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 澳大利亞人報The Sydney Morning Herald 悉尼先驅晨報The Age 世紀報The Australian Financial Review 金融評論報Magazines The Australian Womans Weekly 澳大利亞婦女周刊Sydney Gazette 公報News Agency Australian Associated Press 澳大利亞聯合新聞社Television and Broadcasting A

23、ustralian Broadcasting Company (ABC) 澳大利亞廣播公司 Australian Broadcasting Authority 澳大利亞廣播事業局 Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) 澳大利亞特別節目廣播事業局 默多克默多克1931年在澳大利亞的墨爾本市出生，完成牛津大學的學業后，年在澳大利亞的墨爾本市出生，完成牛津大學的學業后，1954年，年，回澳大利亞從父親手中接管了新聞集團的前身澳大利亞新聞有限公司，當時，該公回澳大利亞從父親手中接管了新聞集團的前身澳大利亞新聞有限公司，當時，該公司只有一份報紙司只有一份報紙新聞報新聞報。

24、默多克領導下的新聞公司從此南征北戰，兼并了澳洲。默多克領導下的新聞公司從此南征北戰，兼并了澳洲的數家報紙，十年后，公司出版了澳大利亞第一份全國性日報的數家報紙，十年后，公司出版了澳大利亞第一份全國性日報澳大利亞人報澳大利亞人報。至此，新聞公司將觸角伸向海外。如今，默多克控制著澳大利亞至此，新聞公司將觸角伸向海外。如今，默多克控制著澳大利亞60%多的報紙，還多的報紙，還擁有英國的擁有英國的太陽報太陽報、泰晤士報泰晤士報等多家媒體的股份。他創辦了英國天空電視等多家媒體的股份。他創辦了英國天空電視臺、美國福克斯電視網等傳媒機構。后來，新聞集團又將公司總部從澳大利亞遷到臺、美國福克斯電視網等傳媒機構。

25、后來，新聞集團又將公司總部從澳大利亞遷到美國。收購道瓊斯前，新聞集團提出擬以每股美國。收購道瓊斯前，新聞集團提出擬以每股60美元的價格收購股票，這一價格比美元的價格收購股票，這一價格比收購消息公開時的股票價格高出收購消息公開時的股票價格高出65%。默多克頂著壓力高價收購道瓊斯股票反映了。默多克頂著壓力高價收購道瓊斯股票反映了他繼續打造傳媒帝國的決心。他繼續打造傳媒帝國的決心。 不少中國人記住默多克不是因為他一手打造了傳媒帝國，而是因為他的忘年跨不少中國人記住默多克不是因為他一手打造了傳媒帝國，而是因為他的忘年跨國婚姻國婚姻娶了一位小他娶了一位小他38歲的中國妻子。歲的中國妻子。1999年，在與前妻正式簽署離婚協議年，在與前妻正式簽署離婚協議17天后，默多克不顧子女非議，以迅雷不及掩耳之勢在紐約灣的豪華游艇上娶了鄧文天后，默多克不顧子女非議，以迅雷不及掩耳之勢在紐約灣的豪華游艇上娶了鄧文迪。默多克生平結過三次婚，原配夫人帕特生下長女后，兩人就分道揚鑣。后來，迪。默多克生平結過三次婚，原配夫人帕特生下長女后，兩人就分道揚鑣。后來，又和悉尼又和悉尼每日鏡報每日鏡報的記者、的記者、19歲的安娜結婚，育有兩男一女。現在又和鄧文迪歲的安娜結婚，育有兩男一女。現在又和鄧文迪生了兩個幼女。作為百