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Australia is a country and a continent that lies between the Pacific and Indian Oceans in the Southern Hemisphere. It is officially called the Commonwealth of Australia and is the world's smallest continent and sixth-largest country by area. The Australian mainland is relatively flat and arid, with the Great Dividing Range running along most of eastern Australia. The country has a diverse climate, ranging from wet tropical in the northeast and northwest to arid in the centre. Australia is known for its unique flora and fauna, including kangaroos, koalas, and the only egg-laying mammals, the platypus and echidna. With a highly developed economy, Australia ranks highly in quality of life, health, education, and civil liberties. It is also one of the most ethnically diverse nations, with nearly a quarter of its population born in other countries.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Population | 25-28 million |
| Population Characteristics | Highly urbanised, with a large foreign-born population |
| Geography | The smallest continent, the largest island, and the sixth-largest country in the world |
| Land Characteristics | Arid or semi-arid with low relief |
| Climate | Wet tropical in the northeast and northwest, arid in the centre, temperate and humid in the coastal south |
| Economy | One of the strongest performing economies in the world, with abundant natural resources |
| Government | Federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy |
| Culture | One of the most ethnically diverse nations in the world, with a unique ecosystem |
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What You'll Learn
Australia is a continent, an island and a country
Australia is a country, a continent, and an island. It is officially called the Commonwealth of Australia and is made up of the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest country in the world by area, and the smallest continent. Australia is sometimes considered the world's largest island and is often called the "island continent".
The Australian continent is surrounded by the Indian and Pacific Oceans, and the country has a coastline of 35,877 km (22,293 mi), excluding offshore islands. The country has a highly urbanised population of around 28 million people, with the majority living on the eastern seaboard. The capital, Canberra, is located in the southeast, and the largest cities are Sydney and Melbourne, each with a population of over five million.
Australia is a culturally diverse nation with one of the highest foreign-born populations in the world. It has a strong economy, driven by its abundant natural resources and well-developed international trade relations. The country has a unique ecosystem due to its remote location, and is home to many plant and animal species that are found nowhere else in the world, such as the platypus, kangaroo, koala, and various eucalyptus trees.
Geographically, Australia is considered a continent in its own right, separate from Oceania, which is a region. However, the term continent is not strictly defined and can be subject to different interpretations. Australia's status as an island or continent can depend on the definitions used, but it is accurate to refer to it as both, as well as a country.
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Australia is a diverse nation with a strong economy
Australia is a country and one of the largest by total area. It is officially the Commonwealth of Australia and is a federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy. It comprises the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands.
Australia is a culturally diverse nation with a strong economy. It has a highly urbanized population of almost 28 million, with a large proportion of foreign-born residents. The country has a highly developed economy, with one of the highest per capita incomes globally. Its economy is open and stable, with a strong performance that has been recognized globally. Australia has abundant natural resources and a well-developed international trade network, which are crucial to its economy.
The nation's cultural diversity is a result of successive waves of migration, which have strengthened its national identity and democracy. Immigrants have positively impacted the economy, with skilled migrants contributing to business activity, economic growth, and diversity in the labor force. Australia's multiculturalism is a nation-building endeavor, fostering cultural generosity and diversity.
However, Australia's economy faces challenges due to overreliance on specific sectors, such as mining and raw material exports. There is a need for diversification and innovation to ensure sustainable growth and resilience. Australia's ranking on the Economic Complexity Index highlights this issue, indicating a lack of economic diversification.
Despite these challenges, Australia remains a global leader with a strong and resilient economy. The nation has a bright future, especially with its proximity to Asian markets and its abundant natural resources. By investing in renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, and technology, Australia can further strengthen its economic position and continue to thrive as a diverse and prosperous nation.
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Australia has a unique ecosystem
Australia is a country that comprises the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It is the only country in the world that covers an entire continent. It is the sixth-largest country in the world and the largest in Oceania.
The Australian environment ranges from pristine Antarctic territory and rainforests to degraded industrial areas of major cities. There are several types of rainforests in Australia, including tropical rainforests, mainly found in the northeast, subtropical rainforests near the mid-eastern coast, and broadleaf rainforests in the southeast and on the island of Tasmania. The Great Dividing Range runs along most of eastern Australia, dividing the central lowlands from the eastern highlands.
Australia has a rich variety of endemic plant and animal species. The country is home to hundreds of kinds of eucalyptus trees and acacias, and various unique animal species, such as the platypus, echidna, kangaroo, koala, wombat, emu, and kookaburra. The Great Barrier Reef, off the east coast of Queensland, is the greatest mass of coral in the world and one of Australia's unique ecosystems.
Australia's ecosystems are vulnerable to the effects of climate change and global warming due to their extensive arid and semi-arid areas, warm climate, and high annual rainfall variability. The country has already experienced increases in wildfires, fragile ecosystems, and more severe floods, droughts, and cyclones.
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Australia has a history of conflict with Indigenous peoples
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It is the smallest continent and one of the largest countries on Earth. The country is highly urbanised, with a population of almost 28 million people.
Australia has a long history of conflict with its Indigenous peoples, the Aboriginal Australians. The arrival of Lt James Cook in 1770 marked the beginning of the end for their ancient way of life. Cook declared the land he called New South Wales to be the property of Britain's King George III, despite the land already being populated by Aboriginal Australians. This legal fiction that Australia was waste and unoccupied is known as terra nullius.
The British invasion of Australia in 1788 brought armed conflict and a lack of understanding, which led to the demise of the northern Sydney clans and other peoples of the Sydney basin. The Aboriginal people of the Sydney Basin were soon facing food shortages as a result of overfishing, unsustainable hunting, land clearance, and water pollution by the large white population. They also had no resistance to the deadly viruses carried by the sailors and convicts, such as smallpox, syphilis, and influenza. In less than a year, over half of the indigenous population living in the Sydney Basin had died from smallpox.
The conflict between Indigenous Australians and European settlers became localised frontier warfare, known as the "Black War". Between 1828 and 1830, over 50 British were killed in what was the "most successful Aboriginal resistance in Australia's history". In response, Lieutenant-Governor Arthur attempted to end the "Black War" with a massive offensive known as the "Black Line". While few Indigenous people were captured, the operation discouraged the Indigenous raiding parties, and they gradually agreed to leave their land for a reservation at Flinders Island.
The Kalkadoon held settlers out of Western Queensland for ten years until September 1884 when they were attacked at Battle Mountain. The subsequent battle ended in disaster for the Kalkadoon, who suffered heavy losses. Conflict continued in North Queensland, with Indigenous raiders attacking sheep and cattle. Sub-inspector of Native Police Frederic Charles Urquhart wrote that he and his detachment pursued and killed up to 150 Aboriginal people in just three or four so-called "dispersals". The conflict in Queensland was the bloodiest in the history of colonial Australia.
The final battles took place in the Northern Territory, where attempts by pastoralists to occupy Indigenous land led to fighting that continued into the 20th century. At least 31 Indigenous men were killed by police in the Coniston massacre in 1928, and further reprisal expeditions were conducted in 1932 and 1933. Armed resistance to British invasion was generally ignored by historians until the 1970s.
Despite this history of conflict, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have persevered, demonstrating remarkable strength, resilience, and tenacity when engaging with the Australian nation-state to have their rights recognised. They have resisted state-sanctioned injustice since colonisation began, with early examples including mass protests against the inhumane treatment and living conditions imposed upon residents of Aboriginal reservations. The swell of support for change sparked by the Indigenous protest movement in Australia has led to changes to the Constitution, as with the 1967 referendum.
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Australia is a constitutional monarchy
Australia is a country and the smallest continent on Earth, lying between the Pacific and Indian Oceans in the Southern Hemisphere. It is officially the Commonwealth of Australia and is a federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy comprising six states and ten territories.
The monarchy of Australia is a central component of the country's system of government, with a hereditary monarch serving as the head of state. The current monarch is King Charles III, who has reigned since 8 September 2022. The monarch is represented at the federal level by the governor-general, who is currently Samantha Mostyn. The governor-general is appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister. In each of the Australian states, the monarch is represented by a governor, who is assisted by a lieutenant-governor. These are the only mandatory constitutional functions of the monarch of Australia.
Australia's constitutional monarchy is modelled on the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy and responsible government, while incorporating features unique to the Constitution of Australia. The Australian federal Parliament does not have a head of power over succession. The monarchy in Australia is distinct from that of the United Kingdom, and the monarch acts exclusively upon the advice of Australian state and federal ministers.
There is a view that Australia should become a republic, and a referendum on the issue was defeated in 1999. The debate centres on whether the system of constitutional monarchy is working adequately and whether it is relevant in a modern democracy.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Australia is a country. It is officially called the Commonwealth of Australia and is a federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy.
Australia is considered both a country and a continent. Geographically, it is the smallest continent and the sixth-largest country by total area.
Australia is sometimes considered the world's largest island and is often dubbed the "island continent". It is also referred to as an "island nation" as it does not share land borders with any other country.
