Australia Promotes Multiculturalism

Of all the things about Australia, culture is probably the one thing that interests a lot of people the most. Indeed, the country's culture has come to fascinate a lot of people. And one part of it that has caught the attention of many is multiculturalism.

As it is, multiculturalism is very much a part of the country's identity. Despite the fact that much of the Australian way of life is primarily British, there are still tons of other cultural elements that have been incorporated to it. And as Australia's culture continues to evolve, it is like that more elements will be included into it.

And it is interesting to note where the idea of multiculturalism in the country's culture actually started. As have been said earlier, much of the country's current cultural norms have been brought about by the incoming British settlers during the 18th and 19th centuries. However, the Western settlers and the native Aboriginal populace actually had a generally harmonious relationship, thus allowing elements of native culture to seep into the settlers' own. This is evident in the number of native words in the Australian vocabulary as well as the presence of other elements in its culture.

On the other hand, Australia has also been considered as a major immigration destination. Ever since its early history, the continent has been a major migration route, with people from all parts of the globe arriving here regularly. In the 20th century, the country saw the biggest waves of immigration, as many people fleeing the various wars have seen it as a haven. This, in turn, has brought other cultural elements in, which the country gladly accepted.

Because of the deep roots of multiculturalism in the nation's identity, Australia has always been an active promoter of the idea to the rest of the world. The country regularly sponsors exchanges with other countries to to learn more about their respective cultures. On the other hand, Australia also actively promotes its own to other countries.

However, despite these achievements, there is still a lot of challenges facing Australian multiculturalism. Some of these come in the form of opposition within the country itself, as there are groups wishing to protect a so called “Australian identity”. In response to these claims, proponents and supporters of the concept have said that multiculturalism is, in fact, that identity. Thus, they have said that they will continue the efforts to promote an Australia where a wide variety of people can live in.

Why The Irish Are Moving To Australia

For people moving into Australia, emigration from their home country is often seen as the only way that they can start a new life. Indeed, for many of those wishing to establish a new lives, Australia is often seen as one of the best places to head to. And experts agreed that this will likely continue in the years to come.

As of current, much of the immigrants coming to the land down under are those coming from the western countries, including Britain and the United States. However, in recent years, Australia has also become a popular destination for those coming from the Asian countries, as well as those from other parts of the globe.

One of the biggest reasons why a lot of people are moving into the land down under is because of the tons of opportunities available here. As a lot of people have probably known already, the country's economy is now on a boom. And because of this, a lot of businesses in the country now has a huge demand for workers.

Since Australia has a relatively small population, it is not able to take in much of the worker demand of the businesses in here. And this is where foreign workers come in, as they are the ones who fill in the demands of many industries here.

Of all the groups of people moving here, probably one of the fastest growing in terms of numbers are those coming from the country of Ireland. And with the current situation that the country is in, many Irish are now opting to move to Australia. For those who have already read the news, Ireland is currently experiencing a severe economic slowdown. This in turn, has lead many Irish to consider moving our as an option.

It is interesting to note that it is actually not that surprising for a lot of folks in Ireland to choose Australia as the place that they want to head to. You see, Australia and Ireland actually share the same British lineage, which means that it will actually be easy for Irish folks to settle here. In fact, some of the earliest immigrants to Australia are actually of Irish descent.

And Australia is very welcoming of the Irish. As it is, there are many Irish communities in all states. And this would certainly help a lot for them in settling here. Thus, a lot of Irish have come to consider Australia as their second home.

Australia's Local Celebrities

If you are following Australia, current news of local celebrities are likely to catch your attention. As it is, there are actually a lot of famous and interesting people in the country. And here are a few of them that you definitely would want to meet.

As a start, Steve Irwin is probably one of the most popular Australians that the public knows, if you have been hiding under a rock for quite sometime, Steve Irwin is more popularly known as the Crocodile Hunter, which is his monicker in the popular wildlife show of the same name. Through the show, Irwin was able to do much to promote animal conservation to many of his viewers.

Sadly, Irwin died in 2006 due to a fatal encounter with a stingray. However, he has since been considered as a local hero in Australia and has been awarded various recognitions by many groups. The international community has also recognized his contributions to wildlife conservation and have also given him a wide variety of memorials.

Meanwhile, in the realm of films, there have been a lot of Australians that has been quite popular with the audience. One of perhaps the most well known in this field is actor Hugh Jackman. Jackman is best well known by movie fans for his portrayal of the superhero Wolverine in the X-Men franchise, as well as the monster hunter Van Helsing in the movie of the same name. The actor has since appeared in a wide variety of other films.

Another well known Australian is Bob Hawke. If you have been reading the news and history, as well as politics, books, then you already know that Hawke was the country's 23rd Prime Minister, serving from 1983 to 1991 under the Labor Party. But for trivia nuts, he is actually more than that. As it turns out, Hawke actually once held the Guinness Record for being the fastest beer drinker in the world, having downed two liters of the stuff in under 12 seconds during his younger years.

And here is someone that is definitely worth including in the list of famous people in the country: Mary O'Reeri. Well, you might not be all that familiar with her, but she is actually starting to make a name for herself in the land down under. In fact, she has been recognized by Western Australia as the state's local hero for this year for her advocacy on suicide awareness. And it is like that the whole country will be familiar with her soon, as she is a candidate to receive the Australian of the Year Award for 2010.

Australian Solo Adventure

One of the best ways to make use of your Australian travel visa is heading to the land down under for a solo vacation. And you will be surprised at the many things that you find in the country. Here is a quick look at what you can expect when embarking on a loner's trip to Australia.

Preparing for your vacation is actually rather easy. If you have no time to prepare, then there are several companies that offer vacation packages that are especially designed for solo travelers like. These often include activities and itineraries that are suited to your liking.

But, if you are really bent on exploring the country more, it would be a good idea to actually spend some time and sort out the things that you would want to do on your solo escapade. Here, there are several options that you can have. For instance, you can get a prearranged vacation package. On the other hand, many solo vacationers actually opt to go on a backpack trip around the country, as they are actually able to explore Australia more this way.

So what can you expect on your single trip here? As have been said earlier, there are a lot of things to see in the land down under for lone travelers like you. The city of Sydney, for instance, have a wide variety of attractions that you can visit. In particular, the Kings Cross district is a popular destination for solo backpackers like you. And you are in luck, as there are a lot of cheap hostels in the area, so you can easily find accommodations.

On the other hand, beaches are also perennial favorites for travelers like you. For this one, the state of Queensland is probably the most popular destination that you can head to. The state is lined up with a multitude of beaches to visit. And if you are an avid wave rider, then Surfers Paradise is a must visit city. The Great Barrier Reef is also a main attraction for travelers in the area.

On the other hand, the western side of the country offers a wide variety of attractions for the more adventurous travelers. Many backpackers often enjoy the challenge of crossing the vast Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory. Uluru is also another famous stopover that you might want to visit.

And there are still countless other attractions that you can find in the land down under. So what are you waiting for? Loosen up, pack your bags and visit the country today.

The Question Of An Australian Regional Immigration Center

One of the biggest issues that the Australian immigration department is currently facing is how to deal with the refugees that are arriving in the country each year. And with pressure coming from both in and out of the country, the government is hard pressed to come up with a solution. However, it seems that this one is not going to be easy at all.

It should be noted that, under the current immigration laws, any vessel that arrives in the country without proper documentation is immediately seized by the Border Security group, with the occupants being sent to the immigration centers. Since a lot of refugees often take this route, many of them have been detained in these centers. However, recent events have highlighted a lot of problems encountered in the centers, such as overcrowding.

In response to this, one of the biggest solutions being espoused by the current government of Prime Minister Julia Gillard is the establishment of an overseas refugee center to direct these asylum seekers to other countries. It is interesting to note that this one is in fact not an entirely new proposal, as it has already been presented in 2007 by then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

While the initial proposal did not push through, it has been revisited this year by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship as a possible solution to the current refugee situation. This time around, the country being considered is East Timor, due to its proximity to Australia. According to Immigration and Citizenship Minister Chris Bowen, new negotiations between the two countries' governments are now starting to have good results.

However, there are groups who are concerned that an offshore center might not be the best way after all. They have pointed that the center may turn out, at the most, only a temporary solution to the problem. These groups also argue that it is likely that the center would face the same problems that has plagued other centers, once more refugees are diverted to it.

Thus they have urged the government to instead find a better solution to the matter. One of the things that they have suggested needs a lot more work is the speed of refugee processing. They have said that, by speeding up the process, Australia would in fact be able to manage the influx of refugees better.

On the other hand, other groups have said that the establishment of an immigration center is more like an attempt by Australia to abandon its responsibilities to the international community. They have said that, being a signatory to various international treaties, the country needs to perform its duties of helping asylum seekers.

Moving Out Of Australia

For Australia, emigration and immigration are two of the most important issues that the country is regularly dealing with. Indeed, migration as a whole has a lot of effects to the land down under. Thus this has been closely monitored by authorities.

However, while immigration (moving in) of people to Australia has been a hot topic in the past few months, emigration (moving out) from Australia is also an important issue that many people are concerned with. Indeed, the past three years or so have seen a large number of Australians have decided to pack their bags and move out of the country. So why are these people choosing to move to other countries?

One of the biggest reasons for this one would probably be to search for more opportunities. It is interesting to note that this one is also the very same reason why a lot of people are actually heading to Australia in the first place. However, while there are indeed many opportunities available in the country nowadays, some people still find better opportunities in other countries.

Work related opportunities are probably some of the most common reasons why many would move out of Australia. Indeed, many of the large multinational corporations that have branches in the country, regularly get people from their Australian personnel to send either to their main branch or other branches in other counties. Many Australians also apply for work abroad mainly because the offers for these jobs are higher than similar ones in the country.

Another major reason why a lot of people choose to move out of the country is because they would want to experience a different lifestyle. This one is a common thing for those who have been born and raised entirely in Australia. Retirees also often cite this as one of their motivations for moving out.

So where do most of these people head to? For the most part, many of those emigrating from Australia often prefer to move into the western countries. New Zealand, in particular, is a popular choice for those planning to move out, mainly because of its relative proximity to the country. The United States and Britain are also two of the most common places of choice for emigrating Australians.

However, in recent months, Asia has also emerged as another popular destination for emigrating Aussies. Because of its booming economy, China has become one of the most common choices for those coming from down under. And despite the difficulty of having to adjust to an entirely different culture (many of these countries don't speak English as their native tongue), a lot of Australians are still looking forward to the experience.

Australian Trade Now On A Healthy Boom

Since it is Christmas season again in Australia, holiday visa holders are now flocking back into the country. And it seems that tourists are not the only ones that are excited about the development. As it is, the influx of tourists into the country is an indication of the healthy status of the country's economy.

And it is not only the tourism industry that is booming nowadays. In fact, every aspect of the Australian economy has seen significant growth in the past few months. For instance, the mining industry is enjoying a significant amount of growth, due to the large revenues generated by coal and iron ore exports. Another industry that has shown significant growth this year is the information technology field, which was further boosted by the introduction of the National Broadband Network project.

Overall, the Australian economy posted a trade surplus of more than $2.3 billion. Here event though the country's exports dipped by 2.0 percent, this was offset by a 5.0 percent drop in imports. For those not familiar with such economic figures, what this means is that Australia doesn't purchase as much products from other country as in previous months. This indicates that the country will be able to supply the needs of its people.

Economists are very optimistic of these developments. According to AMP Capital Investors chief economist Shane Oliver, this one is definitely a good sign. He explained that the positive trade growth will serve as a boost to other sectors of the economy

Other economists also said that this one is a clear indication that the country is well underway to full recovery after the financial crisis of 2007. Experts noted that Australia was actually one of the first countries to be hit when the crisis broke out. However, through the government's careful management, the country was able to institute a mitigation program that lessened its impact.

However, while some economic experts do agree that this one is indeed good, they said that it is still not yet time to get overexcited about it. They said that there are still factors that would likely affect the country's economy. One of these would be the increase in petrol prices. Experts pointed out that the price of oil have started to move up for its annual year end rise. This, they pointed out, will offset a bit of the gains from the healthy trade that the country is now experiencing.

The Deal With The Australian NBN

One of the biggest things that has caught the ears of Australian business visa holders these past few months is the National Broadband Network that the the government is continuously pushing for in the past three years. And with the technological gains that it promises to deliver, one can understand why the government has been so enthusiastic about the project. However, according to some experts, there are still a lot of things that needs to be sorted out before it can be fully implemented.

Before going on, it would be a good idea to know more about the project. The National Broadband Network project started as a proposal by former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd during his run for elections in 2007. Upon being elected, Rudd's administration immediately started accepting proposals for the development of the NBN. However, all the proposals were ultimately rejected, with the Australian government opting to shoulder the construction.

The construction of the network was begun in 2009, with the laying of the initial system in Tasmania. The Tasmanian section of the system was formally launched on August 12, 2010, with the attendance of current Prime Minister Julia Gillard. However, the development of the rest of the network was put temporarily in limbo with the 2010 Federal Elections held in late August, with the Liberal Party vowing to block the development of the project. With Gillard and the Labor Party winning, the NBN project was soon restarted.

According to initial proposals, the NBN would be able to deliver 100 Mbps (megabits per second) of internet speed to consumers. However, during the Tasmania launch, the administration announced that the speed was upgraded and now pegged to 1 Gbps (gigabits per second), making it one of the fastest commercial networks available to date. The network is also expected to serve around 93 percent of the households in the country.

However, with a AU$ 43 billion initial outlay, the network is certainly not going to be cheap. And because of that, customers can expect that the actual service is not going to be cheap either. According to internet experts, homes wishing to avail of the service is likely to shell out anywhere from AU$ 200 to AU$ 400 to hook their homes to the network. However, they also added that those who opt not to avail of the option will also be able to experience an improvement in their connection.

A lot of groups have criticized the cost of the system, many have also proposed alternatives that they claim will be able to provide the same benefits while being significantly cheaper. However, the government is still adamant that the NBN is the best way to go. Whether or not this one proves correct will only been known once the network becomes fully online.

See What The Australian Outback Is All About

When in a vacation in Australia, travel visa holders would often want to visit the Outback. Indeed, the region is considered as one of the main attractions for those heading to the land down under. And they even consider this as one of the biggest adventures ever.

So what is the Australian Outback anyway? The term generally refers to any regions outside the country's major urban centers. However, when the term Australian Outback (note the capital “O”), is used, this usually means the central regions of the continent. These areas generally have rugged terrain and are often sparsely populated.

Now that we have clarified that one, then it's time to see what the Outback has to offer. For the nature trippers, this would definitely be something close to heaven. As the regions are inhabited by only a small group of people, this means that the area is still pretty much unaffected by human activities, so travelers will still be able to enjoy the natural scenery. And if they are lucky enough, explorers will actually be able to encounter some of Australia's most interesting creatures, like the ever popular kangaroo and koala, in their natural habitat.

Some of the most popular regions in the Outback are located in the Northern Territory. One of the most well known of these outback attractions is Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock. This huge rock on the outskirts of the city of Alice Springs is actually visited by thousands of people yearly, who come here not to only see the rock, but also learn more about the Aboriginal culture that surrounds it.

Another popular destination in the Outback is the Kakadu National Park, also in the Northern Territory. With an area roughly half the size of the country of Switzerland, Outback travelers will definitely have a huge place to explore. And the terrain here is very varied, which will give hikers a lot of challenge.

And since we have already mentioned the places, then its time to know more about the activities that are popular for tourists in the region. Hiking is probably the most well known of these, as there are several trails that cross the Outback region. Bikers will also definitely love the area, as the rugged terrain will definitely prove to be a challenge. And there are also tons of other extreme activities waiting for folks here.

So what are you waiting for? Pack your bags and strap on your gear and lets head to the Outback.

Australia Faces A Large Dilemma

For Australia, immigration of people from overseas into the country is an important matter. Because of the country's high dependence on immigration for economic growth, any change in the numbers will likely affect the country. Thus, the government is urged by many sectors to ensure the welfare and safety of incoming people, whether they are permanent immigrants or visitors.

However, as it turns out, this one is actually harder than expected. As it is, there are many things that needs to be considered when protecting the welfare of immigrants. And with the sheer number of immigrants in the country, the work gets even harder. To make things worse, there are lots of incidents that continuously hamper effective measures.

Several such incidents concerns the many Indian students that are currently enrolled in the country's schools. It should be noted that Indians are the single largest groups of foreign students in the country. And government officials are estimating that they are likely to grow in the next few years.

However, as it turns out, Indians have become targets for various attacks made by unscrupulous individuals. In 2009 alone, several students were attacked by unlawful elements in Melbourne. This had spark numerous protests coming from the foreign student community and action from the government.

But sadly, this is not yet the end of it. This year, several other incidents have occurred that have affected the relations between Australia and India. One of the most notable of these was the spate of emails circulating that many Indian students found offensive. The said email contains a picture of a man being electrocuted in a train, with a caption saying that it is the best solution to the Indian student problem.

What makes the matter even worse is the source of the email. According to authorities, the emails have been traced to a police department in the state of Victoria. Many students immediately protested against the incident after it had became wide spread. Indian officials have also asked the Australian government to conduct an inquiry on the incident and make sure that the culprits are held responsible.

As for the Australian government's part, they said that they have already conducted the necessary proceedings to put a stop on the incident. They have also said that they are now coming up with stricter measures to prevent something like this from happening again. However, they also noted that this will surely affect the relation between the two countries.

Making It Big In The Australian Fashion Scene

Before moving into Australia, business visa holders are probably thinking as to what business to set up in the country. Well, one industry that you can point your sights on is the Australian clothing industry, as there is a lot opportunities for you to make it big here. And if you still don't believe this, just take a look at some of the top companies that made it big in the industry.

One of the most popular clothing brands in Australia is probably Driza-Bone. The company manufactures riding coats, trousers, jackets and other outdoor apparel. What makes their products rather a hit in the country's market is that they are made specifically with the Australian climate in mind. Thus, you have waterproof and comfortable clothes that are suited for travel in the outback.

Driza-Bone (whose name is a corruption of the phrase “dry as a bone”) actually started as a small company way back in the 1800's. It slowly was able to gain the favor of many customers, including stockmen, sailors and, eventually, everyday outdoor enthusiasts, with its unique line of waterproof apparel. Today, Driza-Bone is so popular that it had been one of the major sponsors of the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Another popular brand that is uniquely Australian is Akubra. The company manufactures hats, caps, and other headgear. Akubra got its name from a supposedly Aboriginal word that means “headgear”, which is surely very appropriate for the products that they sell. And to make things even more interesting, the term Akubra is now being used by locals to the specific style of hat, whether or not it was made by the company.

As with Driza-Bone, Akubra actually started as a small company set up by an immigrant. It has since then been handed down to the succeeding generations of the family that owns it, and now has a wide variety of hats in its collection. And what more, its close association with the Australian rural life has made it synonymous with the country itself.

On the other hand, one clothing brand that will interest you upon hearing its name is Wheels and Doll Baby. While the name is indeed a mouthful, the quality of their products more than make up for it. In fact, as a testament to their success, the clothing line was chosen as one of the sponsors for Hollywood actress Sarah Michelle Gellar's wardrobe in the hugely popular TV series, Buffy The Vampire Slayer. In turn, the achievement was their ticket to gaining worldwide renown.

So what are you thinking of? Just come up with a fancy name and start your business in Australia. Who knows, you might be the next big wave.

Groups Urge Australia To Repeal HIV Travel Ban

If you are going to Australia, travel visa bans are probably one of the most disappointing problems that you can come across. As it turns out, there are actually many grounds for being denied entry to the country. And with Australia reviewing its immigration policies, it is likely that there will be more such bans to come in the future.

Of all of these travel bans, there quite a handful that has generated a good deal of controversy. And in here, bans for health reasons have been quite in the news lately. It can be recalled that when the SARS and the bird flu epidemic hit the mainstream news, Australia issued a travel ban on people coming from those countries which have been suspected of harboring the diseases.

Now, health travel bans are again in the news, this time around, with regards to those who have tested positive for HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). In here, those wishing to immigrate into the country who are found out to be HIV positive are prevented from entering. It should be noted though that temporary visa applicants, like tourists, are not required to present their medical record to the immigration authorities. However, those wishing to get permanent residency are required to take HIV tests as part of their medical examination.

It should be noted that the travel ban on HIV positive people in Australia is nothing new. In fact this one was the same law that was enacted by the Australian government when initial cases of HIV infections were reported more than 30 years ago. However, even today, many people are clamoring for the ban to be removed.

According to some of the supporters of the move to repeal the ban, much of the contents that direct it were written more than thirty years ago, when HIV first came out to light. Thus, they said that these are now inappropriate for today's situations, where a lot has already been known about HIV to dispel the misconceptions about it. They also asserted that these are not adequate grounds to restrict entry for these people.

One of the situations that they pointed out is with regards to refugee seekers, some of whom came from countries that has a high number of HIV cases. Proponents argue that the ban runs contrary to Australia's pledged mission to help asylum seekers. They also said that refusing entry solely based on HIV results is like condemning these refugees to death.

The Australian government is now closely reviewing these travel bans for changes that might be done to them.

Australian Tourism Now On A Boom

With the economy in a high in Australia, tourist visa holders are now also starting to flock back. And it seems to be going even better, as the country is also starting to attract other markets into its fold. And this is what is making people in the tourism industry jump for joy nowadays.

It can be recalled that tourism numbers dropped significantly during the financial crisis of 2007. as many countries' economies slowed down, a lot of people opted to save their money instead of using it to travel abroad. This, in turn, had an effect on popular tourist destinations like Australia, as the tourist numbers significantly dropped.

With the world emerging from the crisis early this year, many tourists have started to regain confidence in traveling, and thus started to flock back. In the month of July alone, the number of tourist arrivals have hit a high, posting around 180,000 arrivals, which is considerably higher than the numbers posted in the same period last year.

And it is an interesting thing to take note that the mix of tourists are also starting to diversify. While there are still a large number of people coming in from the Western world, most notably those from the United Kingdom and America, they are now being joined by leisure travelers coming from Asia. The biggest numbers here would be those from China, which had more than 50,000 arrivals during that period.

This growth is indicative that Australia is starting to capture the fancy of more travelers. And those in the tourism industry, as well as other related industries, are very much welcoming of the development. For instance, China Southern Airlines, one of the largest carriers in Asia, is planning to schedule additional flights to Australia in order to accommodate the number of Chinese tourists coming into the country.

The Australian government itself is also intending to make the most out of the current tourism boom in the country. Tourism Australia, the government's foremost agency with regards to tourism, has recently launched the Nothing Like Australia promotion campaign, aimed at attracting more visitors from other countries. And by the looks of it, it seems that the campaign is working, as indicated by the increasing number of tourists.

As for the tourists themselves, Australia presents so many opportunities for travel. For those who will be in the country for the first time, there are a lot of interesting sights and activities waiting for them. And for those who have already been here several times, there are still a lot of new things to see and discover.

Some Alternative Spots To Visit In Australia

For those who have an Australian travel visa and visit the country a lot, going to the same places over and over again can get quite boring. After all, you can only do so much in one place. Luckily though, the Land Down Under has tons of places that you can head to.

So, where can you head to for a more unique vacation? Here are some of the places that you might want to head to for your next vacation. Note that you won't find attractions like Uluru or the Whitsundays here because they are already quite too familiar (and you have probably visited them already).

Forty One Restaurant, Sydney

If you are hungry, then you can head to one of the several hundred restaurants around the city of Sydney. But this one is also something that you might want to see if you are a movie or sci-fi fan. Why so? Well, if you have already watched the film Matrix (then again, who haven't?), then you will likely recognized this restaurant at the top of the Chifley Tower. This is where one of the movie's crucial scenes was shot. And by the way, the food they serve are really great.

Obelisk Beach, Sydney

Since Sydney is located at the coast of the continent, there are many beaches here. But the Obelisk Beach on the southern part of the Middle Head National Park will surely be an interesting place to visit. This beach is actually one of only three legal nudist beaches in the city. This means that you can go literally skinny dipping without care about others. And of course, if you are shy to go all the way, you are still welcomed to take a dip here.

Mt. Augustus, Western Australia

If you are an avid hiker or mountaineer, consider this one as heaven. Mount Augustus is one of the most beautiful rock features in Western Australia. And since it is quite near the city of Perth, then you can easily visit this one on the go. The mountain is often compared to Uluru since they have the same features, though Mt. Augustus is twice as large as Uluru.

Bicheno, Tasmania

This one is a definitely must for animal lovers. Every year, penguins do their regular move to the shores and this has been known as the Bicheno Penguin Parade. Here, you will get the chance to see hundreds of these cute birds as they hang out at the beach. This one will surely be a wonderful sight to see.

Julia Gillard Retains Leadership Of Australia

If you are planning an Australian migration, then you are probably keeping a close eye to the country these past two months. And one of the things that you might be paying a lot of attention in would be the recent federal elections. Indeed, this one was quite a cliffhanger event because of the results.

But now, two weeks after the election, things are slowly going back to normal in the country's political scene. And with that, the leadership issue is now also being settled. It is now clear that Julia Gillard will still remain as the country's Prime Minister.

It can be recalled the Gillard called for elections last July 17. this was then promptly held on August 21, with more than 14 million Australians heading to the polling precinct. And as of the latest results on Aug. 30, both Gllard's Labor Party and the Liberal Party, headed by Tony Abbott, were able to secure 72 seats each in the House of Representatives, with the remaining five seats going to to an Australian Greens member and four independents.

As this one has resulted into a so called hung parliament, both parties raced to convince these independents to side with them. In the meantime, in accordance to the Australian constitution, Gillard and the Labor Party remained in power, albeit this time only as a caretaker government until the leadership question has been resolved.

The lone Greens Representative Adam Bandt was the first one to swing his support to the Labor Party. He has already said prior to the elections that he is going to align himself with Labor in case of a hung parliament. As he made his declaration official a few days back, his colleagues in the Greens party have also decide to throw their support to Gillard.

On the other hand, independent Representatives Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor earlier said that they will back the party who will be able to form a stable government. On Sept. 8 both Oakeshott and Windsor announced that they will be giving their support to the Labor Party, after securing funding agreements for several key rural projects. On the other hand, Bob Katter is the only independent that swung to the favor of the Liberal Party.

However, some political analysts cautioned that, despite being able to form a government, Gillard's administration is still far from stable. As the Greens and the independents now hold the balance, it is likely that they will use this to influence government policies. Thus Gillard will still have a hard time devising policies solely based on Labor's perspective.

Population and Immigration: “2 different issues”

Population and Australian immigration are two topics hotly debated in the country's current election campaign. During that time, Prime Minister Julia Gillard demanded that Population and Immigration were two different issues. However, the federal opposition think this statement was ridiculous.

According to Scott Morrison, opposition immigration spokesman, the two issues were inseparable. "She made the ridiculous statement that immigration has nothing to do with curtailing population growth," Mr Morrison uttered. "She says she wants to do something about sustainable population but she doesn't want to address the primary reason that population is growing so significantly. And any prime minister who says they want to do something about getting population growth under control obviously has to address immigration”, he added.

The Prime Minister doesn't agree with the fact that Australia's immigration rate is the main reason why the population is forecast to reach 36 million by 2050. "I don't believe that this is an immigration debate. I believe it's a debate about planning and policy choices for the nation's future, about where we want to see growth. We do need skilled migrants, definitely," she stated.

Australia Needs Sustainable Population Growth, According To Experts

If you are studying about Australia, statistics and facts will show that it has a relatively small population. In fact, with a population of only around 22 million people, it is considered as one of the least populated countries, despite its large size. However, that does not mean that it does not have population problems.

In fact, some experts argue that the country might actually be heading towards an overpopulation problem. “Overpopulation?” you say. Though this might sound a bit surprising, there is actually a lot of truth on this one. The thing is, while Australia is indeed a large country, it only has limited resources. And with the pace at which the country is using up these resources, it is likely that a large addition to the population can greatly affect this one.

On the other hand, there are groups that are concerned that Australia's small population might not be sufficient to fuel its economic growth. This too, is actually a good argument. Australia is one of the countries that has posted a significant growth in the last few years. However, as have been said earlier, Australia's small population will not be able to handle the growth. And this is in fact the very reason why the country is heavily dependent on incoming immigrants.

So how to you work out these two seemingly contradictory, but valid, point of views? If you ask experts, they will say that what Australia needs is a so called sustainable population growth. They argue that, whether the country likes it or not, the Australian population is still set to grow significantly in the years to come. Thus, they said, instead of trying to cut down population, the government needs to adeptly manage it in order to meet the country's needs.

One of the areas that experts say the government needs to work on with regards to this one is the redistribution of people to the areas that will be needing them the most. As it is, much of Australia's population are crowded in the major cities and other areas of high development. Experts say that, by bringing people into areas that are not that much populated, such as the country's interior, it will encourage growth and development in these places at par with the other regions.

Of course, experts point out that this solution will not work without the support of the government and the people themselves. And with that, they will definitely feel lucky, as this route is actually the one being promoted by current Prime Minister Julia Gillard. She said that this one is a necessary step in order to maintain Australia's current level of growth.

Adding An Adrenaline Rush To Your Australian Vacation

Having an Australian travel visa and visiting the country is definitely a great way to spend your vacation. But let's face it, all that usual vacation to-do's, like strolling and sunbathing, often get a bit too boring after a while. And so, wouldn't it be nice to something that's a little more exciting?

Luckily, there are plenty of these in Australia. In fact, extreme activities has become so quite popular with many visitors who travel to the country yearly. And so, here are some of these activities that you might want to try out on your next Australian vacation.

If you are a plane junkie, then there are several places that you can head to. For instance, the city of Adelaide in South Australia has several companies that offers you a spectacular biplane ride over the city and the outlying areas. This will actually be a great experience, since you get to see the city from above.

On the other hand, if you want something a bit more high speed, then you can head to Hunter Valley in New South Wales. Here you will get to experience the thrill of being a fighter pilot, complete with the ubiquitous pilot get up. And you can also choose between either an aerobatic display or a simulated bombing raid for your adventure, which will definitely make you live up all your Top Gun fantasies.

If you want to stay on land, but still feel the need to go high speed, then Victoria is the state that you would want to head to. The Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit is a popular venue for a lot of speed junkies like you. Here, you have the choice of going either on four wheels or in two, though the superbike tutorials are by far the more popular.

And of course, nothing beats the thrill of engaging in an exciting gunfight. For this one, there are plenty of paintball sites in the country that you can visit. The ones in Melbourne are some of the most popular because of the large spaces. They offer players plenty of game scenarios, ranging from from capture-the-flag games to those that have intensive mission details. They even provide night games for those who want more thrills.

Lastly, for those who want to get wet, then Oceanworld Park in Sydney is the right destination. Here, you will get the chance to dive and get up close with the resident sharks of the park. And you will also get to encounter a wide variety of other marine creatures.

Jetstar's Chief announced an end immigration checks in Australia-New Zealand travels

Mr. Bruce Buchanan, chief executive of Jetstar, announced an end to requiring passports for travels between Australia and New Zealand. According to him, flights between the two countries should be treated as domestic flights.

"We have Europe and North America working out how to make travel easier," he uttered.
"For two countries which are so closely aligned in cultural and legal systems, there has got to be a way to get it worked out so that we have a common border and trans-Tasman flights are treated like a domestic trip. Technology has got to the point where you can automate a lot of the processes behind the scenes”, he added.

Mr. Buchanan projects such a change would produce an additional 326,000 passenger movements a year across the Tasman, reduce some $250 million in costs and inject at least $100m a year in GDP for both Australia and New Zealand. "It would be the single biggest boost to the tourism industry on both sides of the Tasman," the chief executive said.

Chief executive Bruce Buchanan also delivered a further expansion of trans-Tasman operations with the launch of direct flights between Melbourne and Queenstown, and Gold Coast to Queenstown, starting from December.

JetStar's chief also stated that the first step towards cutting the Australian immigration and Customs issues involved in the trans-Tasman flights is to handle all the processing in one destination.

"Step one would be to do it on one side of the Tasman," he said.

However, Australian and New Zealand citizens can enter each other's country to visit, live and work without the need to pre-apply for authority to enter the other country. Although New Zealanders are granted a Special Category Visa in keeping with Australia's requirements for all non-citizens to hold visas.


References:
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/jetstar-chief-calls-to-drop-passports-for-nz/story-e6frg8zx-1225891816856
http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/35660/20100715/jetstar-end-immigration-checks-in-australia-nz-travels.htm

Some Party Spots You Might Want To head To In Australia

When heading to Australia, travel visa holders would often want to party. And often, the partying would go up into the night. Luckily, there are a lot of great nightspots that you can visit in the country. Here are some of them that you might want to head to on your next night out.

New South Wales

When in New South Wales, the city of Sydney is probably the first one you will visit. And you will be in luck here, since there are dozens of great bars and restaurants that you can head to when partying. For your first stop, you can head to the Water Bar in the Woolloomooloo suburbs. The food here is really great and there are a lot of drinks for you to choose from. And if you are a jazz lover, then this is also the right place for you, as several jazz bands perform here regularly.

Not surprisingly, the Sydney Opera House is another great venue for those partying at dusk. There are actually several bars and restaurants here that you can frequent, which also brings in a lot of other people. And of course, if you want a theater performance to cap the night, several theater companies regularly perform here for the audience.

South Australia

For those going down south, the capital city of Adelaide is also a good place to head to when looking for places to hang out. One of the stops that you can visit is the Adelaide Festival Center there are several dining areas that you can head to here if you want some to grab some food. And just like the Opera house in Sydney, you will also be able to watch some great performances at the several theaters in the Center.

For party-goers, the Exeter Hotel is a great place to visit. The hotel features several bars that you can hang out in and hosts an exciting multitude of crowds that party till the early morning. The Austral is also another great one to head to for those wanting a great dinner and drink, and it is also suitably located.

Queensland

For those looking for a tropical night out, then the Gold Coast is the right one for you. The Cooly Hotel is a great place for those looking for live music performances, with some of the state's top bands playing nightly. And if you prefer partying at the beach, there are plenty of bars located along the coast and open till the wee hours of the morning.

Australia Attracting A Lot Of Travelers From Asia

In Australia, travel visa holders are one of the largest group of people that arrive yearly. Indeed, the country has been a top tourist destination for many people for the past few years. And with the country's economy is now on a boom, experts believe that travel in the country will also increase great in the years to com.

And one interesting to take note of the people arriving here for a vacation is that they are now not only coming in from the West. In fact, in recent years, the number of of visitors from Asia are also steadily on the rise, as well as those coming in from other countries. The Department of Immigration and Citizenship welcomes these changes and said that this indicates just how popular Australia is for a lot of travelers.

Of the bulk of those traveling for a vacation, a large number of these are coming in from China. In fact, much of the Chinese tourist population choose Australia as their top destination pick. And it is interesting to note that a lot of these Chinese travelers are those coming from the new middle class group that is rising in China. These are the ones that were able partake in the economic boom that the country is experiencing, and thus, have the funds to travel with.

Since a lot of these Chinese travelers would want to experience the beaches, many of them head to Queensland, particularly the Gold Coast. In fact, more than a hundred thousand Chinese visitors flocked to the city in the first three months of this year alone. Melbourne and Sydney are also two of the most popular spots for many Chinese Tourists.

Aside from Chinese vacationers, Australia is also a popular destination for a lot of students coming from Asia. Of these, Indians are the most numerous, well within the thousands. This one is rather a bit surprising, considering all the changes that were made in the student migration program last year. However, these did not deter the arrival of more foreign students from Asia, who consider an Australian education one of the best they can get. And another interesting thing to take note of is that more and more of these foreign students are taking up higher level course, which indicates a greater preference for these.

So what makes Australia so attractive for a lot of foreign travelers? Aside from the ones mentioned above, another big thing that draws in a lot of travelers is the country's culture. Australia's relaxed lifestyle means that they will have no worries here and will be able to enjoy their stay at the most.

Finding Your Way Into Australia

For those thinking of an emigration to Australia, finding the best way to get in is certainly a must. After all, the country's immigration policies have tighten up a bit, so you do need to find yourself the best way to enter the country. And so, here are two suggestions that you can try out.

The Worker Visa

Perhaps the most popular way to get into the country is by getting a working visa. Since the country's economy is now finally recovering from the economic crisis of last year, it will be needing a lot of workers. Thus, Australia has once again opened its doors to those interested in working in the country.

However, you should be warned this early on that, though this one is indeed the most popular means, it is by no means the easiest. If you are reading the news, you have probably known about the host of changes made by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship on the skilled migration program by now. Thus, you need to be prepared for the tighter application process that you need to go through.

One thing that you need to familiarize yourself with is the new Skilled Occupation list. This is the list of all job positions in Australia qualified for a worker visa. The Australian Government has recently released the newest batch of the list, so you might want to check that one out first. Also, be sure to read the new set of qualifications in order to be sure that you do fit in with the job you are applying for.

The Student Visa

This is yet another popular means of getting into the country. However, you should also note that this one is also not an easy route. Just like the skilled worker migration program, the student program also went through several changes in its policies. Better read up on these first in order to be sure that you are on the right track.

Here, you actually have two choices on how to use the student visa as your entry to Australia, one is that you can proceed with your studies in the country and then apply for permanent residency when you have completed your course. On the other hand, you can move out of Australia after completing your education and then apply for a working visa afterward. One thing that you do need to take note is that, because of the changes done with the student migration program, the former method is not going to be any easier than the latter one, unlike before.

Australian Films On A Boom

For those visiting Australia, culture is one of the things that they often would want to know more about. And with Australian culture as diversified as the people living in the country, there are countless things to get to see here with regards to the topic. Thus, you are sure to have a great time in learning more about them.

And of all the cultural aspects of Australia, films are perhaps the most popular here. This one is, of course, not that surprising, since films are indeed very much popular all over the world. And with the Australian film industry now on a boom, film buffs are sure to have lots to watch out for.

But before that, it is interesting to note that Australian cinema's history is in itself a notable one to learn more about. The country was actually home to the first feature length film (that is, over 60 minutes long) ever made. The “Story of the Kelly Gang” debuted in Australia in 1906 and was also released in the United Kingdom a year later. However, only about 17 minutes worth of scenes have been recovered today from the original film.

Australia was also one of the birthplaces of the modern studio system of film making. For those who don't understand the term, the studio system is a method of film making in which everything that the movie needs, including props, lighting and scenery are located in one building, as opposed to location shoots. Some of the earliest movies shown in the country were religious films done by the Limelight Department studio.

Despite being only a far second behind American films for most parts of its history, the Australian cinema begun to boom in the 70's and 80's. These are the periods where Australian films, like “Mad Max” and the highly popular 'Crocodile Dundee”, first became well known to audiences outside the continent. It is also the time when Australian actors first began penetrating foreign markets.

Today, Australian producers regularly collaborate with Hollywood studios to make films. Some of these, such as “Australia” and “Moulin Rouge”, have since became a resounding success, both critically and financially. Also, many actors of Australian descent are now well received by a wider audience. One example of is Hugh Jackman, who became popular as Wolverine in the “X-Men” film series.

And it seems that Australian cinema is bent on reaching more audience in other countries. Just recently, the Australian government, through the Ministry for Sport, Youth, Early Childhood Education and Childcare, has signed up an agreement with the South African Ministry for Arts and Culture for the recognition of joint film production of the two countries. This, paves the way for more collaboration between the Australian film industry and other countries.

Immigrants From New Zealand On The Rise

As Australia's economy continues to grow, more and more people are opting to once again move into the country. Thus, Australian migration officials are now on the rush to accommodate all of those wishing to enter the country. And this development is actually welcomed by a lot of people in the country.

One country where a large number of people traveling to the continent come from is New Zealand. In fact, the number of people coming to the continent from across the Tasman Sea annually has been posted to be around 15,200. And this one is actually increasing, with a growth of 1,698 arrivals from the islands posted in May.

These travel figures highlight the close relationship that the two countries have maintained for more than a hundred years. And this one is actually not that surprising, as the two counties actually share a long history together. Both have been discovered by the same people, Abel Tasman explored the coast of what is now the island of Tasmania before moving on to New Zealand during the 1600's. On the other hand, after founding the Australian colonies, James Cook also went on to also explore the islands.

In recent years, the two countries have also worked together in various projects and have provided each other with various benefits in acknowledgment of this close bond. One of these benefits is with regards to travel. Residents of both countries can freely travel to the other one without having to secure a travel visa first. Aside from that, several other benefits allow Australians and New Zealanders to freely transact in each other' s country with having to go through a lot of documentation.

Because of these perks, a lot of people from both countries travel regularly in between them. And here, temporary tourists are not the only ones going through the route. In fact, a lot of permanent migrants also shuffle back and forth to live in either country.

However, some are worried the this lax migration attitude might actually do more harm to both countries in the long run. Experts are worried that the sudden influx of immigrants coming from New Zealand, along with those coming from other countries, will take its toll on Australia's limited resources. On the other hand, New Zealand officials also voiced their concerns that the exodus of residents to Australia will lead to their own labor shortages.

Though the two countries have yet to decide on the measures to be done to deal with these scenarios, these are unlikely to affect the ongoing exchange of people between them any time soon.

Australian Inventions

One of the many reasons that many of those getting a visa for Australia say made them decide to move into the country is because it is very modern. And of course, this modernity is not possible without the inventions that change the lives of Australians. And so, here are some of these that have led to Australia's, and the world's for that matter, modern lifestyle.

Aeronautics and Aviation
Australian inventors have contributed greatly in the development of equipment that have made airplanes one of the safest modes of travel nowadays.
Black Box-the flight data and voice recorder, popularly known as the black box, was developed by David Warren in 1958 in Melbourne
Distance Measuring Equipment (DME)-the system that many planes used today to determine their distance to the airport was developed by Edward George Bowen of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO)
Inflatable Escape Slide-the inflatable escape slide common in many airliners today was designed by Jack Grant, an employee of Qantas, in 1965

Health and Medicine
Many Australian medical practitioners and scientists also help in the development of various procedures and equipment being used in today's hospitals.
Electronic Pacemaker-the first heart pacemaker with fully adjustable electric controls was developed by the staff of the Crown Street Hospital in Sydney in 1926.
Ear Implants-cochlear implants were first developed for the hearing impaired by Professor Graeme Clark and his team at the University of Melbourne in 1978.
Plastic Lenses-on the other hand, the Scientific Optical Laboratories in Adelaide was the first one to introduce plastic spectacles lenses in 1960, which made eyeglasses a lot lighter.
Ultrasound-the team of David Robinson and George Kossoff was the one to develop the first practical ultrasound scanner in 1961.
Spray on skin-in 1999, Dr. Fiona Woods of the Royal Perth Hospital developed the spray on synthetic skin, which made treatment of burn victims much easier.

Everyday Items
Australians also made a wide variety of inventions that has now become commonplace household items.
Notepad-the humble notepad traces its origin from the idea of J.A. Birchall in 1902 to stick sheets of paper together to make them easier to carry/
Electric Drill-the electric drill was patented by Arthur James Arnot in 1889 for use in boring through rock.
Staysharp Knife- the popular knife that doesn't need further sharpening was devised by Wiltshire in 1970.
Dual Flush Toilet-Bruce Thompson developed the water saving toilet in the 1980's.

Great Queensland Beaches That You Can Visit

Queensland is often referred to by many people as the Sunshine State. And as it is, the monicker is definitely an apt one. With a climate that's sunny almost all year round, a lot of Australia tourist visa holders travel to the state to relax and enjoy the sun.

And since this is Queensland that is being talked about, one thing that many people come here for are the beaches. In fact, you really can't talk about the state without mentioning the many beaches scattered across its coast. And so, here are some of them that you definitely must visit.

Surfers' Paradise
One of the most visited regions in Queensland, Surfers' Paradise is actually a string of beaches, instead of a single one, that line up the Gold Coast suburb of the same name. The Main Beach is the most popular spot here, with a lot of people in the water on a daily basis. And true to its name, the place is definitely a haven for surfers. Though the waves are really not that spectacular, they still give a pretty good challenge for those who want to ride them.

Burleigh Heads
if you are really a surfing fanatic, then Burleigh Heads is definitely a place that you must visit. Just a few minutes drive from the nearby Surfers' Paradise, the area's waves are practically rideable all year round. Another plus factor to those who visit here is that the beach is much less crowded than other surf spots in the country. Aside from surfing, the beach also offers an overall relaxing experience in its shores.

Whitsundays
The Whitsunday Islands, or simply Whitsundays, are definitely great for those who want to have a more exciting beach escape. The islands are located off the central coast of Queensland and offers a relaxing getaway from all the going-ons in the mainland. All the islands have fine sand beaches, which makes them very ideal fro simply strolling around. And since the islands are surrounded by the Great Barrier Reef, they offer a good jump off point for scuba divers who want to explore the region. There are also tons of other activities that one can try out here, like boating, island hopping, and trekking.

Nudey Beach
A beach with a rather interesting name, Nudey Beach is located on Fitzroy Island, just off the eastern coast of Cairns. Getting to the island is relatively easy, as there are several ferries that go there from Cairns on a regular basis. However, you might be a bit disappointed when you arrive here. Though the name indeed suggests it, there are actually only a few beachgoers that do go all the way off their clothes here (though it is not prohibited). Nevertheless, Nudey Beach offers a great shoreline where you can enjoy wading in the water all day long.

Australian Government To Stop Property Price Rise

In Australia, business visa holders are often on the search to find some good properties to buy. As it is, the Australian real estate market is teaming with so many properties that could easily turn out to be something more than their current price. Thus, even foreigners are on the rush to get a piece of land here.

However, while this one might sound good and all, the government is now trying hard to regulate the entry of foreign buyers into the Australian real estate market. In fact, they have already passed a law pushing for stricter requirements on foreigners staying here and wanting to purchase land. The move has actually attracted the attention of not only foreign buyers but also of local ones.

But there is really a valid reason behind the move. According to some experts, it is actually the influx of foreign buyers that is causing the upsurge in prices. They explained that the prices were driven up due to the price speculation that these buyers often get into.

One example of this was the recent purchase of a 900-square meter apartment complex in Melbourne by a Chinese businessman. The buyer, through her holdings company, paid more than $19 million for the whole complex, which was a record high. The actual money was provided for by the Bank of China via a loan.

The sale didn't go unnoticed by the public, as they have pointed that it was this kind of purchases that are causing the real estate market to shoot up to astronomically high prices. Some experts have also shown that this kind of buying was what have actually caused the financial crisis that the country and the rest of the world experienced in 2009. They said that when the prices went up so high, the financial institutions were not able to follow suit, leading to the crash.

Experts argue that, since the Australian economy is still pretty much on a recovery stage, this one would surely have a grave effect. They warned that if left unchecked, the situation can potentially put the country back to crisis levels. Thus, they have urged that the government take action on this one.

The Australian government has responded to all these clamors by issuing a set of new rules for foreign property buyers. One of the restrictions that they are planning to set up is a cap on the number of purchases that a foreign individual can make. They are also considering putting strict regulations on the prices set by property agents.

Issues In The Australian Health Care System

For those applying for a visa, Australia is often one of the top choices for them to move into. There are actually a lot of opportunities available in the country in terms of jobs. Aside from this, the country's support for its residents is very extensive.

One of the more important of these supports is health care. And in this part, Australia doesn't disappoint incoming immigrants. The country has an extensive health care system that cover a wide range of medical needs, from simple check ups to major operations. It is also this set up that allow Australians to purchase medicine that is comparatively lower than that sold I other developed counties.

The system has been in operation in the country for many decades, now, with the current setup being established in the 1980's. However, while the medicare system, as referred to by the people here, is indeed very beneficial to citizens, it is still far from prefect. In fact, there are a lot of things that needed to be resolved in order to bring the service to more people.

One of the major issues that surrounds Australian health care is that of getting sufficient health care services to indigenous people in remote areas. Australian Aboriginals make up roughly under three percent of the country's population, which should have allowed health officials to handle them easily. However, as most Aborigines actually live in settlements that are well out of reach of government aid, it is quite difficult for help to get to these people.

Another thing that needs to be addressed with regards to giving health assistance to indigenous populations is education. Since a large portion of the entire population is below the average literacy rates, getting information to them with regards to proper health practices has proven to be very tough. However, the government is currently making a large headway with regards to these issues and reaching out to more Aboriginal communities.

On the other hand, health officials also need to contend with bigger issues that affect the entire Australian population. One of these is the eradication of such preventable diseases, such as obesity. It should be noted that Australia actually has one of the highest proportions of obesity cases in the world today. Another major problem here is the large number of smokers, which is one of the leading causes of death in the country.

Along with these health issues, the country also needs to contend with the shortage of health professionals. This is mainly due to the small number of local residents taking in medical professions. To combat this, the country is currently in an effort to encourage more foreign personnel to come to the country.

Australia On A Travel Boom

With the world economy slumping in 2009, Australian immigration was also greatly affected. Travel into the country went down to a significantly low level, both for temporary stay and long term residency. Travel out of the country was also greatly affected, as many Australians fear the uncertainty of the countries that they would go into.

However, as the country starts to recover from the crisis, travel in and out of it also starts to pick up significantly. In fact, according to the latest statistics, the number of student travelers into the country has increased significantly in the first quarter of the year compared to the numbers posted last year. Also, long term and permanent stay immigrant numbers have registered positive growth since last year.

Not surprisingly, one of the countries that have contributed greatly to the recent increase in travel to Australia is New Zealand. Indeed, the two countries actually have close ties together. Thus, travel to Australia by New Zealanders account for significant portion of the number of people coming into the country each year.

And according to the latest figures, New Zealanders are again coming in large numbers. The number of long term stay travelers coming into Australia, for instance, rose to about 3000 arrivals a month on average, compared to just 2100 in 2009. However, authorities say that this is still much lower compared to to the pre-crisis level of more than 4200 arrivals a month. But they are quick to agree that this one is indeed a welcome news.

One of the things that many experts see as the main reason for the new increase in travel from New Zealand stems from Australia own recovering economy. As the country posted high net growth early this yeah, it served as a good signal for many immigrants that a lot of opportunities are once again available for them in the country. Thus, a lot of people have decided to once more move into Australia.

And it would be interesting to note that it is not only New Zealanders who are currently returning to Australia. Travel from India also saw a significant increase, as more and more students move into the country to enroll in the many educational institutions here. This is despite the issues caused by the recent attacks on several Indian students in the city of Melbourne.

And as always, travel from the western countries are also very much on a high level. British travelers are still the most common ones to arrive in Australia, followed by Americans. Other European countries, including Germany and Ireland, also boast of a large number of travelers to Australia.

What Really Is The Number Of People Coming Into Australia?

Wherever you go in Australia, migration is often a hot topic for discussion. Indeed, having had a long history of movement in and out of the country, the issue of migration has become closely tied with other matters concerning Australia. Thus, it is not surprising that a lot of people would listen whenever this one is being talked about.

Here, one of the matters often being raised is whether or not there are already too many people coming into the country. As immigration is actually the single largest contributor of population growth in Australia, the number of migrants coming into the country is a very vital information, as it will allow the government to determine the amount of funding needed to support the new population. This one will also be helpful in predicting the outcome of population growth and plan for it.

This one will also determine whether or not it is time to cut down on the number of people coming in to the country. As you might have probably known by now, despite it being a large country, Australia actually does have only a limited amount of resources. Any unforeseen increase in the population here due to migration is likely to affect the supply of resources in the country. Thus, immigration cuts are necessary to regulate the use of resources.

According to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the expected number of immigrants set to arrive in the country will be anywhere from 300,000 to 340,000 individuals. This is as of current, the single largest migration estimate in Australia's history. Experts further calculate that if this figure continues, the country's population could grow to around 36 million by 2050. Australia currently has a population of only under 22 million.

However, while this one is seemingly a difficult prospect, there is still another twist into the story. According to some experts, the figures being shown in the fact sheets is not accurately showing the actual number. They say that the large number is largely due to the changes in the definition of the term migrant, which broadened its scope.

One of the things that they have pointed out is the inclusion of temporary workers is not a good move. As it is, temporary workers are only in the country for a short period, and thus, does not significantly affect the country's population numbers. They also argue that the recent changes in immigration policies and their effects are likely to put down the estimated number significantly.

While this debate on the actual number of immigrants is unlikely to be settled soon, Australia still expects more people to come in in the near future.

The Australian Housing Crisis

One of the things that often come into the mind of many Australian permanent visa applicants is that they will be able to settle into their own home in the country. Often, they would go on further to dream of a house and lot complete with a garden at the side and a car of their own. And just like native Australians, they consider this to be the ultimate achievement that they must accomplish.

Indeed, this one is an ideal picture that many immigrants would want to see. However, with the current situation in the country, this seems to be getting harder to get. You see, Australia is actually suffering now from a huge housing crisis.

How so, Australia is such a large place? You might probably be thinking about this one right now. To further understand the issue, it would be a good idea for you to know more about the Australian landscape further. Despite the country's large size, it being a continent, much of it is actually an arid desert area. Thus, the habitable regions are limited only into certain places.

Since most of the Australian population live in these small regions, they have pretty much filled up the areas. However, the country's population is not static. In fact, it is actually growing at a fast rate yearly, immigration being one of the major reasons behind the increase. And to make things even more difficult, the rate of housing development can't barely keep up with the growth of the population, which leads to the current housing shortage.

But this not yet the end of the housing crisis story. Another major factor with regards to housing is price. And as the demand for housing in the country goes up, the prices also actually follows it. This makes it unattainable for many average Australians to even just rent a house, more so to buy one of their own.

The government has responded to the crisis by ordering the hastening of housing development in the areas where the crisis is most severe. They have also started releasing large tracts of government land solely for this purpose. Also, the release of housing loans have also been increased, in order for those in need of it to quickly purchase their houses.

However, according to some experts, the problem can not be solved by these methods alone. They suggest a total revamp of the housing price rates in order to make these more affordable to the wider public. They said that the price increase that was brought about by the demand in the previous years have actually left out a huge surplus of housing units left unoccupied, mainly due to them being unaffordable. They argue that getting these units within the reach of more people would be better than building more houses.

Whichever way it goes, the housing problem is unlikely to be solved quickly. And for that, the immigrant will have to wait a little while more for his dream house to come true. .

More Ways To Travel Australia

One of the things that many Australian travel visa holders like about the country is that there is a lot to see and do here. However, if you do travel a lot to the land down under, then you have probably seen a lot of the most popular sites. And the tours offered by travel companies often offer you basically the same thing and get old very fast.

Thus, you are probably wondering if there still other ways to get the most out of your stay in here. Luckily, there are actually a lot of other ways that you can go around and explore Australia. And many of these will give you a great experience that you would often not get with tour packages. Here are some suggestion that you might want to consider and try out on your next vacation.

Surprisingly, walking is actually first on the list. Some people might be thinking that this one is such a crazy idea, considering how hot the Australian climate is. However, traveling on foot is actually a very popular means of exploring the country, such that a lot of tourist eagerly arrive in the country for a backpack trip.

Strictly speaking, you don't actually walk all the way during your trip (doing so will make you drop dead after just a hundred kilometers). However, you will be doing just that for the most part. Here, you will be able to enjoy all the scenery of Australia even more, as you get to travel at your own pace.

And if you want something a little bit faster, then you can go out on a bicycle tour across the country. There are actually a lot of bicycle trails that crisscross the lands here, some even taking you from one end of the continent to the other. Here, you have two options, you can either have your own bike for travel or rent one and drop it off at stopover points to get another. Not only will this get you to most places, it will also actually be a very healthy experience, both physically and mentally.

Australia's numerous rivers and streams are also another great way of going across the continents. Ferries and cruise liners plow through the waters regularly, and since most of the cities in Australia are actually within the banks of a river, you can easily catch them wherever you are. And for those who want a more solitary means of travel here, kayaking is also fast becoming a popular activity, with many travelers often going through all the effort of bringing their own kayaking gear just to explore the country.

And this is actually just the tip of the whole story. There are a lot of other ways to go around Australia. And you will probably use up all of your time trying all of them.

Australia And Turkey: Bond Made In The Battlefield

If you look at the lot of people coming into Australia, visa holders would often come from many different places around the world. This is not really that surprising, because the land down under is considered to be one of the best places to move into nowadays. And one of those countries that have a lot of people moving in to Australia is Turkey.

However, aside from immigration, it is surprising to note that both countries actually share a lot with each other. Though many Australians don't really know where Turkey is (they often think that it's a kind of dish) and vice versa, the two countries actually has a long history of relationship with each other. And as you read on, you will gain a better appreciation of the bond that these two have despite the distance that separates them.

The first meeting between Australia and Turkey actually occurred on the battlefield almost a hundred years ago. In World War I, Australia was one of the major participants in the Gallipoli Campaign, led by the British. The campaign was intended to capture the city of Istanbul, then the capital of the Turkish Ottoman Empire. On the other hand, for the Turks, this was to defend themselves from invasion.

The battle was recorded as one of the fiercest that was fought in modern times with heavy casualties on both sides. Though the intended purpose of the campaign did not succeed, the war did eventually led to the formation of the current Republic of Turkey. The war has since been remembered by the two countries with a commemoration every April 24 and 25 in Canakkale, Turkey, where much of the battle took place. Also, both countries contributed in the building of the memorial in ANZAC Cove, also in Turkey, remembering the soldiers from both sides that have died in battle.

After the wars, it took a long time before formal diplomatic relations between the two countries was began. Finally, in 1967, the two opened up diplomatic relationships with each other. Turkey was the first one to do so when it opened its embassy in Canberra that year. On the other hand, Australia followed suit a year later, when it established its own office in the Turkish capital of Ankara.

It would be interesting to note that, despite starting out as enemies, there has been no point of major conflict between Australia and Turkey in their almost fifty years of diplomatic relations. Though there were often clashes of opinion with regards to certain issues, the two countries seemingly are able to easily patch them up. This one many attribute to the mutual respect that both earned from each other during the wars.

And as indicated by the large number of Turks moving into Australia yearly, this is likely to continue for many more years to come.

Campaigning For A Greener Australia

Upon arrival to Australia, permanent visa holders often imagine themselves as living in a lush village with a nice garden beside their homes and breathing clean fresh air. While this one is indeed a great picture of life in the country, this would actually be a little off from the reality that will greet immigrants here. And there are a lot of issues that will make this ideal picture even harder to achieve.

One of these major concerns that have dogged Australia in recent years is that of climate change. While the country is traditionally considered to be a warm place, the rapid changes in the world's climate have made it even hotter than usual. Thus, Australia has actually become one of the forefronts in the fight to stop climate change.

And in order to promote awareness and response against climate change, Australia become host to the 2010 Climate Action Summit that was held in Canberra last March 13 to 15. Aside from providing and disseminating information about climate change, the summit also served as a venue for devising solutions that will be able to help in lessening the impact of climate change, not only in Australia, but also in other regions of the world. More than three hundred climate change activists and experts participated in the said summit.

One of the major topics that was touched in the said conference was the impact of humans on the accelerating change. According to many studies, it is indeed human activities that contributed greatly to the speeding up of global warming. Thus, some of the solutions that came out of the summit were the reduction of activities that are deemed harmful to the environment.

Another solution that was presented in the summit is that of pursuing alternatives to these. One such proposal is a complete shift of the Australian energy infrastructure into one hundred percent renewable sources. As of current, much of the continent's electrical output comes from coal fired power plants, which is not only non-renewable but is also one of the major sources of greenhouse gases that cause global warming. The summit also encouraged industries to move into greener means of operations, not only for their businesses but also for the sake of their workers as well.

One notable talk in the summit was given by climatology professor David Karoly. Here, he focused on the attempts of certain groups with vested interests to stop the movement to prevent climate change. He said that these groups try to control the dissemination of information about climate change and prevent these from reaching the wider public. According to him, all of these are in order to protect their businesses. He then encouraged the Australian people to seek out these information by any means and never be discouraged by these groups in their quest for a greener Australia.

Living In The Top End

For those thinking of emigration, Australia's Northern Territory is often the most unlikely place that they would want to move into. Many picture the place as a barren wasteland. However, in reality, one find that this rather arid place actually has so many to offer for people coming in.

Though the picture of the Northern Territory as a desert is very popular to many people, it is not an entirely correct one. The truth is, there are actually two different climates in the area. The arid desert climate that many people associate with the Norther Territory is actually limited to its southern region, which is the center of Australia. And even here, there are actually large patches of land that are quite lush. On the other hand, the coastlines enjoy a milder and much more tropical climate, which is why most of the cities and towns are located near them.

And if you are thinking that it was only recently that people decided to move into the Northern Territory, you will be surprised to find out that it has been already inhabited by the native Aboriginal population for more than 40,000 years. The British themselves made three unsuccessful attempts to move into the area during the exploration years of the 1800's. It was only in the 1860's that settlement finally did took hold in the area. However, once it was established, development of the Northern Territory gradually sped up. Today, the Northern Territory actually has one of the fastest growing populations in Australia.

The capital and largest city of the Northern Territory is Darwin. This is also where most of the people living in the state actually resides. Darwin is on the topmost end of the Stuart highway, the only major highway that connects it to other parts of Australia. Contrary to what you might think, Darwin is not a sleepy town. In fact, the city is very lively and there is much for you to see here. One of the most remarkable landmark is the Government House. On the other hand, many people visit Nightcliff, one of the city's major suburbs for recreation.

Another town worth mentioning in the Northern Territory is Alice Springs. If you are looking for something that is rather idyllic and relaxing, this one will definitely be the place for you. However, there is still a lot for you to see here. One of the things that you must see is the historic Overland Telegraph Station, to which the city owes much of its existence. And only a few hours' drive from the city is Uluru, which is one of the most striking natural monuments in the area.

Have A Snowy Australian Adventure

One of the things that many Australian tourist visa holders would want to know is whether it really does snow in Australia. Even today, many people, especially those coming from the northern countries, still see Australia as an entirely desert country, much like the Middle East (they actually also do have camels here). This why many people doubt whether the land down under ever see even an inch of snow.

The truth of the matter is that it indeed does snow in Australia. In fact, it actually does snow a lot here. Well, not exactly all over Australia, but there are places that do receive a hefty amount of snow. Being a large continent, the climate varies vastly across the entire country. While the northern and central regions do have tropical and arid conditions, the entire southern part of the country has a temperate climate, which, as you have already known, is very ideal for snow.

One of the snowiest places in Australia is probably Tasmania. Being the southernmost of all the states, the island's climate is well within the southern temperate zones. This is why the state receives a lot of snowfall. This actually makes it ideal as a popular ski resort destination for many tourists. Here, Mount Wellington, where the capital city of Hobart is located, is the best one that you can go to if you want to have a winter adventure. The snow capped mountain actually does have a lot of ski resorts already established at its foot, so you have plenty of options right in front of you.

Next to Tasmania, you can head to South Australia for your winter escapade. The state is also rather temperate, with a temperature average of only 29 degrees Celsius during February (though the highest one recorded here is around 40 degrees). Though the snowfall isn't as much as that experienced in Tasmania, it is still considerable and enough for all those winter activities that you have already planned. Since it's near the ocean, this also make for a rather cool climate.

On the other hand, the Snowy Mountains regions of southeastern New South Wales and northeastern Victoria are also another great region to head to for snow trippers. Much like Mount Wellington, the Snowy Mountains also have a large amount of snowfall during winter, which make them very inviting to skiers. Again, there are a lot of resorts here that you can visit.

What's great about Australia is that, while it's not a traditional winter getaway, it does have complete facilities for such activities. The ski resorts are also well maintained, which attracts a lot of winter tourists

The Australian Dress Style

One thing that many people who are on a migration to Australia would probably want to know is all about the country's national dress. After all, it seems that almost all countries have their own national costumes, just take a look at the international beauty pageants for proof. However, in the case of Australia, this one is going to be a rather complicated topic.

The truth is, Australia actually doesn't have an officially designated national dress. This is mainly due to the diversity of the Australian culture. Because of the amount of immigration that has been happening in the country ever since its early history, the current Australian population is composed of people with a wide variety of ethnical backgrounds. Thus, it would be quite difficult, if not impossible to pinpoint a specific dress that would encompass Australia's culture and be called the national costume.

However, despite the lack of an officially recognized national dress, the Australian people has come up with a clothing style that is uniquely their own. And though this one doesn't really fit in with the idea of a national costume in the stricter sense (with all the historical backgrounds and everything), it actually does fit in well in defining something uniquely Australian.

There are actually two types of clothing that are associated with the Australian culture. One is referred to as bushwear, while the other is called surfwear. You'll find out later what these two are really. However, one thing that you will likely notice is that both of them are fitted for the outdoor life, which is what a large part of the Australian culture is all about. Also note that Australians fit their dress style accordingly to the country's climate, which is rather hot. This is why loose shirts and shorts play a prominent part in the Aussie clothing style.

Now we get deeper into the above mentioned bushwear and surfwear. Bushwear is basically clothes that are worn when going into the forests. This type of clothing actually go back to the early periods of exploration in the country. The most common form of bushwear are shirts and shorts. On the other hand, surfwear is anything that you wear while in the beach.

One remarkable thing about the Australian dress style is its ability to combine aspects of of both styles of dress to come up with something that is even more functional and fit to the Australian lifestyle. This you can see in the predominance of shorts in the local apparel. In some cases, Australians can actually go into the water straight from the outback and with their clothes on.

And the evolution of the Australian clothing style does not end here. More and more influences are being added to the national style, such as Aboriginal influences. These makes it even more uniquely Australian.

Image source: google.com

Australians' Love Of Sports Showcased In Winter Olympics

For many Australia visas holders, the country is traditionally seen as a hot country. In fact, beaches and deserts are often the most common images that is evoked in people's minds whenever Australia is brought up in the discussions. However, not many people know that Australia is, in fact a regular participant in the winter Olympics.

You might still probably be thinking how they are going to train in all those desert areas. Actually, contrary to the popular notion that Australia is purely a desert, there are actually places in the country suited for training for the winter Olympics. For instance, the southern regions of Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales have a generous amount of snow during the winter months to provide practice grounds. Further down, the mountains of the state of Tasmania are ideal places for outdoor winter sports, like skiing.

And if that is still not enough, Australian athletes travel the world over to find other places to train in. One of the most popular of these is the town of Whistler in the British Columbia, Canada. This little town is very ideal in its winter environment, that many athletes travel here from Australia to train. British Columbia is, in fact, the host of this year's winter games held in February.

Though Australia didn't fair that much this year (they managed to win three medals), their participation was very well received. It was, in fact, considered a pretty good showing for a country that is traditionally considered not to be a strong contender in the winter games.

The event also showcased another interesting facet of the Australian culture, the people's love for sports. In fact, Australians are very much into sports that it has become a big part of their daily lives. Thus, you must not be surprised that every Australian that you will meet will have at least two to three kinds of sports that he regularly plays.

And there are actually very plenty of sports activities that one can choose from in the continent. There are the traditional games, like basketball, soccer and swimming (not surprising, since Australia is surrounded by water). Then there are indigenous sporting events, like Australian rules football and boomerang throwing competitions (yes, even the humble boomerang has its own sporting event). What more, Australians love to try new stuff, so more sporting events are being introduced in the country yearly.

And even those who are not active participants are still avid sports fans, in this case, as spectators. In fact, the topmost favorite topic of any conversation here would still be about sports.

Image reference: http://www.owia.org/files/41/aocweb.jpg