka, Cassowary, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Kookaburra, Freshwater Crocodile, Monitor Lizard or Goanna
HISTORY
Founded in 1788 as a British convict colony, Australia was a place of banishment until gold strikes in 1851 opened floodgates of immigration. Independence came in 1901, with a constitution adapted in part from that of the United States. Immigration has been key to Australia's development since 1788; from 1945 through 2000 almost six million immigrants arrived. Aborigines number 410,000, and the government is making efforts to settle aboriginal land rights. Australia has one of the world's highest living standards with 85 percent living in urban areas.
Telecommunications
In 1997 the Australian Government introduced open competition into the Australian telecommunications market. This will provide long-term benefits to consumers of telecommunications services and promote the efficiency of the Australian telecommunications industry.
In 1997 the Australian Government introduced open competition into the Australian telecommunications market. This will provide long-term benefits to consumers of telecommunications services and promote the efficiency of the Australian telecommunications industry.
Film
Australian actors and film and television production staff are among the best in the world, as demonstrated by recent international recognition for their skills and achievements. In 2004-05 there were 65 films and television drama productions made in Australia, at a total cost of A$811 million. Australia provides world-class studio facilities, high-quality technical expertise and a diverse range of stunning landscapes for location shooting.
Arts and culture
The Australian Government provides about A$140 million each year, issued as grants by the Australia Council for the Arts, for the development of the arts and cultural expression. The Government also directly provides grants for touring exhibitions and performances and for regional festivals and activities and offers a range of tax incentives to encourage the private sector to support cultural activities.
Music
Music
Today, Australian music tells stories millenniums old but also regularly scales the pop charts around the world. Somewhere in between, Aboriginal rock combines elements from both worlds.
The Aborigines, inhabitants of the continent for over 50,000 years, have a distinctive musical culture. Aboriginal creation myth holds that singing was the means of the world's creation. By the late 19th century, most Aboriginals had been forced into white communities and many tribes were massively depopulated.
Broadcasting and online content
The Aborigines, inhabitants of the continent for over 50,000 years, have a distinctive musical culture. Aboriginal creation myth holds that singing was the means of the world's creation. By the late 19th century, most Aboriginals had been forced into white communities and many tribes were massively depopulated.
Broadcasting and online content
The Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts has txxhe responsibility for providing policy advice to the Australian Government and contributing to the development of legislation that governs television and radio broadcasting and online (Internet) content. The Department is also responsible for providing policy advice on radiocommunications and satellite .
Online content
Concern expressed by the Australian community about illegal and offensive material on the Internet and in emails has led to the development of a scheme for the shared regulation of online content. The scheme relies on codes of practice developed by the Internet Industry Association in consultation with the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) and relevant industry bodies and community groups.
Commercial television broadcasting
There are 54 licensed commercial television services in Australia. The Seven, Nine and Ten networks broadcast mainly in the major capital cities while others such as Prime (including the Golden West Network), WIN and Southern Cross Broadcasting focus on regional areas. Each regional network is affiliated with a metropolitan network. The only commercial television broadcaster owned by Aboriginal interests, Imparja Television, broadcasts from Alice Springs in the Northern Territory to remote parts of central and eastern Australia.
Commercial radio broadcasting
As at August 2005, there were 274 commercial radio licences issued in Australia, with 272 of these in operation.
Commercial Radio Australia is the peak industry association for the commercial radio sector. It is responsible for formulating, administering and reviewing the Commercial Radio Code of Practice.Open narrowcasting services
Open narrowcasting radio services are those that limit reception in some way, perhaps by targeting a special interest group (e.g. religious programming or ethnic language services), or by operating within a specified location (e.g. shopping centres or hospitals), or by transmitting for a limited time period (e.g. a community event or festival). Narrowcasting services are important for providing diversity in broadcasting.
National broadcasting
National broadcasting
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) are independent statutory corporations established under their own legislation. The Australian Government determines the level of funding from the federal budget for each, but does not have editorial control or programming responsibility. ABC
The ABC's Charter, as set out in the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983, includes the requirement to broadcast programs that inform, educate, entertain and reflect the cultural diversity of Australia.
SBS
The SBS Charter is set out in the Special Broadcasting Service Act 1991. It identifies the principal function of the SBS as providing multilingual and multicultural radio and television services that inform, educate and entertain all Australians and, in doing so, reflect Australia's multicultural society.
The ABC's Charter, as set out in the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983, includes the requirement to broadcast programs that inform, educate, entertain and reflect the cultural diversity of Australia.
SBS
The SBS Charter is set out in the Special Broadcasting Service Act 1991. It identifies the principal function of the SBS as providing multilingual and multicultural radio and television services that inform, educate and entertain all Australians and, in doing so, reflect Australia's multicultural society.
Community broadcasting
Australia's community broadcasters are licensed by ACMA to provide non profit services that emphasise community participation, access to minority and special interest groups and promote Australian music. There are approximately 250 licensed community radio services operating throughout Australia. The Australian Government provides funding to community broadcasters through the community Broadcasting Foundation Ltd , an industry-based company established to allocate the funds.
Digital broadcasting
Broadcasters commenced digital services in January 2001 in mainland state capital cities and have also now commenced in all regional television licence areas. Broadcasters are required to provide a standard definition (SD) digital TV broadcast of their existing analog service at all times. An estimated 84 per cent of the Australian population now has access to digital services from all their local free-to-air broadcasters and around 96 per cent of the population has access to at least one digital service.
In addition, within two years of the commencement of digital broadcasting in each area broadcasters must commence high definition (HD) services. Each broadcaster must provide at least 1040 hours per annum of HDTV programming.
In addition, within two years of the commencement of digital broadcasting in each area broadcasters must commence high definition (HD) services. Each broadcaster must provide at least 1040 hours per annum of HDTV programming.
Datacasting
The Broadcasting Services Act 1992 provides for the licensing of datacasting services in the broadcasting services band. There are restrictions on the services that can be offered under a datacasting licence, so that datacasting cannot be used to circumvent the ban on new commercial television licences.
Pay TV
Australia has three major pay television networks, delivered via cable or satellite, which are either in the process of converting to digital mode or have recently announced plans to do so. Several smaller players also provide pay television services.
Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association
The Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association (ASTRA) was formed in September 1997 to represent the interests of satellite and narrowcast radio services, narrowcast television services, program channel providers, subscription TV operators and other associated communications companies.
1 comment:
it's nice to see something of my country here..
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