1. Australian Government and Economy
SS6CG4 Explain forms of citizen participation in government
SS6E10 Analyze different economic systems.
SS6E11 Give examples of how voluntary trade benefits buyers and sellers in Australia
SS6E12 Describe factors that influence economic growth and examine their presence or absence in Australia.

2. Australian Government
SS6CG4 Explain forms of citizen participation in government

3. Australian Government
Because it was a colony of the United Kingdom, it’s government closely resembles that of the UK
Australia is Parliamentary Democracy.
The people vote in members of parliament (MPs) at all levels including provincial/territorial (like states) and nationally.
The Parliament then votes in the Prime Minister of the leading political party.
Head of Government = The Prime Minister
Head of State = Queen Elizabeth and has a representative called The Governor-General who acts on her behalf.

4. Comparisons between UK and Australia
United Kingdom
Australia
Government
Parliamentary Democracy
Head of State
Queen Elizabeth II
Head of Government
Prime Minster – Teresa May
Prime Minster – Malcolm Turnbull
Citizens’ Participation
They elect the Parliament, who in turn elect the PM
Governor – General
Represents and acts on the Queen’s behalf. Peter Cosgrove
Upper House
House of Commons
Senate
Lower House
House of Lords
House of Representatives

6. The Commonwealth
The word commonwealth means “ the common wealth/health of all”
Australia incorporated this term into her official title “The Commonwealth of Australia”.
This refers to Australia’s 7 territories/states and how they all need each other.
Australia is also part of the Commonwealth of Nations
This is made up of 52 countries, where 16 are from previous territories of the British Empire and hold the Queen as Head of State.

7. Commonwealth of Nations
Members of the Commonwealth shaded according to their political status.
Commonwealth realms are shown in blue, republics in pink, and members with their own monarchy are displayed in green

8. Australian Economy SS6E10 Analyze different economic systems.
SS6E11 Give examples of how voluntary trade benefits buyers and sellers in Australia
SS6E12 Describe factors that influence economic growth and examine their presence or absence in Australia.

9. Australia’s Economy Three Economic Questions: Economic Continuum
1. What should the nation produce/provide?
2. How should the nation produce/provide?
3. For whom should the nation produce/provide?
Economic Continuum
Australia is a mixed economy that is more on the Market side.

10. Government deregulation
Government deregulation - reduction of government oversight and/or influence in a given sector of the economy
This reduction has helped make Australia very strong. Australia’s government strongly protects business and property rights.
Australia
service industries
Technologies
Exports
mining
agricultural

11. Australia’s Trade Trade between nations:
voluntary (i.e., not coerced through military threats or economic sanctions)
Mutually beneficial.
Economic Specialization: products/services which can be made fastest, cheapest, and in great abundance.
Australia specializes in mineral extraction and processing.

12. Trade Barriers Three major trade barriers
Tariffs place a tax on imported good.
Quotas place a limit on imported goods.
Embargoes block all trade with another nation.
Australia currently has regional embargoes North Korea over how Korea treats nation’s human rights abuses.
A boycott is exercised by citizens even when there is no official embargo at the national level.

13. Australia’s Currency
Even though Australia shares a lot with Great Britain, Australia has its own currency. $1 Australia Dollar = $0.78 American Dollar

14. Quality of Life
In order for a region to sustain high-quality, well- paying, in-demand jobs, its labor force must be literate.
Low literacy rates typically correlate to lower standards of living; however, high literacy rates do not always translate to higher standards of living.
In the case of Australia, with its 99% overall literacy rate, the standard of living for the vast majority of Australians is very high.