1ºC

Names: Beatriz Novaes                    Numbers: 05

              Fernanda dos Santos                           12

              Gabriela Domingos                             16

               Giuliana Oliveira                                 17

              Milena Souza                                       33

Best places Australia tourism

Sydney

 Is the main entry point in Australia for most people, and the city offers many interesting sites to visit such as the Opera House, Darling Harbour with marine aquarium, lots of Shopping malls, museums, and it worth a visit to the other side of the bay including the Zoo and the beach of Mainly. Visiting the downtown tower (Sydney Tower)  will have a complete view of the city from the top. The Blue Mountains will provide a beautiful panorama of the valley. The nightlife in Sydney is one of the most active in all Australia.

Tasmania  

One of the prettiest places in Australia, and in certain way it reminds some New Zealand landscapes. Nice cities with excellent infra structure to visitors. The nature is the highlight, with spectacular beaches. The mountains and lagoons are well known for their beauty and wild life, and there are many historical places from the time Tasmania was a biggest prison for British convicts.

Ayers Rocks 

In the heart of Australia, close to the city of Alice Springs. It is the biggest rock monolith in the world and  a sacred place to the Aborigines. All the surroundins are deserts full of special places. Alice Springs is the departure point.

Festivals in Australia

Arts and cultural festivals

Each capital city has a festival. Major festivals are:

Sydney Festival (January)

Each year the Sydney Festival offers a rich and diverse program spanning all art forms including dance, theatre, music, visual arts, film, forums and large scale free outdoor events. For three weeks in January the Festival hosts around 80 events involving upwards of 500 artists from Australia and abroad. In any given year, it makes use of most of the main theatres across the breadth of the city and also has a commitment to the presentation of quality, large-scale outdoor events such as the iconic Domain Series.

National Multicultural Festival, Canberra (February)

The National Multicultural Festival is held over two weeks and features the very best in local, national and international music, dance, food and creative arts. Festival favourites include the Food and Dance Spectacular, the Greek Glendi, Carnivale, the International Concert and the Pacific Islander Showcase. The Festival Fringe complements the mainstream Festival, and provides a full-on week of zany entertainment
.
Perth International Arts Festival (February)

Merran Hughes, Artists on Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands. Image courtesy of Ernabella Arts. (Perth International Arts Festival).
The Perth International Arts Festival is the oldest annual international multi-arts festival in the southern hemisphere and is Western Australia's premier cultural event. The first Perth Festival was in 1953 and it now offers the people of Western Australia some of the best international and contemporary drama, theatre, music, film, visual arts, street arts, literature, comedy and free community events. Some other events on the program include the Contemporary Culture program and the Perth Visual Arts Festival. As well as these, there are other satellite festivals surrounding the main festival which itself offers more than 30 Australian premieres. Part of the Perth International Arts Festival (PIAF), the Western Australian Indigenous Arts Showcase (WAIAS) involved over 90 Indigenous singers and songwriters, musicians, actors and comedians from all over Australia's largest state.

Adelaide Bank Festival of Arts (March)

The Adelaide Festival of Arts has created a strong tradition of innovation since 1960 inspiring celebration and presenting diverse art from across Australia and around the world. Held in the warm South Australian autumn in every 'even' year, this is a large-scale multi-arts event of extraordinary richness and diversity.


Ten Days on the Island, Tasmania (March)

Tasmania 's flagship celebration of island arts and culture, Ten Days on the Island, boasts a multitude of events in 50 locations across the island. Events and activities range across all types of music, dance, visual arts, theatre, literature, food and film. Individual artists and companies come from all corners of the globe, and a number of local artists also take part.


Darwin Festival (August)

Yilila, winners of 2006 NT Indigenous Music Awards. Photograph courtesy of Yilila.
The Darwin Festival is a celebration of the city's uniqueness, celebrating our multicultural community, youthful energy, tropical climate and our great lifestyle. The cultural program provides a feast of local, national and international performances to excite, inspire and entertain. It includes opera, cabaret, dance, music, film, comedy, the visual arts and workshops - incorporating music and dance from Indigenous, Indonesian and Pacific Island communities. There is also a strong visual arts component, with traditional land owners guiding visitors through the many galleries exhibiting Indigenous art.


Brisbane Festival (September)

Brisbane Festival is Brisbane 's foremost international multi-arts festival, offering an outstanding program of theatre, dance, music, opera, multimedia, and free community events for the residents of Brisbane and its visitors. Held every two years, it endeavours to include the entire community in its program of activities by having intellectual rigour, international artistic credibility and an extremely broad grass-roots support base. Consequently, Brisbane Festival is about a lot more than just putting on shows, it encourages engagement and participation from everyone in the greater community across our great city, country and the globe.


Melbourne International Arts Festival (October)

Melbourne International Arts Festival has a reputation for presenting unique international and Australian events in the fields of dance, theatre, music, visual arts, multimedia, free and outdoor events over 17 days each October. First staged in 1986 under the direction of composer Gian Carlo Menotti it became the third in the Spoleto Festival series - joining Spoleto, Italy, and Charleston, United States. Melbourne's Spoleto Festival changed its name to the Melbourne International Festival of the Arts in 1990. In 2003, the Festival was renamed Melbourne International Arts Festival.

Independent festivals

Major independent national festivals include:

Chinese New Year (February)

Chinese New Year is the longest and most important celebration in the Chinese calendar. The new year begins on the first day of the Chinese calendar, which usually falls in February, and the festivities continue for 15 days. During Chinese New Year celebrations, people wear red clothes, give children 'lucky money' in red envelopes and set off firecrackers. Chinese New Year ends with the lantern festival, where people hang decorated lanterns in temples and carry lanterns to an evening parade under the light of the full moon. The highlight of the lantern festival is often the dragon dance. The dragon can stretch over 30 metres long and is typically made of silk, paper and bamboo. In Sydney, more than 500,000 people crowd the streets to celebrate the Lunar New Year and all things Chinese.

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras (February)

From a protest rally to one of the world's largest gay and lesbian festivals, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras has come a long way. In 1978, a group of 1,000 people marched down Oxford Street to mark International Gay Solidarity Day. The one-off event resulted in violent clashes with police and a determination to do it all again the following year and Mardi Gras was born. The event has continued to transform, adding an arts festival in 1983, and grown to attract an audience of hundreds of thousands of participants from all over the world. The Festival forms a huge celebration and reflection on gay and lesbian life.

WOMADelaide (March)

Over three days, WOMADelaide runs six outdoor stages featuring performances and intimate workshops by around 35 groups from over 20 countries. It also presents a KidZone, visual arts and street theatre programs, and an amazing Global Village of 100 arts, crafts, international cuisine and educational display stalls and three bars. The magical ambience of WOMADelaide is indescribably lush; thousands of people of all ages bliss out as they enjoy the sounds of the planet while catching up with friends in the sunshine, lazing under the trees, shopping, eating, drinking and having fun with their family.

National Folk Festival, Canberra (April)

Held over the Easter weekend in Canberra every year, the National Folk Festival draws together people from all around Australia and the world. They come to share in the songs, dances, tunes and verse that have flowed through the ages from many communities into Australian folk culture. The festival includes over 100 concerts, poetry and storytelling sessions, various dance classes running all day, a kids program and of course lots of different food options. Camping is available and many people spend the whole five days and nights at the festival.

Dreaming Festival, Woodford (June)

The Dreamingis a vibrant, exciting and a valuable destination where local, national and international audiences look forward to their annual ceremony time along with the most comprehensive showcase of Indigenous arts from across the country and around the world. This three day and four night festival will have performing arts venues, bars, Ceremony grounds, traditional healing, galleries, rituals, campfire story circles and a mass of stalls, workshop avenueand food outlets. Presented by the Queensland Folk Federation, the program features film and literature components, performing arts, new media and digital technologies, food and wine fare, comedy, ceremony, exhibitions, performance artists, physical theatre, visual arts, craft workshops, music program, street performers, musicals and a youth program.

Revelation Perth International Film Festival (July)

The Revelation Perth International Film Festival has always maintained a high focus on documentary. The festival's history has seen the screening of a wide array of contemporary and archival documentaries including Oscar nominated pieces, progressive works from the international scene and works from the international underground are represented in the Festival.

Woodford Folk Festival (December)

The Woodford Folk Festival is an event of international standing. Held over six days and six nights it presents more than 2000 performers and 400 events with concerts, dances, workshops, forums, street theatre, writers' panels, film festival, comedy sessions, acoustic jams, social dialogue and debate, an entire children's festival, art and craft workshops, late night cabarets and special events including a spectacular fire event. The Festival features the cream of Australian performers and a gathering of special international guests.

Popular Foods in Australia

A look at the Australian cuisine introduces one to a wide variety of interesting and delectable food items. So which are the ones commonly relished by people here? Let's find out with this article.

Australia is a land that has a wide variety of cuisines to offer to those who are complete foodies at heart! The cuisine finds its base in the traditional style of British cooking. A wide variety of seafood is also enjoyed here. The varied types of delicacies only reveal the diversity of this land. Certain items, ranging from appetizers to desserts, have come to be associated with the identity of this country. Find out more with the list below.

Vegemite

Vegemite is an extremely well-known product in this country, to the extent that it is considered a national food item today. It is actually a black-colored paste which is used as a spread on sandwiches as well as crackers. At times, vegemite is also used as a filling for pastries. It is known to be a rich source of Vitamin B and is basically made from a byproduct of beer brewing, yeast extract. Food technologist, Cyril P. Callister, first created the vegemite. It has a smooth but sticky texture and is slightly bitter to taste. For someone who is trying vegemite for the first time, the taste may be too strong. However, it is said that the flavor grows on you eventually.

Australian Meat Pie

 

The meat pie is a dish that is savored in different forms all over the world. However, the meat pie of Australia has attained the status of a national dish. Hot pies are actually a favorite with all the local people. Such is the fame of the meat pie that an annual Great Aussie Pie contest is celebrated to attract various pie makers. The prize is given to those pie makers who meet the required standards of quality. Typically, an Australian meat pie contains minced meat with some gravy. It is also served with onions, mushroom, and cheese. It is a takeaway snack that is a favorite among people during games.

 Pie Floater

The pie floater is unique to areas of South Australia. A pie floater is actually a meat pie that is inverted and placed in a thick green pea soup. It is then covered with tomato sauce and mint sauce, along with salt and pepper to taste. Generally, pie floaters are available late in the evening at caravans parked along the streets. This is mainly seen in areas of Adelaide. The National Trust of Australia gave the pie floater the status of a South Australian Heritage icon in the year 2003. This dish has also been mentioned in the novel The Last Continent, written by Terry Pratchett.

Pavlova

Named after a Russian ballet dancer, Anna Pavlova, pavlova is a notable dessert in Australia. It is a meringue-based dessert that is soft on the inside and has a crispy crust outside. The pavlova is different from meringue as a result of the addition of cornflour, which gives it the crunchy crust on the outside and a soft texture on the inside. This dessert tends to deflate if it is exposed to cold air and thus, is left in the oven until it cools down. Fresh fruits like strawberries, kiwifruit, bananas are used along with whipped cream as topping.

The most popular sport in Australia

The most popular sport in Australia, determined by participation, spectator and television viewer numbers, is "Cricket". 

It is commonly referred to as Australia's unofficial "national sport". Unlike the winter football codes that are divided in popularity among different states of Australia, Cricket generates far greater public interest throughout all parts of Australia on an international, domestic and local level. 

In 2010 Australia had 550 000 registered cricketers and the Australian men's team is ranked as Australia's favourite International sporting team. It is one of the most successful teams in international sport. 

On a domestic level, each of the six Australian states has its own team that competes in three separate competitions over summer. Local club cricket is also popular, as well as social cricket that includes variations such as backyard and beach cricket. Indoor cricket also has a strong following in all states of Australia. 

Also determined by participation, spectator and television viewer numbers - the most popular winter sport in Australia are the two Rugby football codes. Both games generate public interest on an international, domestic and local level. 

There are just under 650 000 registered players of the Rugby codes Australia wide, 500 000 - Rugby League and 150 000 - Rugby (Union). As of 2011, the major Rugby (Union) competition - "Super 14" will increase to 3 international conferences made up of five local based teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa and will be known as "Super 15". 

Soccer (Association Football) enjoys an extremely high junior participation in numbers across the country, however as players have grown in age they have tended to move to either Rugby League or Australian Rules depending on their location throughout Australia. 

Other popular team based sports in Australia include Netball and Hockey. After suffering a significant loss of popularity in the 90s Basketball has also shown a recent increase in participation at a junior level. 

Popular non-team based sports in Australia include Swimming, Golf, Tennis, Surfing and Horse Racing. Recently Australia's fastest growing sport has been Motorsport, in particular - V8 Supercars.

The Australian Government

Australia's formal name is the Commonwealth of Australia. The form of government used in Australia is a constitutional monarchy – constitutional' because the powers and procedures of the Australian Government are defined by a written constitution, and monarchy' because Australia's head of state is Queen Elizabeth II.

There are three arms' of the Australian Government:

• the legislature (or parliament) is responsible for debating and voting on new laws to be introduced under the power of section 51.
• the executive is responsible for enacting and upholding the laws established by the legislature. Certain members of the legislature (called ministers) are also members of the executive, with special responsibilities for certain areas of the law.
• the judiciary is the legal arm of the Australian Government. It is independent of the other two arms, and is responsible for enforcing the laws and deciding whether the other two arms are acting within their powers.

Australia's Beaches

Great Ocean Road

The Great Ocean Road skirts the Victorian coastline from Geelong, west to Nelson on the South Australian border and is without question one of the great scenic drives anywhere in Australia. It is also a tribute to the determination of soldiers who returned from World War I and used picks and shovels to build the road to commemorate their comrades who died in the war.

Bondi Beach

Bondi Beach Australia is located along the shores of Sydney, Australia. One of the more famous and popular beaches in Australia, Bondi offers an array of fun activities, suitable for every budget and every age. From the ancient days of Aboriginal fishing, people have been flocking to Bondi Beach Australia for its warm waters and clean, sandy beaches. Transportation to the beach is convenient and frequent, and tourists will find this to be an excellent beach in Australia

Australian customs and traditions

When you arrive in Australia you may notice differences in etiquette, lifestyles and values. Australians are quite informal which can take some getting used to, especially if you come from a culture where ritual is important and where levels of status and authority are clearly distinguished and carefully respected.

With most Australians living within 50 kilometres from the coast, many people enjoy a laid back and social lifestyle. A typical weekend may include a swim or surf in the ocean, participation or attendance at a sporting match, a barbecue with friends and spending time with family.

As your time in Australia continues, you’ll find yourself becoming more familiar and comfortable with aspects of Australian culture that may have initially confused you. Just like at home, there are aspects of the local culture that you will enjoy, and others that you won’t.

Self conduct

• Addressing people – Australians usually have two names – a first or given name and a family name or surname. People of your own age or younger would usually be addressed by their first names. When introduced to people older than you, call them Mr, Mrs or Ms followed by their surnames until you know them well or they ask you to address them by their first names;
• Greetings – good morning, good afternoon, good day or how do you do? are formal greetings. Informal greetings are hello or hi;
• G’day – an informal and traditional Australian greeting (shortened form of “Good day”);
• Saying excuse me, please and thank you – excuse me is used most commonly when speaking to someone who does not expect you to speak to them or when joining in an ongoing conversation. Say please when requesting something and thank you when anything is provided to you;
• Eye contact – no matter what your social status or age, Australians like to make direct eye contact with people they are speaking to;
• Personal space – Australians like to allow a decent amount of personal space between them and others. Standing closer than one metre from another person unnecessarily may make them feel uncomfortable.;
• Dress – Australians tend to dress quite casually. If more formal dress is required, you will usually be told;
• Queuing – people queue when they are waiting in turn for something (such as a taxi, bus, at a ticket counter or for a cashier). Never push ahead of others or ‘jump the queue’ – it won’t be tolerated;
• Punctuality – being late is not acceptable. If you can’t keep an appointment or invitation, or are running late, always phone to explain before the event;
• Smoking – smoking is banned in government buildings and on public transport including domestic and international flights. Smoking is now banned in most restaurants and licensed venues. Patrons are required to go outside if they wish to smoke. If you are visiting the house of a friend or family member, always ask for permission to smoke;
• Spitting – spitting in public is inappropriate and can cause offence;
• Littering – Australia is environmentally conscious and littering is inappropriate. If you litter, you may also be fined; and
• Table manners – you can eat with your fingers at informal meals such as a picnic, barbecue or when eating takeaway food. You must use cutlery for meals at restaurants. If you don’t know which utensil to use for a particular course, ask first or watch and follow what others do.

Australian colloquialisms

Australians often abbreviate words and then add an ‘o’ or ‘ie’ on the end. We also like reverse nicknames, calling people with red hair ‘bluey’, or saying ‘snowy’ to someone with dark hair. Australians also tend to flatten our vowels and end sentences with a slightly upward inflection.

Common Australian colloquialisms include:

• Bring a plate – when you are invited to a party and asked to 'bring a plate', this means to bring a dish of food to share with your host and other guests. Take the food to the party in any type of dish, not just a plate, and it is usually ready to serve. This is common for communal gatherings such as for school, work or a club. If you are unsure what to bring, you can ask the host;
• BYO – when an invitation to a party says 'BYO', this means 'bring your own' drink. If you do not drink alcohol, it is acceptable to bring juice, soft drink or soda, or water. Some restaurants are BYO. You can bring your own wine to these, although there is usually a charge for providing and cleaning glasses called 'corkage';
• Arvo – this is short for afternoon. 'Drop by this arvo,' means please come and visit this afternoon;
• Fortnight – this term describes a period of two weeks;
• Barbecue, BBQ or barbie – outdoor cooking, usually of meat or seafood over a grill or hotplate using gas or coals;
• Snag – the raw type sausages usually cooked at a barbecue. They can be made of pork, beef or chicken;
• Chook – means a chicken;
• Cuppa – a cup of tea or coffee 'Drop by this arvo for a cuppa' means please come and visit this afternoon for a cup of tea or coffee;
• Loo or dunny – these are slang terms for toilet. If you are a guest in someone's house for the first time, it is usually polite to ask permission to use his or her toilet;
• Fair dinkum – honest, the truth;
• To be crook – to be sick or ill;
• Flat out – to be very busy;
• Shout – to buy someone a drink. At a bar or a pub when a group of friends meet, it is usual for each person to 'shout a round', meaning buy everybody a drink;
• Bloke – a man. Sometimes if you ask for help, you may get be told to 'see that bloke over there'; and
• How ya goin? 'How are you going?' – means how are you, or how do you do?

Religion in Australia

In the 21st century, religion in Australia is predominantly Christian. In the 2011 Census, 61.14% of the Australian population were recorded as adhering to Christianity. Historically the percentage has been far higher and the religious landscape of Australia is diversifying, along with multicultural immigration and 22.3% of people with no religious affiliation.[1] 22.3% of Australians declared "no-religion" on the 2011 Census, and a further 8.55% did not answer the question.[1] The remaining population is a diverse group which includes Buddhist (2.46%), Islamic (2.21%), Hindu (1.28%) and Jewish (0.45%) communities. The Constitution of Australia of 1901 prohibits the Commonwealth government from establishing a church or interfering with the freedom of religion.

Australia's Aboriginal people developed the animist spirituality of the Dreaming and some of the earliest evidence on earth for religious practices among humans has been found in the archaeological record of their ancestors. Torres Strait Islander religion bore similarities to broader Melanesian spirituality. While Aboriginal people in Northern Australia would have had some contact with Maccassans prior to the permanent arrival of Europeans, the general isolation of indigenous Australian religion ended with the arrival of the first British settlers in 1788, whereafter subsequent immigrants and their descendants have been predominantly Christian.

While the Church of England originally held a position of privilege in early colonial Australia, a legal framework guaranteeing religious equality began to evolve within a few short decades. From the earliest days of the colony there were Jews and other religious minorities. Events like the 19th Century Australian gold rushes brought adherents of the various Chinese religions; and the requirements of the pre-mechanised era of transport brought specialised workers from British India, such as the mainly Muslim "Afghan Cameleers".

While Australia has a strong tradition of secular government, religious organisations have played a significant role in public life. The Christian Churches in Australia, in particular, having played an integral role in the development of education, health and welfare services. While less than a quarter of Australian Christians attend church weekly, around a quarter of all Australian school students attend church affiliated schools and the Christian festivals of Easter and Christmas are public holidays. The Catholic Church is by far the largest non-government provider of health and education services in Australia and faith-based aid organisations like the St Vincent De Paul Society and Salvation Army receive widespread community support.
At the time of European settlement, the Indigenous Australians had their own religious traditions of the Dreaming (as Mircea Eliade put it) "There is a general belief among the [indigenous] Australians that the world, man, and the various animals and plants were created by certain Supernatural beings who afterwards disappeared, either ascending to the sky or entering the earth."[3] and ritual systems, with an emphasis on life transitions such as adulthood and death.[4]
Prior to European settlement in 1788 there was contact with Indigenous Australians from people of various faiths. These contacts were with explorers, fishermen and survivors of the numerous shipwrecks. There have been countless artifacts retrieved from these contacts.[5] The Aborigines of Northern Australia (Arnhem Land) retain stories, songs and paintings of trade and cultural interaction with boat-people from the north. These people are generally regarded as being from the east Indonesian archipelago. (See: Macassan contact with Australia.) There is some evidence of Islamic terms and concepts entering northern Aboriginal culture via this interaction.[6][7]

Centuries before European sailors reached Australia, Christian theologians already speculated whether this region, located on the opposite side of the Earth from Europe, had human inhabitants and, if so, whether the Antipodes descended from Adam and have been redeemed by Jesus. The prevailing point of view, expressed by St. Augustine of Hippo, was that "it is too absurd to say that some men might have set sail from this side and, traversing the immense expanse of ocean, have propagated there a race of human beings descended from that one first man."[8][9] A dissenting view, held by the Irish-Austrian St. Vergilius of Salzburg was "that beneath the earth there was another world and other men"; while not much is known about Vergilius' views, the Catholic Encyclopedia speculates that he was able to clear himself from accusations of heresy by explaining that the people of the hypothetical Australia were descended from Adam and redeemed by Christ.[10]

By the early 18th century, Christian leaders felt that the natives of the little known Terra Australis Incognita and Hollandia Nova (still often thought as two distinct land masses) were in need of conversion to Christianity. In 1724, a young Jonathan Edwards wrote:

    ... And what is peculiarly glorious in it, is the gospelizing the new and before unknown world, that which is so remote, so unknown, where the devil had reigned quietly from the beginning of the world, which is larger – taking in America, Terra Australis Incognita, Hollandia Nova, ... – is far greater than the old world. I say, that this new world should all worship the God of Israel, whose worship was then confined to so narrow a land, is wonderful and glorious![11]

Christianity came to Australia with the first European settlers on the First Fleet.[12] Denominations represented were predominantly Roman Catholic found amongst Irish convicts and Anglican among other convicts and their gaolers. There were certainly at least 15 Jews in the First Fleet, 14 convicts and one "free" child.[13] Other groups were also represented, for example, among the Tolpuddle Martyrs were a number of Methodists.[citation needed] The First Fleet brought tensions to Australia fuelled by historical grievances between Roman Catholics and other Christians, tensions that would continue into the 20th century.[12]

The first chaplain, Richard Johnson, a Church of England cleric, was charged by Governor Arthur Phillip with improving "public morality" in the colony, but he was also heavily involved in health and education.[14] Christian leaders have remained prominent in health and education in Australia ever since, with over a fifth of students attending church schools at the beginning of the 21st century and a number of the nation's hospitals, care facilities and charities having been founded by Christian organisations.[15]

Though free settlers began to arrive in the late 18th century, it was the gold rush of the 1850s that led to radically increased immigration. The new settlers brought with them their religious traditions, such as Irish Catholicism, Scottish Presbyterianism, and English Anglicanism, among others. Australian Aborigines suffered a tragic decline during this period, as they were dispossessed of their lands and diseases spread among their population. Christian churches organized missions during this period, formally intended to “civilize” Aboriginal communities and spread Christianity. The overall consequences of this activity are still disputed, but certainly contributed to the decline of indigenous languages and beliefs.

After settlement, some Muslim sailors and prisoners came to Australia on the convict ships. Afghans cameleers settled in Australia from the 1860s onwards, a number of them being Sikh. From the 1870s Malay divers were recruited (with most subsequently repatriated). Islam was not a significant minority in this period.[citation needed]

The Church of England was disestablished in the colony of New South Wales by the Church Act of 1836. Drafted by the reformist attorney-general John Plunkett, the act established legal equality for Anglicans, Catholics and Presbyterians and was later extended to Methodists.[16]

Freedom of Religion was enshrined in the Australian Constitution of 1901. At the establishment of the federation - apart from a small Lutheran population of German descent, the indigenous population, and the descendants of gold rush migrants - Australian society was predominantly Anglo-Celtic, with 40% of the population being Anglican (then Church of England), 23% Catholic, 34% other Christian and about 1% professing non-Christian religions. In 1901, the government passed an act limiting immigration to those of European descent in what came to be known as the White Australia Policy. By effectively limiting the immigration of practitioners of different faiths, this policy ensured that Christianity remained the religion of the overwhelming majority of Australians for the foreseeable future and, indeed, to the present day. The first census in 1911 showed 96% identified themselves as Christian.[citation needed] The tensions that came with the First Fleet continued into the 1960s: job vacancy advertisements sometimes included the stipulation that "Catholics Need Not Apply".[12] Nevertheless, Australia elected its first Catholic prime minister, James Scullin, in 1929 and Sir Isaac Isaacs, a Jew, was appointed governor-general in 1930.[17][18]

Further waves of migration and the gradual repeal of the White Australia Policy, helped to reshape the profile of Australia's religious affiliations over subsequent decades.[citation needed] The impact of migration from Europe in the aftermath of World War II led to increases in affiliates of the Orthodox churches, the establishment of Reformed bodies, growth in the number of Catholics (largely from Italian migration) and Jews (Holocaust survivors) and the creation of ethnic parishes among many other denominations.[citation needed] More recently (post-1970s), immigration from South-East Asia and the Middle East has expanded Buddhist and Muslim numbers considerably and increased the ethnic diversity of existing Christian denominations.

As has been the trend throughout the world since the 11 September attacks, there has been an increasingly strained relationship between the adherents of Islam and the wider community.[citation needed] Attempts have been made to bridge inter-faith differences. However, the influence of the identity politics as a whole is not to be discounted in this respects; reflected in the conflicting and ambiguous interpretation of the 2005 race riots in Cronulla, near Sydney.[citation needed]

Religious places of worship have made their mark on Australia. Churches or chapels have been constructed in most towns, with many fine cathedrals built in the colonies during the 19th century. Synagogues, mosques and temples are also a feature of most Australian cities. The oldest mosque in Australia was built in 1888. Australia also has one of the larger Buddhist temples in the Southern Hemisphere.
Constitutional status

The Australian constitution consists of several documents, including the Statute of Westminster and the Australia Act of 1986, but there is only one reference to religion in the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia, signed into law in 1900. Notably, the constitution does not include a Bill Of Rights and, as a result, Australia's fundamental law has been criticized for its lack of explicit protection for several rights and freedoms. However, Section 116 of the 1900 Act to constitute the Commonwealth of Australia (Australian Constitution) provides that:

    The Commonwealth of Australia shall not make any law establishing any religion, or for imposing any religious observance, or for prohibiting the free exercise of any religion, and no religious test shall be required as a qualification for any office or public trust under the Commonwealth.

Technically, this article does not affect the states' authority to legislate on religion, nor would it block federal legislation on religion aside from that establishing an official religion of Australia. In practice, though, the government respects these rights and contributes to the generally free practice of religion.

In 1983, the High Court of Australia defined religion as a complex of beliefs and practices which point to a set of values and an understanding of the meaning of existence. The ABS 2001 Census Dictionary defines "No Religion" as a category of religion which has subcategories such as agnosticism, atheism, Humanism and rationalism.

The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) is able to inquire into allegations of discrimination on religious grounds.

HREOC's 1998[19] addressing the human right to freedom of religion and belief in Australia against article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights stated that despite the legal protections that apply in different jurisdictions, many Australians suffer discrimination on the basis of religious belief or non-belief, including members of both mainstream and non-mainstream religions, and those of no religious persuasion.

Many non-Christian adherents[who?] have complained to HREOC that the dominance of traditional Christianity in civic life has the potential to marginalise large numbers of Australian citizens. An example of an HREOC response to such views is the IsmaU project,[20] which examines possible racial prejudice against Muslims in Australia since the 11 September 2001 attacks in the US, and the Bali bombings.
Demographics
See also: Demography of Australia

A question on religious affiliation has been asked in every census taken in Australia, with the voluntary nature of this question having been specifically stated since 1933[citation needed]. In 1971, the instruction 'if no religion, write none' was introduced[citation needed]. This saw a sevenfold increase from the previous census year in the percentage of Australians stating they had no religion[citation needed]. Since 1971, this percentage has progressively increased to 22.3% in 2011Template:Http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/2071.0main+features902012-2013.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2006 Census Dictionary statement on religious affiliation states the purpose for gathering such information:

    Data on religious affiliation are used for such purposes as planning educational facilities, aged persons' care and other social services provided by religion-based organisations; the location of church buildings; the assigning of chaplains to hospitals, prisons, armed services and universities; the allocation of time on public radio and other media; and sociological research.

The 2006 census identified that 64% of Australians call themselves Christian: 26% identifying themselves as Roman Catholic and 19% as Anglican. Five percent of Australians identify themselves as followers of non-Christian religions, and 19% categorised as having "No Religion"; 12% declined to answer or did not give a response adequate for interpretation[citation needed]. As in many Western countries, the level of active participation in church worship is much lower than this; weekly attendance at church services is about 1.5 million, about 7.5% of the population.[21]

According to the census[citation needed], the fastest growing religions during the intercensal period between 2001 and 2006 were: Hinduism by 55.1 percent, Non-religion by 27.5 percent, Islam by 20.9 percent, Buddhist affiliation increased by 17 percent, and Judaism by 6 percent. Christianity was the only religion to show negative growth, with the number of followers falling by 0.6 percent.

The largest population increase was Non-religion which increased by 800,563 people[citation needed]. Buddhism increased by 60,940 people, Islam by 58,819 people, Hindu by 52,660 people[citation needed]. Christianity also increased in population but not as the same rate as the Australian population as a whole. During that same period the population of Australia increased by 1,086,044[citation needed]