Chapter17 Australia--Government and Society

1、Government and SocietyI. PoliticsnPolitical system-constitutional monarchy, federation and a parliamentary democracynThree-tier system- the federal government at the national level governments at state and territory level local governments at the city, town, municipal and shire level The party or gr

2、oup of parties with a majority in the House of Representatives forms the government, with ministers appointed from both chambers to serve in the Cabinet.nConstitution-can be changed only by referendum.1.The Legislature -the King or Queen, the Senate, the House of RepresentativesnThe Senate- 76 Senat

3、ors (12 from each of the six states, 2 from each of the two territories) elected by a system of proportional representation（比例代表制） a term of six years equal power to make laws with the House of RepresentativesnThe House of Representatives- 150 members, who are elected for terms of up to three years

4、system of election is “preferential voting”（名次投票制） functions: consideration and passing of new laws and amendment changes to existing laws determine the government, be called the House of Government publicizing government administration, representing the people, and controlling government expenditur

5、e 2. The ExecutivenGovernor General- appointed by the British monarch on the advice of the PM be His or Her Majestys representative in the Commonwealth The Governor General is Major General Michael Jeffery (the 24th). Six State Governors perform similar roles in their states.nFederal Executive Counc

6、ilnCabinet-comprised of senior ministers and the PM, who are accountable to Parliament. Federal policy, in practice, is determined by the Cabinet. The Federal Executive Council - is the formal body holding executive authority under the Constitution of Australia. It is equivalent to the other Executi

7、ve Councils in other Commonwealth Realms such as the Executive Council of New Zealand and is equivalent to the Privy councils in Canada and the United Kingdom. The Executive Council is presided over by the Governor-General of Australia and exists to advise the Governor-General in the administration

8、of the government. In practice (with only a few exceptions), the Governor-General is bound by convention to act on the Councils advice. Unlike the British and Canadian councils, the Leader of the Opposition is not typically appointed to the Federal Executive Council. 3. Judiciary It is absolutely se

9、parate from the executive branch and the legislature so as to check the concentration of government power. the High Court (the superior court in Australia) interpreting and applying the law, deciding cases of special federal significance, hearing appeals from the federal, state and territory courts

10、the Federal Court the Family Court the Courts of the six states and two territories4. Political Parties -a two-party systemthe Labor Party- the oldest and largest representing the trade unions and liberal groups nominally had ever experienced three traumatic splits (1917, 1931, and 1955)the Liberal

11、Party -represents urban business-related groups. be founded in 1944 by Sir Robert Menziesthe National Party 5. Election Characters: 1) Australia is one of the few countries that have compulsory voting. 2) With the three-tier government, Australian electoral laws, practices and systems vary greatly.

12、3) General election is the most important.Electoral system: simple majority system the preferential representation system the proportional representation system II. People1. PopulationnTotal population: 20 million in 2005nConcentrated to the southeastern oversea of Australia.nThe Aboriginal populati

13、on has become more urbanized, with some two thirds living in cities. 2. Multicultural SocietynDiversity of Population -a traditional country of immigration” Aborigines-2% early immigrants-from British colonial past and other European countries new immigrants-from Asians(1/3) and other countries nDiv

14、ersity of Language-over 200 language English is the dominant language.nDiversity of Religion-Christianity (68%), Buddhism (1.9%), Islam (1.5%)nImmigration-depends on their ability to satisfy rigorous selection criteria that include being in good health and having a good character. III. EconomyManufa

15、cturing Industry concentration (14 large national monopolies) Foreign InvestmentAgriculture-the largest exporter of wool, the second of meat, the third of wheatMinerals-the largest exporter of coal, a major exporter of uranium, exporter of crude oil and natural gas.Foreign Trade-It is a middle-level

16、 trading nation. The main feature of trade is that it has always involved the exchange of raw materials for finished products.Tourism-is one of Australias largest and fastest-growing industries. the Great Barrier Reef the Gold Coast Uluru the Sydney Opera House the Sydney Harbor Bridge IV EducationA

17、ustralia educational system is divided broadly into five areas: preschool, primary school, secondary/high school, career and vocational training institutions university character-The emphasis is on self-discipline, learning by discovery and by questioning, and encouraging students interest in and en

18、thusiasm for learning.1. Elementary and Secondary EducationElementary school-from 5 to 12 years old state schools for free, secular education, religious classes offered by the clergy of various denominationsSecondary school-from 12/13 to 18 years old the first four years-study a broad range of subje

19、cts the last two years-specialize in the subjects they prefer2. Higher Education Higher education is provided through universities, vocational training institutions, and adult and community educational institutions. public universities-36 in Australia private institutions-(2) the multicampus Austral

20、ian catholic University and Bond University specialized learning institutions (maintained by the Commonwealth government) Australian Film, Television and Radio School the Australian Maritime College the National Institute of Dramatic ArtsnVocational training institutions - provide courses with a str

21、ong vocational focus such as travel, tourism, graphic design and many others. -TAFE, Technical and Further EducationnAdult and community education programs -shorter duration, and are therefore well-adapted to the needs of adult learners, whose domestic and work commitments frequently discourage them

22、 from entering long-term education programsMediaNewspaperThe Australian 澳大利亚人报The Sydney Morning Herald 悉尼先驱晨报The Age 世纪报The Australian Financial Review 金融评论报Magazines The Australian Womans Weekly 澳大利亚妇女周刊Sydney Gazette 公报News Agency Australian Associated Press 澳大利亚联合新闻社Television and Broadcasting A

23、ustralian Broadcasting Company (ABC) 澳大利亚广播公司 Australian Broadcasting Authority 澳大利亚广播事业局 Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) 澳大利亚特别节目广播事业局 默多克默多克1931年在澳大利亚的墨尔本市出生，完成牛津大学的学业后，年在澳大利亚的墨尔本市出生，完成牛津大学的学业后，1954年，年，回澳大利亚从父亲手中接管了新闻集团的前身澳大利亚新闻有限公司，当时，该公回澳大利亚从父亲手中接管了新闻集团的前身澳大利亚新闻有限公司，当时，该公司只有一份报纸司只有一份报纸新闻报新闻报。

24、默多克领导下的新闻公司从此南征北战，兼并了澳洲。默多克领导下的新闻公司从此南征北战，兼并了澳洲的数家报纸，十年后，公司出版了澳大利亚第一份全国性日报的数家报纸，十年后，公司出版了澳大利亚第一份全国性日报澳大利亚人报澳大利亚人报。至此，新闻公司将触角伸向海外。如今，默多克控制着澳大利亚至此，新闻公司将触角伸向海外。如今，默多克控制着澳大利亚60%多的报纸，还多的报纸，还拥有英国的拥有英国的太阳报太阳报、泰晤士报泰晤士报等多家媒体的股份。他创办了英国天空电视等多家媒体的股份。他创办了英国天空电视台、美国福克斯电视网等传媒机构。后来，新闻集团又将公司总部从澳大利亚迁到台、美国福克斯电视网等传媒机构。

25、后来，新闻集团又将公司总部从澳大利亚迁到美国。收购道琼斯前，新闻集团提出拟以每股美国。收购道琼斯前，新闻集团提出拟以每股60美元的价格收购股票，这一价格比美元的价格收购股票，这一价格比收购消息公开时的股票价格高出收购消息公开时的股票价格高出65%。默多克顶着压力高价收购道琼斯股票反映了。默多克顶着压力高价收购道琼斯股票反映了他继续打造传媒帝国的决心。他继续打造传媒帝国的决心。 不少中国人记住默多克不是因为他一手打造了传媒帝国，而是因为他的忘年跨不少中国人记住默多克不是因为他一手打造了传媒帝国，而是因为他的忘年跨国婚姻国婚姻娶了一位小他娶了一位小他38岁的中国妻子。岁的中国妻子。1999年，在与前妻正式签署离婚协议年，在与前妻正式签署离婚协议17天后，默多克不顾子女非议，以迅雷不及掩耳之势在纽约湾的豪华游艇上娶了邓文天后，默多克不顾子女非议，以迅雷不及掩耳之势在纽约湾的豪华游艇上娶了邓文迪。默多克生平结过三次婚，原配夫人帕特生下长女后，两人就分道扬镳。后来，迪。默多克生平结过三次婚，原配夫人帕特生下长女后，两人就分道扬镳。后来，又和悉尼又和悉尼每日镜报每日镜报的记者、的记者、19岁的安娜结婚，育有两男一女。现在又和邓文迪岁的安娜结婚，育有两男一女。现在又和邓文迪生了两个幼女。作为百