Changes

One consequence of this voting system is that it encourages a multiplicity of parties and even independent candidates. There have been times when the balance of power has been held my minor parties or independent individuals.

One consequence of this voting system is that it encourages a multiplicity of parties and even independent candidates. There have been times when the balance of power has been held my minor parties or independent individuals.

The Federal oppostition political party, which most Americans would recognize as "liberal", is the Labor Party whose leader is Kevin Rudd. The Labor Party is in government in all of the states and territories as of March, 2007. The Labor Party are social democrats while the Liberals are liberal conservatives, but some of the smaller parties are more liberal or more conservative than Labor and Liberal respectively.

The Federal opposition political party, which most Americans would recognize as "liberal", is the Labor Party whose leader is Kevin Rudd. The Labor Party is in government in all of the states and territories as of March, 2007. The Labor Party are social democrats while the Liberals are liberal conservatives, but some of the smaller parties are more liberal or more conservative than Labor and Liberal respectively.

    

    

80% of Australia's population, of just over 20,000,000 people, live on the coast line.  It is one of the world's most sparsely populated countries (2.7 people per square kilometre)<ref>[http://www.abs.gov.au ABS]</ref>.  Water is scarce and some cities have some form of water restrictions in place.

80% of Australia's population, of just over 20,000,000 people, live on the coast line.  It is one of the world's most sparsely populated countries (2.7 people per square kilometre)<ref>[http://www.abs.gov.au ABS]</ref>.  Water is scarce and some cities have some form of water restrictions in place.

Weather extremes are common in Australia with temperatures sometimes measured into the high 40s Celsius (45 degrees Celsius = 113 degrees Fahrenheit).  The city of Darwin was destroyed by Cyclone Tracey in 1974 and bushfires often ravage the southern states - one of the worst occurring on Ash Wednesday in 1983 when over 2000 homes were destroyed and over 70 people lost their lives in Victoria and South Australia.

Weather extremes are common in Australia with temperatures sometimes measured into the high 40s Celsius (45 degrees Celsius = 113 degrees Fahrenheit).  The city of Darwin was destroyed by Cyclone Tracey in 1974 and bush fires often ravage the southern states - one of the worst occurring on Ash Wednesday in 1983 when over 2000 homes were destroyed and over 70 people lost their lives in Victoria and South Australia.

Australia is noted for its unique biodiversity. Many animals are found only in Australia, the most well known examples are the group of marsupials ([[kangaroos]], [[wombats]], [[wallabies]] and [[koalas]]), and the only two [[monotremes]], the [[platypus]] and the [[echidna]]. Examples of plants that are native to Australia are the [[banksia]], [[yellow wattle]] and [[gum tree]].   

Australia is noted for its unique biodiversity. Many animals are found only in Australia, the most well known examples are the group of marsupials ([[kangaroos]], [[wombats]], [[wallabies]] and [[koalas]]), and the only two [[monotremes]], the [[platypus]] and the [[echidna]]. Examples of plants that are native to Australia are the [[banksia]], [[yellow wattle]] and [[gum tree]].