About Australia Essay -- Australia Economy Population Culture Trade Es

About Australia Australia, island continent located southeast of Asia and forming, with the nearby island of Tasmania, the commenwealth of Australia, a self governing member of the Commenwealth of Nations. The commenwealth of Australia is made up of six states--News south Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Wester n Australia--and two territories--the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory. Australia, including Tasmania but excluding external territories, covers a land area of 7,682,300 sq. km, extending from Cape York (100 41' S) in the north some 3,680 km to Tasmania (430 39' S), and from Cape Byron (1530 39' E) in the east some 4,000 km west to Western Australia (1130 9' E). Basic Data Population (estimates), July 1995, 18,322,231, with the age structure under 15 (female 1,929,366; male 2,032,238), 15-64 (female 6,017,362; male 6,181,887), 65 and over(female 1,227,004; male 934,374). Population growth rate is estimated at 1.31% (1995 est.). Literacy rate age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.). English is the official language, with modern Australian English a conglomerate of British, American, and their own phraseology and spelling. Because Australia is one of the most multicultural nations in the world it is possible to find vibrant ethnic communities using almost every other world language.Australian school children have the highest rate of learning Asian languages, particularly Japanese and Chinese, of any industrialized western nation - in recognition of their future as a member of the Asia-Pacific region. Labor force is 8.63 million(september 1991) by occupation of finance and service 33.8%, public and community services 22.3%, wholesale and reatail trade 20.1%, manufacturing and industry 16.2%, agriculture 6.1%(1987). Political System Australia has a federal system of government, and a long history as a multiparty parliamentary democracy. There is no written Bill of Rights, but fundamental rights are ensured by law and respected in practice. The Commonwealth (federal) government and the six state governments operate under written constitutions that draw on the British tradition of a Cabinet Government, led by a Prime Minister, which is responsible to a majority in Parliament's lower house. The Federal Constitution, however, also contains some element... ...ing almost a quarter of total merchandise exports; Exports to the Asian region overall grew by almost seven per cent to $A41 billion; Elaborately Transformed Manufactures (ETMs) exports grew 14 per cent to almost $A14 billion - they now account for 20 per cent of all merchandise exports; Despite a five per cent fall in export earnings, coal remained Australia's largest commodity export; Exports of computers and office machinery, parts and accessories increased in aggregate by 30 per cent to almost $A1 billion - assembled computer exports grew by over 60 per cent during the year; The value of wool exports held steady during 1993-94 - a five per cent increase in volume was offset by lower average prices (although prices recovered during the second half of the year); There were significant falls in exports of both crude and refined petroleum oil; The growth in wine exports typifies the increasing diversity of Australia's export base - they have increased over the last decade at an annual trend rate of over 40 per cent; The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Manufacturing Survey revealed that exporting manufacturers were performing significantly better