LECTURE 7 AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND Australia

LECTURE 7. AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

Australia 6 states and 2 territories: New South Wales (Sydney) Victoria (Melbourne) Queensland South Australia Western Australia Tasmania Northern Territory The Australian Capital Territory (Canberra)

THE FLAG AND THE COAT OF ARMS

POPULATION 23, 7 million people • 27% - born overseas • 20% - at least one of the parents was born overseas • 53% - both parents were born in Australia (including Aboriginal population) Top countries for overseas-born population: the UK, New Zealand, China, India, Italy, Vietnam, Philippines, South Africa, Malaysia, Germany

NEARLY 20 PER CENT OF AUSTRALIA'S LAND MASS IS CLASSIFIED AS DESERT The driest continent with the exception of Antarctica

MOUNTAIN RANGES: THE GREAT DIVIDING RANGES, THE MACDONNELL RANGES, ETC. THE HIGHEST POINT IS MOUNT KOSCIUSZKO, NEW SOUTH WALES, AT 2228 METRES ABOVE SEA LEVEL.

THE LONGEST RIVERS: THE RIVER MURRAY AND THE DARLING RIVER THE LARGEST LAKE: LAKE EYRE (SALT), RARELY FILLS ENTIRELY

COASTLINE

WILDLIFE

History of Australia: (1)Aborigines (2)Early explorers (3)Colonization (4)The Australian Gold Rush (5)Federation (6)WW 1 (7)WW 2 (8)The Independence

Aborigines (indigenous people) • • • Migrated from Asia ~ 30, 000 years ago Several hundred distinct groups About 2% of the population Ties with the land Traditions of storytelling

Early Explorers • ‘Terra Australis Incognita’ (the unknown southern land) • The Dutch reached it in 1606, ‘New Holland’ • Other European explorers and traders • James Cook landed in Australia in 1770 (Botany Bay) and claimed the east coast for Britain: New South Wales

Colonization • The 1 st British colony was established in 1788 (now Sydney) – around 1, 350 people • The second fleet arrived in 1790 – the “Death Fleet” • Convicts, 4 times more men than women • Colonies in New South Wales, Tasmania, Western Australia, Victoria, and Queensland. Some ex-convicts moved to South Australia and the Northern Territory.

The Gold Rush • • • After the Californian Gold Rush of 1849 Edward Hargraves used the skills acquired in California Found gold in New South Wales in 1851 Then rich fields were found in Victoria Gold diggers from Britain, the US, China… The population of Australia doubled within 10 years

Federation • The Father of Federation is Henry Parkes, the Premier of New South Wales • In 1889 called for the colonies to unite • Proposed a meeting to devise a federal constitution • A draft in 1891, but few people took part in a referendum • Debates over a new capital • New referendums in 1899 • The Federal Parliament, the 1 st Prime Minister, the colonies became states • The Commonwealth of Australia was proclaimed on 1 January 1901

Australia in the First World War (WW 1) • Australian volunteers • Total population was less than 5 mln, over 400, 000 men enlisted • Over 60, 000 killed, 156, 000 wounded, gassed or taken prisoners • The Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) • First sent to Egypt to fight against Turkey

Australia in the Second World War (WW 2) • • • Britain declared war in 1939, Australia also declared war Over 500, 000 Australians served overseas: against Germany and Italy in Europe and North Africa against Japan in south-east Asia Australian mainland came under direct attack for the first time: Japanese aircraft and submarines

Independence 1901 – the British Parliament passed legislation allowing 6 Australian colonies to govern themselves as the Commonwealth of Australia 1927 – the united Crown was replaced by multiple crowns: the King of Australia 1931 – the Statute of Westminster: self-governing dominions as autonomous communities equal in status – the Commonwealth of Nations 1986 – Australia Act: the UK Parliament could no longer legislate for Australia, the UK was no longer involved in Australian government

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION IN AUSTRALIA (1)THE QUEEN OF AUSTRALIA (2) THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL (3) THE PRIME MINISTER (4) THE CABINET AND THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (5) PARLIAMENT (6) POLITICAL PARTIES

The Queen of Australia Plays ceremonial and symbolic roles Referendum in 1999: Australia would remain a constitutional monarchy, not a republic headed by the President

The Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove (born in Sydney) • The Queen’s representative in Australia • Appointed by the Queen on the advice of the Australian Prime Minister • The same role in Australia as the Queen in the UK: -opens and dissolves the Australian Parliament -appoints the Prime Minister and other ministers -gives assent to laws passed by Parliament -appoints federal judges and ambassadors -receives and entertains official visitors -sends congratulatory messages, etc -the Commander-in-Chief

The Prime Minister • The most powerful political position in Australia • The head of government, the most senior minister of the Crown • The leader of the Cabinet • The chairperson of the National Security Committee • The leader of the majority party or the largest party in a coalition • Malcolm Turnbull since September 2015

The Cabinet • • • The council of senior Ministers of the Crown Appointed by the Governor-General on the advice of the Prime Minister Responsible to Parliament The Constitution doesn’t recognize the Cabinet as a legal entity All members are also in the Executive Council The Executive Council Chaired by the Governor-General (at least in theory) Established by the Constitution to advise the Governor-General. Consists of all current and former ministers, including junior ministers. But only current ministers are actually involved in the Council activities. • Meets only to give legal force to decisions made by the Cabinet. • •

The Commonwealth Parliament/ Federal Parliament • The legislative body. • Bills have to pass two houses in order to become law. The House of Representatives: the lower house, “the people’s house” - 150 single member electorate divisions, elections at least every 3 years The Senate: the upper house, “the States’ house” - 76 members, 12 from each state + 2 from each territory - Senators from states are elected for six years (half of senators every three years), senators from territories serve for 3 years

Political Parties Several dozen registered parties. The two major parties are the Australian Labor Party and the Liberal Party of Australia The Australian Labor Party The oldest political party, formed in the 1890 s, represented in the 1 st Parliament in 1901. A moderate democratic socialist party (center-left) “the party of opportunity and security for working people” The Liberal Party of Australia Formed in 1910, changed its name several times, became the Liberal Party in 1944. A center-right political party, conservative ideology, economic liberalism The current prime minister is leader of the Liberal Party

The Federal National Party/ the Nationals Traditionally represented farmers and other rural voters, began as the Australian Country Party, changed its name in 1975. The minor party in a center-right coalition with the Liberal Party The Australian Greens Launched in 1992, state-based Greens since the early 1980 s Many other parties

New Zealand 2, 000 km southeast of Australia North Island South Island + many smaller islands The capital is Wellington

THE FLAG AND THE COAT OF ARMS OF NEW ZEALAND

POPULATION PEOPLE 4, 5 MLN • 74 per cent - European ethnicities • 14, 9 per cent - Māori • 11, 8 per cent - Asian • 7, 4 per cent - Pacific peoples • 1, 2 per cent – Middle Eastern/ Latin American/ African Three official languages: English, Māori, and New Zealand sign language

MOUNTAINS AND VOLCANOES

Lake Taupo Waikato River

THE HISTORY OF NEW ZEALAND (1)Maori settlements (2)The first Europeans (3)The Treaty of Waitangi (4)Colonial Period

Maori Settlement • The first settlers arrived from Polynesia between 1200 and 1300 AD • Ancestors of Maori • Developed a distinct Maori culture

The First Europeans • The Dutch explorer Abel Tasman in 1642 • Captain James Cook in 1769 + later voyages • From the 1790 s, British, French, and American whaling and trading ships. • Traded with Maori. Some conflicts, but mostly peaceful contact

The Treaty of Waitangi (1840) • The British government wanted to curb lawlessness in New Zealand to act faster than the French. • 1840 – a treaty between the British Crown and more than 500 Maori chiefs • Protects the rights of Maori and non-Maori • The right of Maori tribes to organize themselves, protect their way of life and control their resources • Equality of all New Zealanders under law • New Zealand became a British colony, a part of the British Empire

Colonial Period: 19 th century The European population grew from fewer than 1, 000 in 1831 to 500, 000 by 1881 Gold discovered in the 1860 s The New Zealand Constitution Act of 1852: - granted self-government to the Colony of New Zealand - the bicameral General Assembly: the Governor, the Legislative Council and the House of Representatives - the Executive Council nominally appointed by the Governor - the provinces of New Zealand Conflicts between Europeans and Maori because of land, war in the North Island in the 1860 s. The South Island settlements prospered 1893 – gave women the vote. State pensions and state housing

Colonial Period: 20 th century Declined the chance to join the Australian Federation in 1901 Gained partial independence in 1907: became a dominion within the British Empire In WW 1 and WW 2 New Zealanders served and died overseas. Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC). Full independence in 1947

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION IN NEW ZEALAND (1)The Queen of New Zealand (2)The Governor-General (3)The Government and the Prime Minister (4)Parliament (5)Election System (6)Political Parties

The Queen of New Zealand • A constitutional monarchy • The Queen has ceremonial and symbolic roles • Acts on the advice of New Zealand Government ministers • Appoints a Governor-General on the advice of the country’s Prime Minister • Elizabeth II: 10 visits to New Zealand during her reign

The Governor-General Performs the same role in NZ as the Queen in the UK - dissolves Parliament before a general election - appoints the Government and the Prime Minister - signs legislation - opens new sessions of Parliament - presents honors - welcomes visiting Heads of State - attends Waitangi Day commemorations… Rt Hon Dame Patsy Reddy

The Government and the Prime Minister “Responsible government”: all Ministers should be elected members of the House of Representatives The Prime Minister is “the first among equals”, the Leader of the Cabinet, the leader of the largest political party in the House of Representatives. John Key The Cabinet: 20 members, most of them have several functions. All ministers are members of the Executive Council. The highest formal instrument of government. The Chairman is Governor-General

Parliament: the House of Representatives - Makes new laws and updates old ones Approves the government’s taxes and spending Checks the actions of the executive Represents New Zealanders From 1854 to 1951 consisted of three parts: the Governor, the House of Representatives (elected) and the Legislative Council (appointed). The Legislative Council gradually became powerless and was abolished in 1951. Now only one chamber: the House of Representatives. 120 members.

The Election System: Mixed Member Proportional Representation (MMP) MMP was introduced in 1996 Each voter gets two votes: - For a political party (the party vote) - For an MP (the electorate vote) MPs from single-member electorates and from party lists. Almost impossible for a party to win a majority of seats. The party with the most votes forms a coalition or agreement with another party or parties.

Political Parties: The National Party: 59 MPs, established in 1936 The largest partner in Government, the Prime Minister is the party leader - Loyalty to the country and its sovereign - National and personal security - Equal opportunity - Individual freedom and choice - Limited government… The Labor Party: 32 MPs, established in 1916 Democratic socialist principles: - All the political authority comes from the people - All people should have equal access to all social, economic, cultural, political and legal spheres - Cooperation rather than competition in economic relations…

The Green Party: 14 MPs, established in 1995 New Zealand is a place where people respect each other and the natural world we share The New Zealand First Party: 12 MPs, established in 1994 To put New Zealanders first through enlightened economic and social policies, by placing control of New Zealand’s resources in the hands of New Zealanders, and by restoring faith in the democratic process The Maori Party: 2 MPs, established in 2004 An initiative of Maori for the benefit of all citizens of this land Commitment to the Treaty of Waitangi as the founding document of the nation