Austral Coat of Arms
Austral Flag
Largest city: Austral
Official languages: English (98%)
Other Languages (2%)
Ethnic groups: 81% European/Other
4.2% Asian
14.8% Pacific peoples
Demonym: Australis
Government: Republic
Single-party state
Head of State: Alexandre R Santos
Prime Minister: Johnathan Edward Poole
Independence: from the United Kingdom
15 October 1881
Total Area: 98,021 km2
Population: 1,354,437
Density: 13.8/km2
HDI(2009): ▲ 0.950 (very high)
Currency: Australis (A$)
Time zone: AST (UTC - 11)
Date format: dd/mm/yyyy
Drives: on the Left
Austral is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (commonly called the West Island and the East Island), and numerous smaller islands, Austral is notable for its geographic isolation: it is situated about 1,467 km southeast of New Zealand, and its closest neighbours to the north are Niue, Cook Islands and Tonga. During its long isolation Austral developed a distinctive fauna dominated by birds, a number of which became extinct after the arrival of humans and the mammals they introduced.
The majority of Austral's population is of European descent; The most commonly spoken language is English.
Austral is a developed country that ranks highly in international comparisons on human development, quality of life, life expectancy, literacy, public education, peace, prosperity, economic freedom, ease of doing business, lack of corruption. Its cities also consistently rank among the world's most liveable.
HISTORY
The first Europeans known to have reached Austral Isles were Dutch explorer Abel Janszoon Tasman and his crew in 1642. No Europeans returned to Austral, until British explorer James Cook's voyage of 1768–71. Cook reached Austral Isles in 1769 and mapped almost the entire coastline.
Becoming aware of the lawless nature of European settlement and of increasing French interest in the territory, the British government sent William Hobson to Austral to claim sovereignty.
Initially under British rule, Austral had been part of the colony of New South Wales. Hobson initially selected Londinium as the capital in 1804, before moving the seat of government to Austral City in 1841, when Austral became a separate colony, and there were increasing numbers of Europeans settlers to Austral particularly from the British Isles.
Representative government for the colony was provided for in 1850 when the United Kingdom passed the Austral Constitution Act 1850. The 1st Autralis Parliament met in 1851. In 1852 the colony became effectively self-governing with the grant of responsible government over all domestic matters other than native policy. Power in this respect would be transferred to the colonial administration in the 1860s.
INDEPENDENCE
Declaration of Independence
Tensions between Australis colonials and the British led to the Austral Revolution War, fought from 1875 through 1881. On may 14, 1875, the Continental Congress, convening in Londinium, established a National Army under the command of General Great Alexander. Proclaiming that "all men are created equal" and endowed with "certain unalienable Rights," the Parliament adopted the Declaration of Independence, on October 15, 1881. That date is now celebrated annually as Austral's Independence Day. In 1877, the Articles of Confederation established a weak confederal government that operated until 1889.
After the British defeat by Australis forces assisted by the French, Great Britain recognized the independence of the Austral Isles. A constitutional convention was organized in 1887 by those wishing to establish a strong national government, with powers of taxation. The Australis Constitution was ratified in 1888, and the new republic's first Senate, House of Representatives, and president General Great Alexander took office in 1889. The Bill of Rights, forbidding federal restriction of personal freedoms and guaranteeing a range of legal protections, was adopted in 1891.
Austral experienced increasing prosperity following World War II. In common with other developed countries, social developments accelerated in the 1960s.
FOREIGN RELATIONS AND THE MILITARY
Military Parade
Austral maintains a strong profile on environmental protection, human rights and free trade.
Austral is party to a number of free trade agreements, of which the most important are the China- Austral Free Trade Agreement and Closer Economic Relations with Australia and New Zealand.
Austral has traditionally worked closely with Australia and New Zealand, whose foreign policy followed a similar historical trend, Austral became a Nuclear-free zone in January 1988, following the New Zealand's nuclear-free policy. The Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament, and Arms Control prohibits the stationing of nuclear weapons on the territory of Austral and the entry into Australis waters of nuclear armed or propelled ships.
The Australis Defence Force has three branches: the Army, the Navy and the Air Force.
GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENT
Austral Isles From Space
Austral comprises two main islands, the West and East Islands, and a number of smaller islands, located 1467 Km Northeast from New Zealand and 1290 km southwest from Cook Islands. The total land area, 98,021 square kilometres, is a little more than that of Portugal or Scotland, and a little less than England, the West Island is the largest land mass of Austral,the average temperatures are high 24 C and lower 14 C;
National Park in West Island
Biodiversity
Because of its long isolation from the rest of the world and its island biogeography, Austral has extraordinary flora and fauna.
The endemic flightless kiwi is a national icon
Until the arrival of humans, 80% of the land was forested. Until 2006 it was thought that there were no non-marine native mammals, barring three species of bat (one now extinct). There are no snakes and there is only one venomous spider, which is rare and restricted to coastal regions.
ECONOMY
Austral has a modern, prosperous, developed economy The country has a relatively high standard of living
Austral citizens have a high level of life satisfaction as measured by international surveys; The currency of Austral is the Australis, represented by the symbol A$, Australis ( A$ ) it is divided into 100 cents and notes of A$5, A$10, A$20, A$50, A$100; The central bank is responsible for issuing currency; The Austral Central Bank (ACB) is committed to promoting and maintaining monetary and financial stability as its contribution to a healthy economy.
DEMOGRAPHY
Austral has a population of over 1.3 million, of which approximately 81% identify with european ethnic groups.
With a population of over 1.3 million, the Austral is very concerned about its population growth and has attempted to implement a strict family planning policy. The government's goal is one child per family. The government's goal is to stabilize population growth early in the 21st century, to keep Austral environmentally sustainable, with secure human development and quality of life.
Austral has an adult literacy rate of 100%, and 19.2% of the adult population has a bachelor's degree or higher. For 30.4% of the population, some form of secondary qualification is their highest, while 1.4% of Australis have no formal qualification.
The Austral media industry is dominated by a number of companies, most of which are private owner, although the state retains ownership of some television and radio stations. Australis television broadcasts some American and British programming, along with a small number of Australian and New Zealand shows.
SPORTS
Polo Players
Rugby
The popular sports in Austral are Polo, Rugby, Cricket, Horse racing, Golf, swimming and tennis, it also has traditionally done well in the sports of rowing, yachting and cycling.
