Australia

Australia

Australia, to many, is known as a "classical country of immigration." All but about 300,000 of the approximate 20,305,486 in Australia descended from immigrants who originally arrived with a settlement of British convicts in 1788. In July of 2001 Australia's population consisted of approximately 92% Caucasian, 7% Asian, and only 1% Aborigine.(native Australian). Australia has an estimated net gain of one international migrant every 4 minutes and 9 seconds. As of September of 1999 there was an approximated total of 53,143 illegal immigrants, over staying their welcome. After World War II, an immigration program was introduced with an aim of bringing mainly British immigrants to Australia. The majority of immigrants however, wound up coming from Eastern and Northern Europe, and then Southern Europe in the 1950's and 60's. Once into the 1970's Australia began to see an all new wave of immigrants taking a stand in their new grounds. This new group, still the predominant immigrants to the country of today, made their journeys from the Middle East, Latin America and Asia (where over half of today's immigrants to Australia come from). The high numbers of migrants into Australia has helped in more ways than it's hurt. There has been a higher number of people coming into the country with a high skill level than low skill level. This has produced a higher working rate and helped the economy a lot.

Many economists follow the opinion that migration has had a more dynamic and expansionary on Australia's Economy. On the other hand there are the fair share that have said Australia's population would undoubtedly see better days with a lower level of migration into the country. It is said immigration is increasing unemployment, making a worse balance of payments, puts strain of public affairs and aided in the slowing down of labor-saving investments. The official Bureau of Immigration, have done what they can to examine the issues in migration to Australia and fix them. All in all, immigration has been labeled as neutral or slightly positive as far as effectiveness on a macro economic level.

Population and immigration issues are not the only ones bruising the skin of Australian economy. In Australia's 7,686,850 square kilometers of land, 24,000 km of it is irrigated. In their irrigated land, Australia has suffered the common problems of soil erosion from over grazing, industrial development, urbanization and poor farming practice. Australia is the world's smallest continent but sixth largest country. You can find most of the country's population packed into the eastern and southeastern coasts. A lot of Australia's more important geographic features you will find are barely populated, if at all. The Darling/Murray River System starts with the Darling river, 1,160 miles in length flows from the Great Dividing Range, southwest into the Murray River. The Murray River heads into the Australian Alps and makes it's way 1,200 miles to the Spencer Gulf. Being the longest river located in Australia it is the country's main source of irrigation and one of the most important geographical features to the country's economy. Some other places of interest found in the depths of the down under are a few of it's deserts which stretch across the sparsely populated "outback". A few of these deserts go by the names of The Gibson Desert, The Great Sandy Desert, the Great Victoria Desert, The Tanami Desert, and the Simpson Desert. Of the deserts listed, the smallest you'll find is the Simpson, which is still a large 56,000 square miles. The largest of the list would be the Great Sandy Desert. It's 150,000 square miles covers most of Western Australia, leaving this portion of the country rather arid and unfamiliar with much life. Looking into perhaps a slightly wetter side of geographic Australia, one may find interest in the Shark Bay which is recorded as one of only fourteen spots on the entire planet that meets all four natural criteria for World Heritage Listings. These would include the following: outstanding examples of the earth's evolution, biological and ecological processes,