The Australian flag uses the Union Jack in the top left quadrant, with a seven point star representing the six states plus territories below, while on the right is the Southern Cross constellation using five stars, one five pointed smaller one and four seven pointed and larger. Australia is the smallest continent and largest island.
The indigenous inhabitants were there 48,000 years ago. The Spaniards came as early as 1561, followed by the Dutch in 1606. Neither made any attempt at settlement, so in 1770, Captain James Cook claimed the Eastern portion for Great Britain. Yes, the first settlers in the late 1700’s were mostly convicts. In 1829, the entire continent was made part of the United Kingdom. Soon after gold was found in 1851 (just after the San Francisco 49ers), the more traditional form of emigration occurred. Various original tribes once numbered 350,000, but significantly declined over time. But today there are just over half a million, 2.5% of the population.
The Australia Commonwealth has six states, each headed by a premier. The capital was transferred from Melbourne to Canberra in 1927, with the city designed by American Walter Griffin, which was just as well because their Constitution was patterned after ours. The current prime minister is Kevin Rudd. Australia supports the U.S. in Afghanistan.
This is officially a constitutional democracy, but recognizing Queen Elizabeth as sovereign and having a parliamentary system of government make it a constitutional monarchy. It is about the size of the 48 contiguous United States with 7% the population (21 million, doubling since World War 2, with nearly a quarter being foreign born). The life expectancy is approaching 83 and GDP/capita is $38,000. Literacy is 99%. The ethnicity is 92% white, with most being Christian, although 30% either are unspecified or have no religion.
Australia is now in its 17th year of uninterrupted economic expansion and enjoys a higher standard of living than any G7 country save for the United States. The federal government has zero net debt and, through the "Future Fund," is building a net asset Both oil and natural gas are produced, with the former also imported and latter exported on balance. There is no nuclear powerplant. Military expenditures are 2.4% of GDP.
Tasmania is one of the six states, located 150 miles south of the continent and is about the size of West Virginia. Opium is legally produced. While the country at large has the kangaroo, this island has the Tasmanian Devil (see photo), a marsupial about the size of a small dog. It is carnivorous, but, unfortunately is endangered because of a tumor disease.
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The Dow Jones Industrial climbed 75 to 8750, oil is just under $70/barrel and gold rose $15/toz to $980.
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