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{{semiprotected|small=yes}}
{{dablink|This article is about the country. For other uses of terms redirecting here, see ] and ].}}
{{Infobox Country
| native_name =
|conventional_long_name = Commonwealth of Australia
| common_name = Australia
| image_flag = Flag_of_Australia.svg
| image_coat = Coat of arms of Australia.svg
| image_map = Australia (orthographic projection).svg
| map_width = 220px
| national_anthem = '']''{{ref|anthem explanation|N1}}
| official_languages = None{{ref|official languages|N2}}
| languages_type = ]
| languages = ] ('']''){{ref|official languages|N2}}
| capital = ]
|ethnic_groups = 92% white,<br>7% Asian,<br>1% ] and other<ref name=CIA World Factbook>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/as.html|title=CIA World Factbook: Australia|date=9 April 2009|accessdate=2009-04-20}}</ref>
| Gemstone = ]
|latd=35 |latm=18 |latNS=S |longd=149 |longm=08 |longEW=E
| largest_city = ]
| government_type = ] ] and ], ''see ]''
| leader_title1 = ]
| leader_title2 = ]
| leader_title3 = ]
| leader_name1 = ]
| leader_name2 = ]
| leader_name3 = ]
| area_rank = 6th
| area_magnitude = 1 E12
| area_km2 = 7686850
| percent_water = 0.897
| population_estimate = <!-- Please note, this figure does not have to be precise as it changes approximately every 90 seconds. It is only an estimate! When updating this figure, please be sure to update the accessdate field in the citation. -->21,714,000<ref name=pop-clock>{{Cite web|url=http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs%40.nsf/94713ad445ff1425ca25682000192af2/1647509ef7e25faaca2568a900154b63?OpenDocument|title=Population clock|publisher=]|accessdate=2009-03-28}}</ref>
| population_estimate_year = 2009
| population_estimate_rank = 51st
| population_census = 19,855,288<ref>{{Census 2006 AUS|id=0|name=Australia|accessdate=2008-10-14|quick=on}}</ref>
| population_census_year = 2006
| population_density_km2 = 2.833
| population_density_rank = 232<sup>nd</sup>
| sovereignty_type = ]
| sovereignty_note = from the ]
| established_event1 = ]
| established_event2 = ]
| established_event3 = ]
| established_event4 = ]
| established_date1 = 1 January 1901
| established_date2 = 11 December 1931
| established_date3 = 9 October 1942 (with effect from 3 September 1939)
| established_date4 = 3 March 1986
| currency = ]
| currency_code = AUD
| time_zone = ]{{ref|time|N3}}
| utc_offset = +8 to +10.5
| time_zone_DST = ]{{ref|time|N3}}
| utc_offset_DST = +9 to +11.5
| demonym = Australian,<br /> ]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://geography.about.com/library/weekly/aa030900a.htm|title=Demonyms - Names of Nationalities|publisher=]|accessdate=2008-07-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.geography-site.co.uk/pages/countries/demonyms.html|title=Demonyms, or what do you call a person from ...|publisher=The Geography Site|accessdate=2008-07-25}}</ref> (colloquial)
| drives_on = left
| cctld = ]
| calling_code = 61
| ISO_3166-1_alpha2 = AU
| ISO_3166-1_alpha3 = AUS
| ISO_3166-1_numeric = 036
| sport_code = AUS
| vehicle_code = AUS
| GDP_PPP_year = 2008
| GDP_PPP = $795.305 billion<ref name=imf2>{{cite web|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2009/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2006&ey=2009&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=193&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp=0&a=&pr.x=37&pr.y=5 |title=Australia|publisher=International Monetary Fund|accessdate=2009-04-22}}</ref>
| GDP_PPP_rank = 17th
| GDP_PPP_per_capita = $37,298<ref name=imf2/>
| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 14th
| GDP_nominal = $1,010 billion<ref name=imf2/>
| GDP_nominal_rank = 15th
| GDP_nominal_year = 2008
| GDP_nominal_per_capita = $47,400<ref name=imf2/>
| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 16th
| HDI_year = 2008
| HDI = {{increase}} 0.965
| HDI_rank = 4th
| HDI_category = <font color=#009900>high</font>
}}<!-- PLEASE USE AUSTRALIAN ENGLISH THROUGHOUT, i.e., use centre not center, neighbour not neighbor, and maximise the use of -is- rather than -iz-. Other style: the serial comma is established in this article as default usage; and the dash style is unspaced em dash (in accord with current AGPS Style Manual), not spaced em dash or spaced en dash (see ]). Maintain consistency of style, suppressing personal preferences.-->

'''Australia''' ({{pron-en|əˈstreɪljə}}, or formally {{IPAlink-en|ɔːˈstreɪliə}}), officially the '''Commonwealth of Australia''', is a country in the ] comprising the ] of the world's smallest ], the major island of ], and numerous ] in the ] and ]s.{{ref|Southern Ocean|N4}} Neighbouring countries include ], ], and ] to the north, the ], ], and ] to the north-east, and ] to the south-east.

For around 40,000 years before European settlement commenced in the late ], the Australian mainland and Tasmania were inhabited by around 250 individual nations<ref>''First Australians'' Documentary (Episode 1), Special Broadcasting Service, Australia, 2008.</ref> of ].<ref></ref> After sporadic visits by fishermen from the immediate north, and ]an discovery by ] explorers in 1606,<ref>MacKnight, CC (1976). ''The Voyage to Marege: Macassan Trepangers in Northern Australia''. Melbourne University Press</ref> the eastern half of Australia was claimed by the ] in 1770 and initially settled through ] to the colony of ], founded on 26 January 1788. The population grew steadily in the following years; the continent was explored, and during the 19th century another five largely ] ] were established.

On 1 January 1901, the six colonies became a ], and the Commonwealth of Australia was formed. Since Federation, Australia has maintained a stable ] political system and remains a ]. The population is just over 21.7&nbsp;million, with approximately 60% concentrated in and around the mainland state capitals of ], ], ], ], ], and ]. The nation's capital city is ], located in the ] (ACT).

], Australia is a prosperous ] country and has excellent results in many ] such as health care, life expectancy, quality-of-life, human development, public education, economic freedom, and the protection of civil liberties and political rights.<ref name="World Audit">{{cite web |url=http://www.worldaudit.org/countries/australia.htm |title=Australia: World Audit Democracy Profile |work=WorldAudit.org |accessdate=2008-01-05}}</ref> Australian cities also routinely rank among the world's highest in terms of livability, cultural offerings, and quality of life. It is a member of the ], ], ], ], ], and the ].
{{TOClimit|limit=3}}

==Etymology==
], the site where Sydney was established, viewed from the South Head. (From ''A Voyage to Terra Australis''.)]]

The name '']'' is derived from the ] ''Australis'', meaning "Southern". Legends of an "unknown land of the south" ('']'') date back to Roman times and were commonplace in medieval geography but were not based on any documented knowledge of the continent. In 1521 Spaniards were among the first Europeans to sail the Pacific Ocean. The first use of the word ''Australia'' in English was in 1625, in "A note of Australia del Espiritu Santo, written by Master Hakluyt", published by ] in ''Hakluytus Posthumus''.<ref>Purchas, vol. iv, pp. 1422–32, 1625. This appears to be variation of the original Spanish "Austrialia" . A copy at the Library of Congress can be read online </ref>
The Dutch adjectival form ''Australische'' was used by ] officials in ] to refer to the newly discovered land to the south in 1638. ''Australia'' was used in a 1693 translation of ''Les Aventures de Jacques Sadeur dans la Découverte et le Voyage de la Terre Australe'', a 1676 French novel by ] under the pen-name Jacques Sadeur.<ref>Sidney J. Baker, ''The Australian Language'', second edition, 1966.</ref> <!-- The 1676 version is rare. Regardless, it was the first edition of this book - some details are at http://www.ilab.org/db/detail.php?booknr=293280177 --> ] then used it in ''An Historical Collection of Voyages and Discoveries in the South Pacific Ocean'' (1771), to refer to the entire South Pacific region. In 1793, ] and ] published ''Zoology and Botany of New Holland'', in which they wrote of "the vast island, or rather continent, of Australia, Australasia or ]".<ref name="Ferguson">{{cite book|last=Ferguson|first=John Alexander |title=Bibliography of Australia: 1784-1830 |publisher= National Library Australia|date=1975|edition=reprint|volume=1|pages=77|isbn=0642990441|url=http://books.google.com.au/books?id=KQzgC-xeQkIC&pg=PA77&lpg=PA77&dq=Zoology+and+Botany+of+New+Holland&source=web&ots=Rt9asDSfDw&sig=4qHuJ8P6f_tFSp6AuH9WkhbdflE&hl=en&ei=TtyQSaqwEIm9kAXwouTwCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=7&ct=result}}</ref> It also appeared on a 1799 chart by ].<ref name="Estensen 2002 p354">{{cite book | first = Miriam | last = Estensen | year = 2002 | title = The Life of Matthew Flinders | publisher = Allen & Unwin | isbn = 1-74114 152 4 | page = 354}}</ref>

The name ''Australia'' was popularised by ], who, as early as 1804, pushed for the name to be formally adopted. When preparing his manuscript and charts for his 1814 '']'', he was persuaded by his patron ] to use the term ''Terra Australis'' as this was the name most familiar to the public. Flinders did so, but allowed himself the footnote: {{quote|"Had I permitted myself any innovation on the original term, it would have been to convert it to Australia; as being more agreeable to the ear, and an assimilation to the names of the other great portions of the earth."<ref>{{cite book | first = Matthew | last = Flinder | year = 1814 | title = ]}}</ref>}} This is the only occurrence of the word ''Australia'' in that text; but in Appendix III, ]'s '']'', Brown makes use of the adjectival form ''Australian'' throughout,<ref name="Bennett 1868">{{cite book | editor = J. J. Bennett | year = 1866–68 | title = The Miscellaneous Botanical Works of Robert Brown, Esq., D.C.L., F.R.S. | volume = 2 | chapter = General remarks, geographical and systematical, on the botany of Terra Australis | pages = 1–89}}</ref> this being the first known use of that form.<ref name="Mabberley 1985">{{cite book | first = David | last = Mabberley | year = 1985 | title = Jupiter botanicus: Robert Brown of the British Museum | publisher = British Museum (Natural History) | isbn = 3-7682-1408-7}}</ref> Despite popular conception, the book was not instrumental in the adoption of the name: the name came gradually to be accepted over the following ten years.<ref name="Estensen 2002 p450">Estensen ''p.'' 450.</ref>

Governor ] of ] subsequently used the word in his dispatches to England, and on 12 December 1817 recommended to the Colonial Office that it be formally adopted.<ref>Weekend Australian, 30–31 December 2000, p. 16</ref> In 1824, the Admiralty agreed that the continent should be known officially as ''Australia''.

The word ''Australia'' in ] is pronounced {{IPA|]]}}.<ref>Australian pronunciations: '']'' (2005). Melbourne, The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd. ISBN 1-876429-14-3</ref> Since early in the 20th century the country is sometimes referred to locally and internationally as ''Oz''.{{ref|Oss|N5}} '']'' (less frequently spelt ''Ozzie'', better representing the pronunciation) is common colloquially as an adjective, and as a noun referring to an Australian.{{ref|Oz|N6}}

==History==
{{main|History of Australia}}

Human habitation of Australia is estimated to have begun between 42,000 and 48,000 years ago.<ref>Gillespie, R. (2002). Dating the first Australians. ''Radiocarbon'' 44:455–72; {{cite web|url=http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/arizona/rdc/2002/00000044/00000002/art00004|title=Dating the First Australians|publisher=Ingenta|accessdate=2008-03-18}}</ref> These first Australians may have been ancestors of modern Indigenous Australians; they may have arrived via ]s and short sea-crossings from what is now ]. Most of these people were ]s, with a complex ] and spiritual values based on reverence for the land and a belief in the ]. The ], ethnically ]n, were originally horticulturalists and hunter-gatherers. Their cultural practices have always been distinct from those of the mainland Aborigines.
] in ] Harbour]]

The first recorded European sighting of the Australian mainland was made by the Dutch navigator ], who sighted the coast of ] in 1606. During the 17th century, the Dutch charted the whole of the western and northern coastlines of what they called New Holland, but they made no attempt at settlement. In 1770, ] sailed along and mapped the east coast of Australia, which he named New South Wales and claimed for Great Britain.

Cook's discoveries prepared the way for establishment of a new ]. The British ] of New South Wales began a settlement at ] by Captain ] on 26 January 1788. This date was later to become Australia's ], ]. ], now known as Tasmania, was settled in 1803 and became a separate colony in 1825. The United Kingdom formally claimed the western part of Australia in 1829. Separate colonies were created from parts of New South Wales: ] in 1836, ] in 1851, and Queensland in 1859. The ] was founded in 1911 when it was excised from South Australia. South Australia was founded as a "free province"—that is, it was never a penal colony. Victoria and Western Australia were also founded "free" but later accepted transported convicts.<ref> Public Record office of Victoria; </ref> The transportation of ] to the colony of New South Wales ceased in 1848 after a campaign by the settlers.<ref>—The State of New South Wales</ref>

] was Australia's largest ] for transported convicts.]]
The Indigenous Australian population, estimated at 350,000 at the time of European settlement,<ref>Smith, L. (1980), The Aboriginal Population of Australia, ] Press, Canberra</ref> declined steeply for 150 years following settlement, mainly because of ].<ref></ref> The "]" (removal of Aboriginal children from their families), which historians such as ] have argued could be considered genocide by some definitions,<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.aiatsis.gov.au/rsrch/rsrch_dp/genocide.htm| title = Genocide in Australia| accessdate = 2007-09-13| last = Tatz| first = Colin| year = 1999| work = AIATSIS Research Discussion Papers No 8| publisher = ]| archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20050808002313/http://www.aiatsis.gov.au/rsrch/rsrch_dp/genocide.htm| archivedate = 2005-08-08}}</ref> may have contributed to the decline in the indigenous population.<ref> Bain Attwood, ''Telling the Truth about Aboriginal History.'' (2005) </ref>

Such interpretations of Aboriginal history are disputed by some conservative commentators, such as former Prime Minister Howard, as being exaggerated or fabricated for political or ideological reasons. Historian Keith Windschuttle has argued that the dominant historical interpretation of the treatment of Aboriginal people on the frontiers of white settlement in Australia amounts to a fabrication. He claims this is the result of work done by a generation of politically inspired academics. That work, he charges, is characterised by poor historical method and by lack of evidence, and they have invented stories, made up figures, suppressed evidence, falsely referenced sources and deceived their readers.<ref>Keith Windschuttle, (2001). '''', ] Vol. 20, No. 1, 20 September. Bain Attwood, ''the Truth about Aboriginal History'' (2005) p. 2</ref>

This debate is known within Australia as the ]. Following the ], the Federal government gained the power to implement policies and make laws with respect to Aborigines. Traditional ownership of land—]—was not recognised until 1992, when the ] case '']'' overturned the notion of Australia as '']'' (literally "no one's land", effectively "empty land") at the time of European occupation.

] is played at an ] ceremony in ]. Similar ceremonies are held in most suburbs and towns.]]
A ] began in Australia in the early 1850s, and the ] rebellion against mining licence fees in 1854 was an early expression of ]. Between 1855 and 1890, the six colonies individually gained ], managing most of their own affairs while remaining part of the ]. The Colonial Office in London retained control of some matters, notably foreign affairs, defence, and international shipping. On 1 January 1901, ] of the colonies was achieved after a decade of planning, consultation, and voting. The Commonwealth of Australia was born and it became a ] of the British Empire in 1907. The Federal Capital Territory (later renamed the ]) was formed from a part of New South Wales in 1911 to provide a location for the proposed new federal capital of Canberra. (Melbourne was the temporary seat of government from 1901 to 1927 while Canberra was being constructed.) The Northern Territory was transferred from the control of the South Australian government to the Commonwealth in 1911.

In 1914 Australia eagerly joined Britain in fighting ], with wholehearted support from both the outgoing Liberal Party and the incoming Labor Party.<ref>Stuart Macintyre, ''The Oxford History of Australia: vol 4'' (1986), p. 142; C. Bean Ed. (1941). , First World War Official Histories, Eleventh Edition.</ref> Many Australians regard the defeat of the ] (ANZACs) at ] as the birth of the nation—its first major military action.<ref>Macintyre, 151-3; Liz Reed, '' Bigger than Gallipoli: war, history, and memory in Australia‎'' (2004) </ref> The ] is regarded by many as an analogous nation-defining event during World War II<ref> Hank Nelson, "Gallipoli, Kokoda and the Making of National Identity", ''Journal of Australian Studies,'' (1997) v. 53#1 pp 148-160 </ref>.

Britain's ] formally ended most of the constitutional links between Australia and the UK. Australia ] in 1942, but backdated it to the beginning of World War II to confirm the validity of legislation passed by the Australian Parliament during the war. The shock of the UK's defeat in Asia in 1942 and the ] caused Australia to turn to the ] as a new ally and protector. Since 1951, Australia has been a formal military ally of the US, under the ] treaty. After World War II, Australia encouraged ] from Europe; since the 1970s and the abolition of the ], immigration from Asia and elsewhere was also encouraged. As a result, Australia's demography, culture, and self-image have been transformed. The final constitutional ties between Australia and the UK were severed with the passing of the ], ending any British role in the government of the Australian States, and ending judicial appeals to the UK ].<ref>Australia Act text </ref> At the ], 54% of Australian voters rejected a proposal to become a republic with a president appointed by two-thirds vote of both houses of the Australian Parliament. Since the election of the ] in 1972, there has been an increasing focus on the expansion of ties with other ] nations while maintaining close ties with Australia's traditional allies and trading partners.

==Politics==
{{main|Government of Australia|Politics of Australia|Monarchy in Australia}}
] in ] was opened in 1988, replacing the ] opened in 1927.]]

The Commonwealth of Australia is a ] based on a ] division of powers. The form of government used in Australia is a ] with a ] of government. ] is the ], a role that is distinct from her position as monarch of the other ]s. The Queen is represented by the ] at federal level and by the Governors at state level. Although the ] gives extensive ] to the Governor-General, these are normally exercised only on the advice of the ]. The most notable exercise of the Governor-General's ]s outside the Prime Minister's direction was the dismissal of the Whitlam Government in the ].<ref>Parliamentary Library (1997). </ref>

There are ]:
*The legislature: the ], comprising the Queen, the Senate, and the House of Representatives; the Queen is represented by the Governor-General, who by convention acts on the advice of his or her Ministers.
*The executive: the ] (the Governor-General as advised by the Executive Councillors); in practice, the councillors are the Prime Minister and Ministers of State.
*The judiciary: the ] and other ]. Appeals from Australian courts to the ] in the United Kingdom ceased when the '']'' was passed in 1986.
] of the ]]]
The ] Commonwealth Parliament consists of the Queen, the ] (the upper house) of 76 senators, and a ] (the lower house) of 150 members. Members of the lower house are elected from single-member constituencies, commonly known as "electorates" or "seats", allocated to states on the basis of population, with each original state guaranteed a minimum of five seats. In the Senate, each state is represented by twelve senators, and each of the territories (the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory) by two. Elections for both chambers are normally held every three years, simultaneously; senators have overlapping six-year terms, since only half of places in the Senate are put to each election unless the cycle is interrupted by a ]. The party with majority support in the House of Representatives forms government and its leader becomes Prime Minister.

There are two major political groups that form government, federally and in the states: the ]<!-- NOTE TO EDITORS: The name of the party is spelt ‘Labor’ (i.e., no ‘u’) even though Australian spelling for all other use of the word is ‘labour’. -->, and the ] which is a formal grouping of two parties: the ] and its minor partner, the ]. Independent members and several minor parties—including the ] and the ]—have achieved representation in Australian parliaments, mostly in upper houses. The Labor Party came to office with ] as Prime Minister following the ]. Every Australian parliament (federal, state, and territory) then had a Labor government until September 2008 when the Liberal Party formed a minority government in association with the National Party in ]. In the ], the previous governing coalition led by ] won control of the Senate—the first time in more than 20 years that a party (or a coalition) has done so while in government. ] for all enrolled citizens 18 years and over, in each state and territory and at the federal level. Enrolment to vote is compulsory in all jurisdictions except South Australia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://aec.gov.au/FAQs/Voting_Australia.htm#What%20happens%20if%20I%20do%20not%20vote |title=What happens if I do not vote? |work=Voting Australia - Frequently Asked Questions |publisher=] |accessdate=2008-01-08}}</ref>

==States and territories==
{{Australia states imagemap}}
{{main|States and territories of Australia}}

Australia has six states and two major mainland territories. There are also lesser territories that are under the administration of the federal government.

The states are ], ], ], ], ], and ]. The two major mainland territories are the ] and the ] (ACT). In most respects these two territories function like states, but the Commonwealth Parliament can override any legislation of their parliaments. By contrast, federal legislation only overrides state legislation in certain areas that are set out in ]; state parliaments retain all residual legislative powers, including powers over hospitals, education, police, the judiciary, roads, public transport, and local government.

Each state and major mainland territory has its own ] or parliament: ] in the Northern Territory, the ACT, and Queensland, and bicameral in the remaining states. The states are sovereign, though subject to certain powers of the Commonwealth as defined by the Constitution. The ] is known as the ] (] in South Australia and Tasmania) and the ] is known as the ]. The ] in each state is the ], and in each territory the ]. The Queen is represented in each state by a ]; an ] in the Northern Territory, and the Australian Governor-General in the ACT, have analogous roles.

The federal government directly administers the following territories:
* ], a naval base and sea port for the national capital in land that was formerly part of New South Wales
* ] and ], inhabited external territories
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ] (largely uninhabited)
] is also technically an external territory; however, under the Norfolk Island Act 1979 it has been granted more autonomy and is governed locally by its own legislative assembly. The ] is represented by an ], currently ].

==Foreign relations and military==
{{main|Foreign relations of Australia|Australian Defence Force}}
]]]

Over recent decades, ] have been driven by a close association with the United States through the ], and by a desire to develop relationships with Asia and the Pacific, particularly through ] and the ]. In 2005 Australia secured an inaugural seat at the ] following its accession to the ]. Australia is a member of the ], in which the ] meetings provide the main forum for cooperation. Australia has energetically pursued the cause of international trade liberalisation. It led the formation of the ] and ]. Australia is a member of the ] and the ], and has pursued several major bilateral free trade agreements, most recently the ] and ] with ]. Australia is also negotiating a free trade agreement with ], with whom Australia has close economic ties as a trusted partner in the ] region.<ref>, www.mofa.go.jp</ref> Australia, along with New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, and Singapore are party to the ], a regional defence agreement. A founding member country of the ], Australia is strongly committed to ] along with its ] allies ] and the ], and maintains an international aid program under which some 60 countries receive assistance. The 2005–06 budget provides A$2.5&nbsp;billion for development assistance;<ref name = "budget">Australian Government. (2005). </ref> as a percentage of GDP, this contribution is less than that recommended in the UN ]. Australia ranks 7th overall in the ]'s 2008 ].<ref>Center for Global Development. , www.cgdev.org. Retrieved on 5 January 2008.</ref>

Australia's armed forces—the ] (ADF)—comprise the ] (RAN), the ], and the ] (RAAF), in total numbering 73,000 personnel (including 53,000 regulars and 20,000 reservists).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.defence.gov.au/budget/07-08/dar/2007-2008_Defence_DAR_04_v1_s3.pdf|title=Section 3: Management and Accountability (Chapter 4: People Management)|work=Defence Annual Report 2007-08|format=]|publisher=]|accessdate=2009-01-31}} (pp. 99–100)</ref> Australia's military is ], but one of the ]. All branches of the ADF have been involved in UN and regional peacekeeping (most recently in ], the ], and ]), disaster relief, and armed conflict, including the ]. The government appoints the ] from one of the armed services; the current Chief of the Defence Force is Air Chief Marshal ]. In the 2006–07 budget, defence spending was A$22&nbsp;billion,<ref>Australian Department of Defence (2006).Page 19.</ref> accounting for ]. Australia was placed 27th on the 2008 ], primarily due to its presence in ].<ref>Everingham, Sara. (2008), www.abc.net.au Retrieved on 23 January 2008</ref> While the Governor-General is the Commander-in-Chief of the Australian Defence Force, he or she does not play an active part in the ADF's command structure as the elected Australian Government controls the ADF.<ref>{{cite book |title=Australian Defence Almanac 2004–05 |last=Khosa |first=Raspal |year=2004 |publisher=] |location=Canberra|isbn= |page=4}} </ref>

==Geography==
{{main|Geography of Australia|Climate of Australia|Environment in Australia}}
]]]

Australia's landmass of {{convert|7617930|km2|sqmi|adj=off}}<ref name="Size">{{cite web | url = http://www.ga.gov.au/education/facts/dimensions/compare.htm | title = Australia's Size Compared| publisher = Geoscience Australia| accessdate = 2007-05-19 }}</ref> is on the ]. Surrounded by the Indian{{ref|Southern Ocean|N4}} and Pacific oceans, Australia is separated from Asia by the ] and ] seas. Australia has {{convert|34218|km|mi|0}} of coastline (excluding all offshore islands)<ref name="Coast">{{cite web | url = http://www.environment.gov.au/soe/2006/publications/drs/indicator/142/index.html | title = State of the Environment 2006| publisher = Department of the Environment and Water Resources| accessdate = 2007-05-19 }}</ref> and claims an extensive ] of {{convert|8148250|km2|sqmi}}. This exclusive economic zone does not include the Australian Antarctic Territory.

The ], the world's largest ],<ref name = UNEP>{{cite web|author=UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre |year=1980|title=Protected Areas and World Heritage - Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area|url=http://sea.unep-wcmc.org/sites/wh/gbrmp.html|publisher=]|accessdate=2007-05-19}}</ref> lies a short distance off the north-east coast and extends for over {{convert|2000|km|mi|-1}}. ], claimed to be the world's largest ],<ref name="Monolith">{{cite web | url = http://www.smh.com.au/news/Western-Australia/Mount-Augustus/2005/02/17/1108500208314.html | title = Mount Augustus| publisher = The Sydney Morning Herald| accessdate = 2007-05-19 }}</ref> is located in Western Australia. At {{convert|2228|m|ft|0}}, ] on the ] is the highest mountain on the Australian mainland, although ] on the remote Australian territory of ] is taller at {{convert|2745|m|ft|0}}.

By far the largest part of Australia is ] or semi-arid lands commonly known as the ]. Australia is the flattest continent, with the oldest and least fertile soils, and is the driest inhabited continent. Only the south-east and south-west corners of the continent have a ]. The ], 2.8 inhabitants per ], is among the lowest in the world, although a great proportion of the population lives along the temperate south-eastern coastline. The landscapes of the northern part of the country, with a tropical climate, consist of ], ], ], ] swamps, and desert. The climate is significantly influenced by ocean currents, including the ] southern oscillation, which is correlated with periodic ], and the seasonal tropical low pressure system that produces ]s in northern Australia.<ref>; .</ref>

] has become an increasing concern in Australia in recent years,<ref>, Australian State of the Environment Committee, 2006</ref> with many Australians considering it to be the most important issue facing the country.<ref>, www.anu.edu.au. Retrieved on 8 January 2008.</ref> The ] has initiated several emission reduction activities;<ref>, www.greencarcongress.com. Retrieved on 8 January 2008.</ref> Rudd's first official act, on his first day in office, was to sign the instrument of ratification of the ]. Nevertheless Australia's ] are among the highest in the world, lower than only several other industrialised nations including the United States, Canada, and ]. Rainfall in Australia has increased over the past century, both nationwide and for all four quadrants of the nation.<ref>http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/change/rerain.shtml</ref> Despite this beneficial effect of climate change, ] are currently in place in many regions and cities of Australia in response to chronic shortages due to urban population increases and localised ].<ref>, BBC News, 23 April 2008</ref>

==Ecology==
] and the '']'' forming an iconic Australian pair]]

Although most of Australia is semi-arid or desert, it includes a diverse range of habitats from ] heaths to ]s, and is recognised as a ]. Because of the continent's great age, its extremely variable weather patterns, and its long-term geographic isolation, much of Australia's ] is unique and diverse. About 85% of flowering plants, 84% of mammals, more than 45% of ], and 89% of in-shore, temperate-zone fish are ].<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/about-biodiversity.html
| title = About Biodiversity
| accessdate = 2007-09-18
| publisher = Department of the Environment and Heritage
| archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070205015628/www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/about-biodiversity.html
| archivedate = 2007-02-05
}}
</ref> Australia has the greatest number of reptiles of any country, with 755 species.<ref> at www.press.uchicago.edu</ref> Many of Australia's ecoregions, and the species within those regions, are threatened by human activities and ] plant and animal species. The federal ''Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999'' is a legal framework for the protection of threatened species. Numerous ] have been created under the national ] to protect and preserve unique ecosystems; 64 wetlands are registered under the ], and 16 ]s have been established. Australia was ranked 13th in the world on the 2005 ].<ref name="ESI">{{cite web | url = http://www.yale.edu/esi/b_countryprofiles.pdf | title = 2005 Environmental Sustainability Index (pg.112)| publisher = Yale University| accessdate = 2007-05-20|format=PDF}}</ref> ] often contain a wide variety of ] trees and are mostly located in higher rainfall regions.

Most Australian woody plant species are evergreen and many are adapted to fire and drought, including many ]s and ]s. Australia has a rich variety of endemic ] species that thrive in nutrient-poor soils because of their symbiosis with ] bacteria and ]l fungi. Among well-known ] are the ]s (the ] and the ]); a host of ]s, including the ], the ], and the ]; the ] and ] crocodiles; and birds such as the ] and the ]. Australia is home to some of the most venomous ]s in the world.<ref>"Snake Bite", ''''.</ref> The ] was introduced by Austronesian people who traded with Indigenous Australians around 3000 ].<ref name="savolainen2004">Savolainen, P. et al. 2004. A detailed picture of the origin of the Australian dingo, obtained from the study of mitochondrial DNA. ''Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America''. 101:12387–12390 PMID</ref> Many plant and animal species became extinct soon after first human settlement, including the ]; others have become extinct since European settlement, among them the ].<ref name="NW">{{cite web|url=http://www.naturalworlds.org/thylacine/additional/persecution/image_6.htm|title=Additional Thylacine Topics: Persecution|publisher=The Thylacine Museum|year=2006|dateformat=dmy |accessdate=27 November 2006}}; {{cite web|url=http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/ts-day/index.html|title=National Threatened Species Day|publisher=Department of the Environment and Heritage, Australian Government|year=2006|dateformat=dmy |accessdate=21 November 2006}}</ref>

==Economy==
{{main|Economy of Australia}}
{{see also|Economic history of Australia|Median household income in Australia and New Zealand}}
] in ], Australia's largest ] gold mine]]

The ] is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent ]s of ], ], and ]. The ] and the ] are the largest stock exchanges in Australia.

Australia is one of the most ] capitalist economies, according to ]. Australia's per capita ] is slightly higher than that of the UK, Germany, and France in terms of ]. The country was ranked third in the ] 2007 ], first in ]'s 2008 ], and sixth in '']'' worldwide ] for 2005. All of Australia's major cities fare well in global comparative liveability surveys;<ref> (2004), ''The Age''. Retrieved on 31 January 2009</ref> Melbourne reached 2nd place on ''The Economist'''s 2008 ] list, followed by Perth at 4th, Adelaide at 7th, and Sydney at 9th.<ref>"</ref> The emphasis on exporting commodities rather than manufactures has underpinned a significant increase in Australia's terms of trade during the rise in commodity prices since the start of the century. Australia has a ] that is more than 7% of GDP negative, and has had persistently large ]s for more than 50 years.<ref name="downwonder"> ], 29 March 2007</ref> Australia has grown at an average annual rate of 3.6% for over 15 years, a period in which the OECD annual average was 2.5%.<ref name="downwonder"/> The Australian economy could fall into ] in 2009 after 17 years of growth,<ref>, International Herald Tribune, January 19, 2009
</ref> according to the ].<ref>, The Australian, January 31, 2009</ref>

]

The ] floated the Australian dollar in 1983 and partially deregulated the financial system.<ref>Macfarlane, I. J. (1998). . ''Reserve Bank of Australia Bulletin'', October</ref> The ] followed with a ] and the further privatisation of state-owned businesses, most notably in the ] industry.<ref>Parham, D. (2002). . ''Conference of Economists'', Adelaide, 1 October</ref> The indirect tax system was substantially changed in July 2000 with the introduction of a 10% ] (GST), which has slightly reduced the reliance on personal and company income tax that characterises Australia's tax system.

In January 2007, there were 10,033,480&nbsp;people employed<!--Is this full-time equivalent? How is part-time employment included here?-->, with an unemployment rate of 4.6%.<ref>Australian Bureau of Statistics. Labour Force Australia. Cat#6202.0</ref> Over the past decade<!--MOS breach—see "Vague chronological terms". "Since ?1998"-->, inflation has typically been 2–3% and the base interest rate 5–6%. The service sector of the economy, including tourism, education, and financial services, accounts for 69% of GDP.<ref>Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (2003). ''Advancing the National Interest'', </ref> Although ] and natural resources account for only 3% and 5% of GDP respectively, they contribute substantially to ]. Australia's largest export markets are Japan, China, the US, South Korea, and New Zealand.<ref name="Year Book 2005">Australian Bureau of Statistics. </ref>

==Demography==
{{main|Demographics of Australia|Immigration to Australia}}

{| class="wikitable" align="right" style="margin-left:0.8em;margin-bottom:0.4em"
! colspan="3" | '''Historic population'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://populstat.info/Oceania/australc.htm|title=<!-- Do not remove the following capitalisation. This is the actual title of the page. See the citation for clarification! -->AUSTRALIA: population growth of the whole country|publisher=populstat.info|accessdate=2008-07-22}} 19th century figures do not include the indigenous population</ref>
|-
! Year || Indigenous population ||
|-
| align="center" | pre 1788 || align="right" | 350,000 approximate
|-
! Year || Non Indigenous population || Increase
|-
| align="center" | 1788 || align="right" | 900 || align="center" |&nbsp;—
|-
| align="center" | 1800 || align="right" | 5,200 || align="right" | 477.8%
|-
| align="center" | 1850 || align="right" | 405,400 || align="right" | 7,696.2%
|-
! Year || Total population || Increase
|-
| align="center" | 1900 || align="right" | 3,765,300 || align="right" |&nbsp;—
|-
| align="center" | 1910 || align="right" | 4,525,100 || align="right" | 20.2%
|-
| align="center" | 1920 || align="right" | 5,411,000 || align="right" | 19.6%
|-
| align="center" | 1930 || align="right" | 6,501,000 || align="right" | 20.1%
|-
| align="center" | 1940 || align="right" | 7,078,000 || align="right" | 8.9%
|-
| align="center" | 1950 || align="right" | 8,307,000 || align="right" | 17.4%
|-
| align="center" | 1960 || align="right" | 10,392,000 || align="right" | 25.1%
|-
| align="center" | 1970 || align="right" | 12,663,000 || align="right" | 21.9%
|-
| align="center" | 1980 || align="right" | 14,726,000 || align="right" | 16.3%
|-
| align="center" | 1990 || align="right" | 17,169,000 || align="right" | 16.6%
|-
| align="center" | 2000 || align="right" | 19,169,100 || align="right" | 11.6%
|-
| align="center" | 2009 || align="right" | 21,750,000 || align="right" | 13.6%
|-
|}
Most of the estimated 21.7&nbsp;million Australians are descended from colonial-era settlers and post-Federation immigrants from ], with almost 90% of the population being of ] descent. For generations, the vast majority of both colonial-era settlers and post-Federation immigrants came almost exclusively from the ], and the people of Australia are still mainly of ] or ] ethnic origin.

Australia's population has quadrupled since the end of ],<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/3105.0.65.0012006?OpenDocument
| title = 3105.0.65.001—Australian Historical Population Statistics, 2006
| accessdate = 2007-09-18
| date = 23 May 2006
| format = ]
| publisher = ]
| quote = Australian population: (1919) 5,080,912; (2006) 20,209,993
}}
</ref>
spurred by an ambitious ] program. Following ] and through to 2000, almost 5.9&nbsp;million of the total population settled in the country as new immigrants, meaning that nearly two out of every seven Australians were born overseas.<ref name="Immigration">{{cite web | url = http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2698.htm | title = Background note: Australia| publisher = US Department of State| accessdate = 2007-05-19}}</ref> Most immigrants are skilled,<ref name="immig"></ref> but the immigration quota includes categories for family members and ]s.<ref name="immig"/> In 2001, the five largest groups of the 23.1% of Australians who were born overseas were from the ], New Zealand, ], ], and ].<ref name="Year Book 2005" /><ref></ref> Following the abolition of the ] in 1973, numerous government initiatives have been established to encourage and promote racial harmony based on a policy of ].<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.immi.gov.au/facts/06evolution.htm
| title = The Evolution of Australia's Multicultural Policy
| accessdate = 2007-09-18
| year = 2005
| publisher = Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs
| archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20060219130703/http://www.immi.gov.au/facts/06evolution.htm
| archivedate = 2006-02-19
}}
</ref>
In 2005–06, more than 131,000&nbsp;people emigrated to Australia, mainly from ] and ].<ref></ref> The migration target for 2006–07 was 144,000.<ref>; </ref> The total immigration quota for 2008–09 is around 300,000—its highest level since the Immigration Department was created after World War II.<ref>, 11/06/2008</ref><ref> </ref>

, www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au. Retrieved on 31 January 2009</ref>]]

The Indigenous population—mainland ] and ]—was counted at 410,003 (2.2% of the total population) in 2001, a significant increase from the 1976 census, which counted an indigenous population of 115,953.<ref name="Year Book 2004">{{cite web|url=http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Previousproducts/1301.0Feature%20Article52004?opendocument&tabname=Summary&prodno=1301.0&issue=2004&num=&view=|title=1301.0 - Year Book Australia, 2004
|date=27 February 2004|accessdate=24 April 2009|publisher=]}}</ref> A large number of Indigenous people are not identified in the Census due to undercount and cases where their Indigenous status is not recorded on the form; after adjusting for these factors, the ABS estimated the true figure for 2001 to be approximately 460,140 (2.4% of the total population).<ref name="Indigenous ERP 2001">{{cite web|url=http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/ProductsbyReleaseDate/2315409AD11513DFCA2573370013F824?OpenDocument|title=4705.0 - Population Distribution, Indigenous Australians, 2001
|date=26 June 2002|accessdate=24 April 2009|publisher=]}}</ref>Indigenous Australians suffer from higher rates of imprisonment and unemployment, lower levels of education, and life expectancies for males and females that are 11-17 years lower than those of non-indigenous Australians.<ref name="Year Book 2005" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24708205-601,00.html|title=Life gap figures not black and white|author=Stephen Lunn|publisher=]|date=26 November 2008|accessdate=24 April 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/text/articles/2009/04/09/1239222992443.html|title=Indigenous health gap closes by five years|author=Joel Gibson|publisher=]|date=10 April 2009|accessdate=24 April 2009}}</ref><!-- The Australian and SMH refs should be replaced with the finalised ABS estimate when this becomes available. --> Some remote Indigenous communities have been described as having "]"-like conditions.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/australia-hides-a-failed-state/2006/12/07/1165081088385.html|title=Australia hides a 'failed state'|author=Michelle Grattan|publisher=]|date=8 December 2006|accessdate=17 October 2008}}<br>{{Cite web|url=http://www.safecom.org.au/dear-mr-rudd.htm|title=Extract: Dear Mr Rudd|publisher=Safecom|accessdate=2008-10-17}} (3rd last paragraph)</ref>{{fact|date=April 2009|reason=refs suggest this is coming from three different commentators}}

In common with many other developed countries, Australia is experiencing a demographic shift towards an older population, with more retirees and fewer people of working age. In 2004, the average age of the civilian population was 38.8 years.<ref>Parliament of Australia, Parliamentary Library (2005). </ref> A large number of Australians (759,849 for the period 2002–03)<ref>Parliament of Australia, Senate (2005). </ref> live outside their home country.

English is the national language.<ref name=language>{{Cite web|url=http://www.immi.gov.au/media/publications/multicultural/confer/04/speech18b.htm|title=Pluralist Nations: Pluralist Language Policies?|work=1995 Global Cultural Diversity Conference Proceedings, Sydney|publisher=]|accessdate=2009-01-11}} "English has no de jure status but it is so entrenched as the common language that it is de facto the official language as well as the national language."</ref> ] is a major variety of the language, with its own distinctive accent and vocabulary (some of which has found its way into other varieties of English), but less internal dialectal variation (apart from small regional pronunciation and lexical variations) than either British or American English. Grammar and spelling are largely based on those of British English. According to the 2001 census, English is the only language spoken in the home for around 80% of the population. The next most common languages spoken at home are Chinese (2.1%), Italian (1.9%), and Greek (1.4%). A considerable proportion of first- and second-generation migrants are bilingual. It is believed that there were between 200 and 300 ] at the time of first European contact. Only about 70 of these languages have survived, and all but 20 of these are now ]. An indigenous language remains the main language for about 50,000 (0.25%) people. Australia has a ] known as ], which is the main language of about 6,500 deaf people.
] wine-producing region of South Australia. Fewer than 15% of Australians live in rural areas.]]
Australia has no ]. In the 2006 census, 64% of Australians were listed as ] of any denomination, including 26% as ] and 19% as ]. "]" (which includes ], ], ], and ]) accounted for 19%; and a further 12% declined to answer or did not give a response adequate for interpretation. The fastest-growing and second largest religion in Australia is ], followed by ] and ]. Overall less than 6% of Australians identify with non-Christian religions.<ref name=religion>{{Cite web|url=http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/bb8db737e2af84b8ca2571780015701e/636F496B2B943F12CA2573D200109DA9?opendocument|title=Cultural Diversity|work=1301.0 - Year Book Australia, 2008|publisher=]|date=7 February 2008|accessdate=2009-01-23}} (See subsection titled "Religion")</ref> Surveys have found Australia to be one of the least devout nations in the developed world, with religion not described as an important part in many Australians' lives.<ref>Morris, Lindy. (2008), ''Sydney Morning Herald''. Retrieved on 5 January 2008.</ref><ref>Academics consider the census to be inaccurate in regards to religion as the census "''is designed to measure identification with religious belief - not belief itself or its absence''". Multiple independent surveys carried out by ], the ] and the ] are consistent in that 52% of adult Australians have no religion compared to the 19% indicated by the census. Source: ] April 11, 2009 "Why Adelaide is the Centre of Atheism" Pgs 10-12</ref> As in many Western countries, the level of active participation in church worship is low and in decline;<ref>, www.ad2000.com.au. Retrieved on 5 January 2008.</ref> weekly attendance at church services in 2004 was about 1.5 million: about 7.5% of the population.<ref>, National Church Life Survey, Media release, 28 February 2004</ref>

School attendance is compulsory throughout Australia. In Most Australian States at 5–6 years of age all children receive 11 years (10 years in South Australia and Tasmania) of compulsory education, then can move on to complete two more years (years 11 and 12), contributing to an adult literacy rate that is assumed to be 99%. The ], coordinated by the ] (OECD), currently ranks Australia's education as the eighth best in the world, significantly higher than the average world ranking among the thirty OECD countries.<ref></ref> Government grants have supported the establishment of Australia's 38 universities; and although several private universities have been established, the majority receive government funding. There is a state-based system of vocational training, higher than colleges, known as ], and many trades conduct apprenticeships for training new tradespeople. Approximately 58% of Australians aged from 25 to 64 have vocational or tertiary qualifications,<ref name="Year Book 2005" /> and the tertiary graduation rate of 49% is the highest among OECD countries. The ratio of international to local students in tertiary education in Australia is the highest in the OECD countries.<ref> by ]: Percentage of foreign students in tertiary education.</ref>
{{Largest cities of Australia}}

==Culture==
{{main|Culture of Australia|Cinema of Australia|Music of Australia}}
] in Melbourne was the first building in Australia to be listed as a UNESCO ] in 2004]]
Since 1788, the primary basis of Australian culture has been ], although distinctive Australian features soon arose from the country's natural environment and Indigenous cultures. Since the middle of the 20th century, Australian culture has been influenced by American popular culture (particularly television and cinema), by Australia's Asian neighbours, and by large-scale immigration from non-English-speaking countries.

Australian visual arts are thought to have begun with the ] and bark paintings of its Indigenous peoples.<ref>Welch, David. "", aaia.com.au. Retrieved on 2 November 2008.</ref> The traditions of Indigenous Australians are largely transmitted orally and are tied to ceremony and the telling of the stories of the ]. ], dance, and ] have influenced contemporary Australian visual and performing arts.{{Fact|date=January 2009}} From the time of European settlement, a theme in ] has been the Australian landscape, seen for example in the works of ], ] and others associated with the ], and ]. Australian artists who were influenced by the modern American and European art at the time include ] ], ] ], ] ], and ] ]. The ] and the various state galleries maintain Australian and overseas collections. From early in the 20th century until the present, the country's landscape remains sources of inspiration for Australian ]ists; it has been depicted in acclaimed works by artists such as ], ], ], ], and ].
] artist ]]]
Many of Australia's performing arts companies receive funding through the federal government's ]. There is a symphony orchestra in each of the states' capital cities, and a national opera company, ], which became prominent through the singer ]. ] was her famous predecessor. Ballet and dance are represented by ] and various state dance companies. Each state has a publicly funded theatre company.
] in ]]]
The ] began with 1906 release of the '']'', a 70-minute account of the Australian ] ], which is regarded as being the world's first ] film.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=37899&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html|title=Return of the Kelly Gang|work=The ]|author=Jo Chichester|publisher=]|year=2007|accessdate=2009-02-01}}</ref> The ] in the 1970s brought provocative and successful films, some exploring the nation's colonial past, such as ''Picnic at Hanging Rock'' and ''The Wave''. Later hits included '']'' and '']''. More recent successes included '']'', '']'', and '']''. Australia's diverse landscapes and cities have served as primary locations for many other films, such as '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']''. Recent well-known Australian actors include ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and current joint director of the ], ].

] has also been influenced by the landscape; the works of writers such as ], ], and ] captured the experience of the Australian ]. The character of colonial Australia, as represented in early literature, is popular with modern Australians. They believe it emphasised ], ], and ]ism.{{Fact|date=January 2009}} In 1973, ] was awarded the ], the only Australian to have achieved this. ], ], and ] are also renowned writers.

Australia has two public broadcasters (the ] and the multicultural ]), three commercial ]s, several pay-TV services, and numerous public, non-profit television and radio stations. Each major city has daily newspapers, and there are two national daily newspapers, '']'' and '']''. According to ] in 2008, Australia was in 25th position on a list of 173 countries ranked by ], behind New Zealand (7th) and the United Kingdom (23rd) but ahead of the United States (48th). This low ranking is primarily because of the limited diversity of commercial media ownership in Australia;<ref>Barr, Trevor. "", australianpolitics.com. Retrieved on 2 January 2008.</ref> in particular, most Australian ] are under the control of ] and ].

] originated in ] and is a very popular sport.]]

Approximately 24% Australians over the age of 15 regularly participate in organised ].<ref name="Year Book 2005" /> Australia has strong international teams in ], ], ], ], ] and it performs well in cycling, rowing, and swimming. Some of Australia's best-known sportspersons are swimmers ] and ], sprinter ], tennis players ] and ], and cricketer ]. Nationally, other popular sports include ], horse racing, ], and motor racing. Australia has participated in every summer ] of the modern era, and every ]. Australia hosted the ] in Melbourne and the ] in Sydney, and has ranked among the top six medal-takers since 2000.<ref>, Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved on 25 January 2008</ref> Australia has also hosted the ], ], ], and ]. Other major international events held in Australia include the ] ] tennis tournament, international cricket matches, and the Formula One ]. The highest-rating television programs include sports coverage such as the summer Olympic Games, ], and the ]s of the ] and ].<ref>"Australian Film Commission. What are Australians Watching?" </ref>

==International rankings==
{{International rankings of Australia}}

==See also==
{{portal|Australia|Flag of Australia.svg}}
*]
*]

==Notes==
<div class="references-small">
#{{note|anthem explanation}} Australia also has a ], "]", which is played in the presence of a member of the ] when they are in Australia. In all other appropriate contexts, the ] of Australia, "]", is played.<ref> and ; {{cite book | title = Parliamentary Handbook of the Commonwealth of Australia | edition = 29th | year = 2002 (updated 2005) | chapter = National Symbols | chapterurl = http://www.aph.gov.au/library/handbook/40thparl/national%20symbols.pdf | accessdate = 2007-06-07}}</ref>
#{{note|official languages}} English does not have '']'' status.<ref name=language/>
#{{note|time}}There are minor variations from these three time zones, see ].
#{{note|Southern Ocean}} Australia describes the body of water south of its mainland as the ], rather than the ] as defined by the ] (IHO). In 2000, a vote of IHO member nations defined the term "Southern Ocean" as applying only to the waters between Antarctica and ] latitude.
#{{note|Oss}} The ] records a first occurrence in 1908, in the form ''Oss''.
#{{note|Oz}} ''Oz'' is often taken as an oblique reference to the fictional Land of Oz in the film '']'' (1939), based on ]'s novel '']'' (1900).<ref>Jacobson, H., ''In the Land of Oz'', Penguin, 1988, ISBN 0140109668.</ref> Australians' "image of Australia as a 'Land of Oz' is not new, and dedication to it runs deep".<ref>''The Americana Annual: 1988'', Americana Corporation, vol.&nbsp;13, 1989, p.&nbsp;66, ISBN 0717202208.</ref> The spelling ''Oz'' is likely to have been influenced by the 1939 film, though the pronunciation was probably always with a /z/, as it is also for ''Aussie'', sometimes spelt ''Ozzie''.<ref>Partridge, E., et al., ''The New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English'', Taylor & Francis, 2006, ISBN 041525938X, entries "Oz" and "Ozzie", p.&nbsp;1431.</ref> The ] film '']'' (2008) makes repeated reference to ''The Wizard of Oz'', which appeared just before the wartime action of ''Australia''. One reviewer writes: "You even nod with approval at Luhrmann's audacity for cribbing from 'The Wizard of Oz' in his depiction of his Land of Oz, Australia, as a magical place over the rainbow."<ref>"&nbsp;'Australia' too big to be controlled"'', .''</ref> Some critics have even speculated that Baum was inspired by Australia, in naming the ''Land of Oz'': "In ''Ozma of Oz'' (1907) Dorothy gets back to Oz as the result of a storm at sea while she and Uncle Henry are traveling by ship to Australia. So, like Australia, Oz is somewhere to the west of California. Like Australia, Oz is an island continent. Like Australia, Oz has inhabited regions bordering on a great desert. One might almost imagine that Baum intended Oz to be Australia, or perhaps a magical land in the center of the great Australian desert."<ref>Algeo, J., "Australia as the Land of Oz", ''American Speech'', Vol.&nbsp;65, No.&nbsp;1, 1990, pp.&nbsp;86–89.</ref>
#{{note|Ocker}}"Ocker, ''n''<sup>2</sup> ''Austral. slang.''&nbsp;... A rough, uncultivated, or aggressively boorish Australian man (esp. as a stereotype)" ].
</div>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==Bibliography==
*Denoon, Donald, et al. (2000). ''A History of Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific''. Oxford: Blackwell. ISBN 0631179623.
*Hughes, Robert (1986). ''The Fatal Shore: The Epic of Australia's Founding''. Knopf. ISBN 0394506685.
*Macintyre, Stuart (2000). ''A Concise History of Australia''. Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521623596.
*Powell JM (1988). ''An Historical Geography of Modern Australia: The Restive Fringe''. Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521256194.
*Robinson GM, Loughran RJ, and Tranter PJ (2000) ''Australia and New Zealand: economy, society and environment''. London: Arnold; NY: OUP; 0-340-72033-6 paper 0-340-72032-8 hard).

==External links==
{{sisterlinks}}
{{Spoken Misplaced Pages-2|2006-01-17|AustraliaPart1.ogg|AustraliaPart2.ogg|}}
{{wikiatlas|Australia}}
*{{wikimapia|135703125|26115986|4|Australia}}
* from the ]
* (Federal, State & Territory)
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*{{wikitravel|Australia}}
*{{CIA World Factbook link|as|Australia}}
* at ''UCB Libraries GovPubs''
*{{dmoz|Regional/Oceania/Australia}}
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Revision as of 16:53, 17 May 2009

Oh yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh