Australia is a unique country with a high standard of living and good lifestyle. It is the sixth largest country in the world yet has the lowest population density of any country. Australia is a popular tourist destination as it has many attractions and activities as well as varied scenic landscapes and distinctive wildlife. Australia’s mainland is the world’s largest island and the smallest continent.

Australia is a tolerant and multicultural country, with more than 20 per cent of the population being foreign born and more than 40 per cent of mixed cultural origin.

Australia is a constitutional democracy and the form of government used is a constitutional monarchy, with Queen Elizabeth II being represented in parliament by the Governor-General. The two main political groups that form government, both federally and in the states, are the Australian Labor Party and the Coalition.

The Australian legal system is based on justice and the rule of the law, and all people – both Australian and non-Australian – are treated as equals before the law.

The climate in Australia ranges from tropical regions in the north through to temperate regions in the south. The country is quite arid, with a large expanse of desert area in the low-populated middle region of the country. Most of the population lives on the coast, primarily the south eastern coast of the country in the major cities.

Aboriginal people, believed to be one of the world’s oldest civilisations, have lived on the Australian continent for over 50, 000 years. European discovery of the continent occurred in 1606 by Dutch explorers, and initial settlement by the British took place in 1770 who claimed the eastern half of the country. The population grew steadily in the following years, and on 1 January 1901 the Commonwealth of Australia was formed.