AUSTRALIA"S GLOBAL LINKS
Aid
Communication
Culture
Defence
Migration
Sport
Tourism
Trade
Australian Defence Policies have been shaped by increases in cross-border linkages and global population movement
Defence policies have recently converged more strongly with the United States
Australian defence forces have contributed to International Peacekeeping operations
Australia is involved in international disarmament forums
Australia's international aid program primarily focuses on the Asia-Pacific region
Aid is implemented with international partners
~30% of Australia's aid budget is spent on multilateral global programmes
Each year nearly 1/2 a million people arrive in Australia
Migrants seek entry into Australia for many reasons, including jobs or better living conditions
14 of Australia's population was born overseas
Migration has positive impacts, like cultural, economic, and geopolitical changes
Australia has access to domestic and international communication through phones, computers, mail, faxes, newspapers, magazines, radio, television and mass media
Australia's cultural and politcal links with other countries are reinforced by trade and investment
Although Australia relies heavily on its overseas foreign investment, it is also a high exporter of goods, services and capital
Australia belongs to many trading blocks
Australia aims to negotiate free trade agreement
Australia's largest trading partners include the EU
The importance of tourism is seen in the amount of Australia's visting overseas and the amount of tourists visting Australia
Tourism has been Australia's single largest source of foreign exchange dollars and a significant source of employment ande economic growth
Australia has hosted the 2000 Olympics and other international sorting competitions
Sport is considered as a national 'religion' or 'obsession' in Australia as it has a massive impact on the culture
Australia has a competitive world profile in many sports
Because of the amount of tourism and migration, new cultures have been introduced and intergrated into Australian culture