Geography:
Australian In Its Regional And Global Context
Communication
- Australia’s remote location has presented challenges for communication
- Telephones, television satellite communications and the Internet allow Australia to communicate around the globe
- ‘Global Village”
- Important developments:
o Increasing number of Australians with access to the internet
o The growth of satellite and microwave technologies
o The use of fibre optic cable technology
o The growth of hybrid technology
- There is a social divide between the information rich and the information poor
- Many isolated and poor regions of the globe have not experienced the same degree of technological change and have effectively been shut out of the growing global networks in trade, transport, finance and communications
- In countries like Africa, only 1.8% have a telephone and only 0.15% have access to the internet
Culture
- Since the 1980s a number of forces operating well beyond the control of national governments have promoted greater economic and cultural links between nations. These forces include:
o TNCs
o Global satellite and cable-based communications systems
o International migration of workers seeking short term employment
o Emergence of global media network
o Expansion of the international trade in goods and services
o The emergence of the global finance system
- Forces promote globalisation
- Cultural integration
- Culture: shared aspects of people’s lives including traditions, customs, languages, belief systems, sport, music, food and architecture
- In Australia there is a dominance of American culture
- Australians are trying to nurture however local Australasian culture
Sport
- In 2001, 23.5% of all Australians played some sort of group sport
- Many of Australia’s popular sports (rugby, cricket, tennis) originated in England and spread to its different colonies through migration
- Australia hosts many major sporting events
- Actively promotes cooperation and knowledge/resource sharing between countries
- Australia consistently produces world champion teams and elite athletes in a number of sports including cricket, rugby league, rugby union, swimming and cycling
- TNCS have had an impact on Australian sport
- Sports popular overseas have become increasing popular in Australia due to large advertising campaigns by TNCs
Tourism
- Of the greatest economic importance to Australia
- Domestic and international tourists consume more than $65billion in goods and services each year
- This accounts for 4.5% of Australia’s gross domestic product (GDP)
- 4% consists of indirect revenue from tourism – the flow of benefits, including increased output and employment that results from tourists consuming goods and services
- Approximately 1 million people are employed in tourism related industries
- Australia receives around 8million visitors per year
- 50% holidays, 20% visiting friends and relatives, 15% business trips, 6% educational purposes
- NZ, Europe and North America are the main sources
Trade
- Creates links between countries through the export and import of goods and services
- Primary products including agricultural good and minerals
- Services such as tourism and education overseas has also grown
- Trade liberisation has increased competition and reduced the protective buffer between domestic and international affairs
- Exports:
o Coal
o Crude petroleum
o Iron ore
o Non-monetary gold
o Aluminium
- Imports
o Motor vehicles
o Crude petroleum
o Telecommunications equipment
o Computers
o Medical supplies
- Export Destinations
o Japan 19.4%
o USA 9.7%
o South Korea 7.8%
o China 6.2%
o NZ 5.9%
- Import Destinations
o USA 18.2%
o Japan 13.0%
o China 8.8%
o Germany 5.7%
o UK 5.3%
Military
- Ties with the United Kingdom due to the colonial past
- Since WWII, Australia has developed closer miliary ties with the US
- ANZUS – Australia, New Zealand and the United States of America
- April 1952
- Regional security in the Asia Pacific area
- Australia conducts regular military exercise with the military forces of the US, Singapore, NA and the UK
- Train with Canada, Singapore, NZ, UK, US and PNG
- Basic traipsing to specialised programs
- With Malaysia, Singapore, NZ and the UK, Australia is a member of the Give Power Defence Arrangement
International Aid
- Assistance that governments of developed countries provide to developing countries for the purpose of encouraging economic growth and improvements in standards of living
o Bilateral aid: development assistance given by a government directly to the government of another country
o Multilateral aid: assistance provided by governments through international agencies, such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund
o Non-government aid – all forms of aid provided by non-government organisations, including the Red Cross, Oxfam Community Aid Abroad and World Vision. These funds are usually raised from public donations
- Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID)
- Funds and other forms of assistance to a number of developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region and across the globe
- Good governance is about ensuring that all groups within society have a say regarding the key issues affecting their futures
- Encourages the development of effective and accountable institutions
- Australia gives 0.25% of its gross national income to aid ($1.815 billion)
- Each Australian contributes around $4.70 a week
- UN’s target is 0.7 of GNI
Bilateral agreements
Bilateral aid includes all forms of development assistance given directly by the Australian Government to the government of a developing country. This form of aid is generally directed towards the provision of:
- Health, education and training programs
- Technology
- Support for community based projects – infrastructure
- Emergency food, medicines, shelter, building materials and clothing during times of crisis
Multilateral aid
- Includes all forms of official development assistance provided by the governments of developed countries through international agencies
- Fund:
o Emergency relief projects, such as those involving large numbers of refugees
o Projects involving issues that cut across national borders, such as global warming and disease control
o Large-scale infrastructure projects including the construction of roads, bridges and railways
o Large scale health, education and training programs
Treaties and international agreements
- Used to create legal obligations between countries
- An International agreement concluded between states in a written form and governed by international law
- Australia is part of more than 920 treaties covering a broad range of issues
Advantages
- National security
- Economic advantages
- Geopolitical advantages
- Positive impacts on social justice and equity
Disadvantages
- Environmental, social and cultural disadvantages
- Economic disadvantages
- Geopolitical disadvantages
Migration
- A process involving the short-term and long-term movement of people from one place to another
- International: between countries
- Interstate: between states or territories within a country
- Interstate: between regions within a state or territory
- Forced or voluntary
- Immigration involves the movement of people into a country
- During the 50 years from 1947 to 1997, Australia’s population has increased by aprox. 11.5million and at least 7mil can attributed by immigrants
- Emigration involves the permanent departure of citizens from their country
- More than 1million Australians have settled overseas
Composition of Australia’s immigrant population
- The introduction of the Immigration Restriction Act in 1901 until the mid 1970s, migration to Australia was restricted to restricted to various degrees of the White Australia Policy
- Settlers were increasingly accepted due the shortages of labour following WWII
- Mid 1970s, White Australia Policy totally abolished
- Today’s immigration policies are no longer racially based
- 1990s countries of origin of most of Australia’s migrants were NZ and UK
Skilled Stream
- Designed to attract highly skilled migrants who have the potential to contribute significantly to the Australian economy
- Need to pass an English test and be qualified
Family Stream
- Family relationship with a sponsor in Australia
- Must be a close family member to an Australian resident
Humanitarian Migration
- Sanctuary for refugees or displaced persons
- Refugee is someone who can’t return to their country for fear of persecution
Trans-Tasman Migration
- Australia has a bilateral migration agreement with NZ
- NZers can enter, live and work in Australia without a visa
Where
- 39.7% settle in NSW
- Followed by Victoria, QLD, WA and SA
- Each ethnic group has its own pattern of settlement within individual metropolitan areas e.g. Italians in Leichhardt
Asylum seeker: enters or remains in a country either legally, as a visitor or tourist or student, or illegally, with no or with fraudulent documentation, and then claims refugee status
Role of Government
Developing policy
- Government develops Australia’s immigration policy and sets the criteria and standards that need to be met by foreign nationals
Enforcing Australia’s migration policy
- Discourage people smuggling
- Deport those determined to be refugees
- Ensuring visors to not overstay their visas
Provision of services for new arrivals
- DIMIA arranged for the settlement of migrants and provides a range of services for new arrivals, including settlement information in a range of languages, English programs for adult migrants and translation / interpreting services
Role of NGOs
- Defend human rights of asylum seekers and refugees
- Organizations such as Amnesty International
- Refugee Council provide protection and legal aid
Role of treaties
- Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees (the Refugee Convention)
- Singed by Australia on 22nd January 1954
- Defines the nature and rights of refugees on an international scale
- Administered by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Cultural and cultural advantages and disadvantages of migration for Australia
- Over 200 languages are currently spoken
- Mix of traditions, cultures, beliefs, languages
- Migration increases average incomes and generates both wealth and employment
- Help to address labour shortages
Shifting bilateral and multilateral relations in the Asia-Pacific region
- Australia has built links with the Asia-Pacific area
- Trade, tourism and defence have benefited
Relationships with IGOs
- The Australian Government’s policies for the processing of asylum seekers and he removing of islands from the country’ migration zone has brought criticism from the UN
- These views affect Australia’s relationships with the world
Social Justice and Equity Issues
- Social Justice: protecting human rights and ensuring that international law is adhered to
- Refugees must enter the country legally to be given visas and refugee status
- If illegal then sent to detention centre
- If determined to be refugees then people are given a 3 year visa
- Can apply for permanent visa if entered the country legally
The Tampa Crisis
- August 2001
- Norwegian freighter MV Tampa rescued 433 asylum seekers from a sinking ship trying to reach Australian shores
- Australian government refused the entry of the ship
- The captain decided to enter Australian waters anyway
- Navy and SAS intercepted the ship and took control over the management of the asylum seekers
- Australia sent them to PNG in exchange for $20million
The Pacific Solution
- September 2001
- Removal of many islands of Australia’s northern mainland from the nation’s migration zone
- People arriving on this island couldn't gain access to the Australian legal system