A Global Perspective

Chapter 33: Renting a Place to Live

Australia

Australia is an island continent located southeast of Asia and along with the nearby island of Tasmania, officially called the Commonwealth of Australia. Australia is the only nation to occupy an entire continent. The first people to live in Australia were the Aborigines who migrated there about 40,000 years ago. The continent remained relatively unknown by outsiders until the 17^th century. Australia is slightly smaller than the contiguous 48 states of the United States. Virtually the entire population is literate. Australia has an affluent, capitalist economy. Australia is a founding member of the United Nations.

The government of Australia is a democratic, federal-state system recognizing the British monarch as sovereign. The chief of state is the Queen of England represented by a governor general who is appointed by the monarch. The head of government is the prime minister who is usually the leader of the majority party appointed by the governor general for a three-year term. The governor general, on the advice of the prime minister, selects the cabinet from among the members of Federal Parliament. The Federal Parliament consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Senate has 76 members—12 from each of the six states and two from each of the two territories. The House of Representatives has 148 members who are elected by popular vote on the basis of preferential representation. The House members serve three-year terms.

The legal system is based on English common law. Australia’s High Court consists of the chief justice and six other justices who are appointed by the governor general.