AUSTRALIA (COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA) PAX GAEA COUNTRY REPORT

Commonwealth of Australia is located in the northwest of the Oceania Continent, with a population of 21,262,641,
making it the 55th largest national population. Its capital is Canberra and its largest city is Sydney with a total
population of 4,336,374. The country encompasses 7,686,850 square kilometers making it the 6th largest country in
total area. It shares boundaries with the Indian Ocean.

Queen of Australia and the United Kingdom Elizabeth II is recognized as the Chief of State and achieves that status
through heredity and holds that position for life or abdication. She is represented by Governor General Quentin Bryce.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard is recognized as the Head of Government and achieved that position when she replaced
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd as the leader of the majority party on 24 June 2010. She is Australia's first female Prime
Minister. Its form of government is a Federal Parliamentary Democracy and they celebrate the creation of their
constitution on 9th of July 1900.

The languages commonly or officially spoken are English, Chinese, Italian, and numerous other and unspecified
languages. It counts among its major religions Catholic, Anglican, other Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, other and
unspecified faiths and none. As sources of mass communication it has 262 AM, 345 FM, 1 Short Wave and 104
Television stations.

Major geographical features are Mount Kosciuszko, its highest point at 2,229 meters and Lake Eyre, its lowest point at
–15 meters. Its principal waterway is Murray-Darling River System, which measures approximately 2000 kilometers.

Major industries providing for the bulk of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) are mining, industrial and
transportation equipment, food processing, chemicals and steel. Its official currency is Australian Dollar.

Here’s something you may not know about Australia. Perth became known as Australia’s “City of Lights” when in
1962 the entire city turned on every single light to greet American astronaut John Glenn as he passed over the city
while orbiting the earth in the Mercury Space Capsule. They repeated the greeting in 1998 when a much older and
now United States Senator Glenn took his last space flight aboard the Discovery Space Shuttle.

Aborigine with
pearlshell necklace

Baby Tasmanian Devils

Uluru- also known as
Ayers Rock

Canberra- Australia's
capital city

Great Barrier Reef

Gunbarrel Highway in
the Outback

Koala

Mount Kosciuszko-
Australia's highest point

Kangaroo mama and
Joey in the pouch

Australia is well known by everyone in the USA and maybe further. Daddy even wants to drive the Gunbarrel
some day and I want to see it in all directions, from corner to corner. I want you to do the same... That's an
order! And I know you will love it. I enjoyed looking at photos and reading about it and I hope you did to.

5 Suitcases = Let's Go Now!
4 Suitcases = Put This One On the List
3 Suitcases = May Be Worth Checking Out
2 Suitcases = So Many Other Places To See
1 Suitcase = Well, I'll Go If I Have To