AUSTRALIA A PACIFIC RIM COUNTRY

KEY TERMS OUTBACK: the dry land consisting of plains and plateaus that make up much of central and western Australia. ARTESIAN WELL: a well from which water flows under natural pressure without pumping.

TONY ABBOT IS THE CURRENT PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA

ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES Michael Chang, John Koeyers and Charlie Walkabout are all Australians. The meaning of Australian has changed since it became independent. It is no longer “British”. It now reflects the diversity of Australia’s people. Today Australia has close ties with other nations of the Pacific Rim, which includes Japan, South Korea, China and Taiwan.

United States is another Pacific Rim nation United States is another Pacific Rim nation. It is one of Australia’s key trading partner. Australia’s economy depends upon trading with other countries.

MICHAEL CHANG He owns a successful trading company in Sydney, Australia’s largest city. His office is a modern glass skyscraper, he sometimes watches the Sydney harbor to see the large cargo ships. His company send various products to many countries in Asia.

RANCHER JOHN KOEYERS He owns a huge cattle ranch in northwest Australia. He uses helicopter and trucks to round up the herds on his ranch. The Koeyers sell most of his cattle to companies in Asian nations. Large cargo ships transport his cattle to South Korea and Taiwan. Other cargo ships carry products such as Australian wool and meat to foreign markets. These cargo ships also carry minerals to Japan.

FARMING It seems very strange that farm products are an important export for Australia, because only about 7 % of Australia’s land is good for farming. This farming area is mainly near the rivers that lie on the east coast. Farmers use the river water to irrigate the crops.

Australian farmers raise barley, oats, and sugar cane. However the most valuable crop is wheat. It is one of the world’s leading wheat grower and exporter.

RANCHING Ranching is another part of its economy. Australian sheep and cattle provide lamb, mutton and beef for export. Australia is the world’s leading wool producer. Most cattle and sheep are raised on large ranches called stations. Some of the largest stations are in the outback.

For example the Koeyers ranch is in a very hot and dry area. There are about 7000 head of cattle. Another outback station near Alice Springs in the center of Australia is ever larger. But in this region the cattle barely find any grass to eat. Fresh water is also scarce. To supply water for their cattle, they use underground artesian wells.

ABORIGINES: IMPROVING LIVES Charlie Walkabout, the director of Anangu Tours, is an aboriginal. The whole company is owned and run by Aboriginal people. This company has won awards for its tours of Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock. They conduct the tours in their own language and a translator translates the words in English.

Aboriginal people in Australia are working hard to preserve their culture. They are adding a great to the economy of the country. Aboriginal schools teach their own language. Artists are trying to preserve the culture through their art.

Aboriginal leaders have helped their people in another important way too. They have influenced the government of Australia to return the Aboriginal land back to them. The government has also built schools and hospitals on their land. It is also protecting some of their sacred places as well. Aborigines have gained more rights than before. Their main goal is to gain back their ancestral lands. Some people strongly oppose to it. But may be they will get their land back in a few years.