Australasian Union
From Daily Escape
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On 1 January 1901 the colonies became a federation, and the Australasian Union was born. Since federation, Australasia has maintained a stable liberal democratic political system, and, in 2000 established itself as a republic. | On 1 January 1901 the colonies became a federation, and the Australasian Union was born. Since federation, Australasia has maintained a stable liberal democratic political system, and, in 2000 established itself as a republic. | ||
| + | [[category:Australasian Union| ]] | ||
[[category:Nations]] | [[category:Nations]] | ||
Revision as of 06:07, 9 September 2007
| The Australasian Union | |
 | 
|
| Flag of Australasia | Coat of arms of Australasia |
| |
| National motto | "Peace and Prosperity" |
| National anthem | Advance Australasia Fair |
| Capital Largest city | Sydney 33° 55″S, 151° 17″E Sydney |
| Languages - Official - Unofficial | None Many |
| Government - State President - Prime Minister | Federal republic Parliamentary democracy Mary Anderson Christian Benedict |
| Independence - Constitution - Statute of Westminster - Australasia Act | January 1, 1901 December 11, 1931 2000 |
| Area - Total - % water | 8,418,370 km² 5.1 |
| Population - Total (2006) | 32,243,500 |
| GDP (PPP) - Total (USD) - GDP/capita (USD) | $817 billion $34,740 |
| Gini | 28.3 - low |
| HDI |  0.940 - high
|
| Corruption Perceptions Index | 9.2 |
| Currency | 1 Australasian dollar = 100 cents |
| Time zone - Summer (DST) | (UTC +8 to +12) (UTC +9 to +13) |
| Internet TLD | .au |
| Calling code | +62 |
The Australasian Union is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the world's smallest continent, Terra Australis, and a number of various sized islands in the Southern, Indian and Pacific Oceans. These include the islands of Fiji, New Zealand, Tasmania, and the eastern half of New Guinea. Neighbouring countries include Indonesia.
Background
The mainland has been inhabited for over 42,000 years by Indigenous Australasians. After sporadic visits by fishermen from the north and by European merchants and explorers beginning in the 17th century, the eastern half of the mainland was claimed by the British in 1770 and settled through penal transportation as the colony of New South Wales on 26 January 1788. This was followed by the colonisation of New Zealand in the 1790s. As the population grew and new areas were explored a further nine colonies were established through the course of the 19th century. These included settlements in Tonga, Fiji and the Cook Islands.
On 1 January 1901 the colonies became a federation, and the Australasian Union was born. Since federation, Australasia has maintained a stable liberal democratic political system, and, in 2000 established itself as a republic.
