Ruqayyah Snyder
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 world's smallest continent and the sixth-largest country by total area. Australia is a federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy with a highly urbanized population of almost 28 million. Its capital is Canberra, and its two most populous cities are Sydney and Melbourne. Australia has a highly developed economy and one of the highest per capita incomes globally. Its unique flora and fauna include eucalyptus trees, platypuses, kangaroos, and koalas. Australia's history of ownership is complex, with a mix of titles, leases, and Indigenous ownership. While the country gained independence from the British Empire in 1901, it continues to be a part of the Commonwealth.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Official Name | Commonwealth of Australia |
| Continent | Australia |
| Land Area | 7,688,287 km2 (2,968,464 sq mi) or 8.56 million square kilometres (3,310,000 sq mi) |
| Population | 28 million |
| Capital | Canberra |
| Most Populous Cities | Sydney and Melbourne |
| Type of Government | Federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy |
| Number of States and Territories | Six states and ten territories |
| Cultural Diversity | One of the highest foreign-born populations in the world |
| Economic Status | Highly developed economy, one of the highest per capita incomes globally, and the world's 14th-largest economy |
| Natural Resources | Unique flora and fauna, abundant natural resources, including the Great Barrier Reef |
| Media | Two public broadcasters, three commercial television networks, several pay-TV services, numerous non-profit television and radio stations, and two national daily newspapers |
| Indigenous Ownership | Recognized as belonging to First Nations Peoples, with native title covering about 40% of the country |
| Land Ownership | Complex, with a mix of freehold, pastoral leases, crown leases, public land, native title, and land held by Aboriginal trusts |
| Diplomatic Relations | Established diplomatic relations with the United States in 1940, gained control over external policy from the United Kingdom in the early to mid-1900s |
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What You'll Learn
Australia's Indigenous land ownership
Australia is a federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy, with a highly urbanised population of almost 28 million people. It is a megadiverse country, with a wide variety of landscapes and climates, including tropical rainforests and arid interiors.
Australia is officially the Commonwealth of Australia, and it comprises the mainland Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, numerous smaller islands, and some remote offshore territories. Australia is the world's smallest continent, and the sixth-largest country by total area.
The Aboriginal ancestors of Indigenous Australians began arriving from Southeast Asia between 50,000 and 65,000 years ago, and by the time of British settlement, they spoke 250 distinct languages and had one of the oldest living cultures in the world.
The movement of Aboriginal people in Australia was controlled by colony- and later state-based laws, which often restricted them to living on Aboriginal reserves or mission stations, with no rights to land ownership. The modern land rights movement started with the 1963 Yolngu Bark Petition, and the 1976 Aboriginal Land Rights Act established the basis on which Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory could claim rights to land based on traditional occupation.
The Native Title Act 1993 recognised, for the first time, that Indigenous people had rights to land sourced from their continuing connection to it, and that these rights are recognised under Australian common law. This Act includes rights and interests relating to land and waters held by Indigenous Australians under traditional laws and customs.
Indigenous-owned land is defined as freehold land owned and managed by Indigenous communities. As of 2020, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' rights and interests in the land are formally recognised over around 40% of Australia's land mass, and when non-exclusive native title is included, this rises to about 54%.
There is no nationally consistent protocol for recording land tenure and land use information, and data is often incomplete and inconsistent. However, researchers argue that knowing who owns Australia is essential for understanding the country's identity and properly managing its resources.
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Australia's colonial history
During this early period, the colony was primarily confined to a radius of 100 kilometres around Sydney and the central plain of Van Diemen's Land (now known as Tasmania). The colony was established as a place of punishment and reform for convicts, with approximately 161,700 convicts transported to the Australian colonies during this time. The convicts played a significant role in the early economy and development of the colony, contributing skills in building, farming, sailing, fishing, and hunting. They also worked on government farms and public works projects, such as land clearing and construction.
The social and economic development of the colony was influenced by a range of factors, including the impact of individuals such as Governor William Bligh and Governor Lachlan Macquarie. Governor Bligh attempted to suppress the illegal rum trade and the use of Crown Land, leading to the Rum Rebellion of 1808. Governor Macquarie served from 1810 to 1821 and played a key role in transitioning New South Wales from a penal colony to a civil society.
The expansion of the colony led to increasing conflict with Aboriginal people on their traditional lands. The introduction of cattle and sheep grazing, as well as the growth of free settlements, contributed to this conflict. By the 1830s and 1840s, public demands for representative government increased, and penal transportation to New South Wales ended in 1840. The British settlement had a significant impact on the Aboriginal population, leading to a decline in their numbers and the disruption of their cultures due to introduced diseases, violent conflict, and dispossession of their lands.
In summary, Australia's colonial history during the 1800s was characterised by European exploration and settlement, the establishment of British colonies, and the social and economic development of the colony. The impact of individuals, the conflict with Aboriginal people, and the transition from a penal colony to a civil society were also significant aspects of this period.
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Australia's modern land ownership
Australia is a federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy comprising six states and ten territories. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area.
The question of who owns the Australian outback is a complex one. The true answer is First Nations Peoples, whose ownership goes back 60,000 years. However, the legal answer is more complicated, with a mix of titles, including freehold, pastoral leases, crown leases, public land, native title, and land held by Aboriginal trusts.
Pastoral leases cover 44% of Australia, and are defined as a title issued for the lease of crown land for the purpose of grazing stock and associated activities. The person holding the most land under pastoral leases is Gina Rinehart, who controls 1.2% of Australia's landmass through three corporate entities. The largest corporate landholder is the Australian Agricultural Company, whose biggest shareholder is the Bahamas-based AA Trust, controlled by British billionaire Joe Lewis.
About 40% of Australia is covered by native title, with Indigenous communities holding the freehold title to 17% of the country, mainly in the Northern Territory and South Australia. When non-exclusive native title is included, the proportion rises to 54%. The Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1976 established the basis on which Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory could claim rights to land based on traditional occupation, and similar land rights laws exist in other states and territories.
Each state in Australia has a different regime for the regulation and bureaucratisation of land, and most land is now held under the Torrens system, which was devised to reduce fraud relating to land.
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Australia's foreign relations
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy. It has a highly developed economy and one of the highest per capita incomes globally. Australia's abundant natural resources and well-developed international trade relations are crucial to the country's economy.
In terms of foreign relations, Australia has long-standing ties with the United Kingdom and is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. Historically, the role of the Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom was one of the most significant conduits for Australian foreign relations. In recent times, Australia has sought to strengthen its relationship with Asian countries, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. This includes a focus on diplomatic missions and trade agreements with neighbouring countries in Southeast Asia.
In 1921, Australia appointed its first official representative in Asia, with the appointment of Edward S. Little as trade commissioner to China. In the same year, Egbert Sheaf was appointed as a trade commissioner to "the East", based in Singapore. Prime Minister Joseph Lyons, who took office in 1932, played a significant role in shaping Australia's foreign policy and renewed the country's interest in international relations.
During World War II, Australia's vulnerability to attack led to a critical decision by the Curtin Government to seek closer military protection from the United States. Since then, the United States has been Australia's most important security ally, formalised by the Australia, New Zealand, United States Security (ANZUS) Treaty in 1951.
In recent decades, Australia has also developed a growing relationship with the People's Republic of China. After establishing diplomatic relations in 1972, Sino-Australian relations flourished, with China becoming Australia's main trading partner. However, since 2017, relations between the two countries have deteriorated due to Australian criticism of policies and actions under Xi Jinping.
Australia has also shown interest in enhancing its engagement with the Pacific region, as seen through initiatives like the Pacific Step-Up with Pacific Island states. Additionally, Australia is committed to addressing challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, such as shrinking civic space, by contributing to initiatives like the Civil Society Partnerships Fund (CSPF).
Overall, Australia maintains a dynamic and evolving approach to foreign relations, adapting to global shifts and pursuing opportunities for international cooperation and trade.
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Australia's economy
Australia is a highly developed country with a mixed economy. As of 2023, it had the 14th-largest national economy by nominal GDP, which was estimated at $1.98 trillion as of June 2021. Australia's economy is dominated by its service sector, which in 2017 comprised 62.7% of the GDP and employed 78.8% of the labour force. The country has a relatively open, trade-exposed economy, with plentiful natural resources, including the second-largest accessible reserves of iron ore, the fifth-largest reserves of coal, and significant gas reserves.
Historically, Australia's economy depended heavily on agriculture, particularly wool exports, and foreign investment. However, the growth of manufacturing and services, especially the spectacular developments in mineral exploitation after World War II, shifted the economic landscape. Mining has contributed significantly to Australia's high level of economic growth, from the gold rush in the 1840s to the present day. The mining boom in 2009-2010 saw the total value-added by the mining industry reach 8.4% of GDP.
Australia's resilience during economic downturns, such as the global recession from 2008 to 2009, can be attributed to various factors. These include government stimulus spending, proximity to the booming Chinese economy, and the related mining boom. Additionally, Australia avoided a recession from 1991 until 2020, experiencing the longest run of uninterrupted GDP growth in the developed world.
While Australia has benefited from economic liberalisation and global trade, its reliance on foreign investment and vulnerability to world markets have also been noted. The country's economic fortunes are influenced by changes in global demand for its exports, and its terms of trade are affected by fluctuations in commodity prices.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia is a country that owns itself and is not owned by another country. It is officially the Commonwealth of Australia and is a federal parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy comprising six states and ten territories.
The traditional owners of Australia are the First Nations Peoples, whose ownership of the land dates back 60,000 years.
The legal answer is complex, with a mix of freehold, pastoral leases, crown leases, public land, native title, and land held by Aboriginal trusts. About 44% of Australia is covered by pastoral leases, and about 40% is covered by native title, with Indigenous communities holding the freehold title to 17% of the country.
Australia was colonised by the British, with the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788. On 1 January 1901, six colonies were joined to create the Commonwealth of Australia, a self-governing Dominion within the British Empire. Over the next few decades, Australia gradually gained control over its external affairs, with the Statute of Westminster Adoption Act coming into effect in 1939, marking Australia's independence in managing its external relations.
