International Marketing Project ­ Australia Neil Bastendorff Crater School of Business May 22, 2016 Neil Bastendorff Australia Table of Contents Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………………………2 Issue …………………………………………………………………………………………………3 Non­profit …………………………………………………………………..……………………………..4 Geographical Area Analysis …………………………………………………………………………………………………6 Economic Analysis Part 1 …………………………………………………………………………………………………8 Economic Analysis Part 2 ……………………………………………………………………………………..…………11 Political System ………………………………………………………………………………....……………..15 Trade Laws and Legal Analysis ………………………………………………………………………………………..………18 Population …………………………………………………………………………………………..……19 Diet and Nutrition …………………………………………………………………………………..……………22 Housing …………………………………………………………………………………..……………24 Transportation ………………………………………………………………………………………..………28 Labor ………………………………………………………………………………………..………30 Education ………………………………………………………………………………………..………31 Clothing ………………………………………………………………………………………..………33 Recreation and Leisure ………………………………………………………………………………………………..35 Language ……………………………………………………………………………………..…………37 Religion ……………………………………………………………………………………..…………39 Bibliography ………………………………………………………………………………………..………40 Appendix ………………………………………………………………………………………..………41 1 Neil Bastendorff Australia Introduction About the Country ­ The Commonwealth of Australia became a nation independent of Great Britain on January 1st, 1901. This day became known as Federation Day, when the British Parliament passed legislation that allowed the six colonies of Australia to govern in their own right. The government today is established as a constitutional monarchy, where Australians have their own constitution, but are still under the supreme rule of the British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. During his first voyage into the Pacific, British Captain James Cook claimed the eastern coast of Australia for the British. Although the continent was not colonised until 1788 by British Convicts, there had been Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islander people inhabiting the land for at least 60,000 years prior. Australia doubles as the world's 6th largest country and the smallest of all the continents. With approximately the same square miles as the 48 contiguous United States, Australia has only 1/13th of the population of the U.S.A. Due to the fact that it was settled first by the British, it is no surprise that the primary language spoken on this island continent is English, and the main religion is Catholic Christian. Most of the culture in the Land Down Under is influenced by English history, but there is also a certain Australian uniqueness to this great land. About the Issue ­ Australia is known for its rich natural resources. Of those iconic landmarks that come to mind, Ayers Rock, Bondi Beach, the Darling River system, Sydney Harbour, one sticks out in particular: the Great Barrier Reef. Comprised of 2,900 individual coral reefs and 900 islands, the Great Barrier Reef covers as much area as 70 million football fields, and can be seen from outter space. But the world's largest living structure is in danger of being destroyed by pollution of the land, air, and water. Since 1985 alone, we have lost 50% of the reefs coral cover to bleaching. Bleaching occurs when water temperatures rise due to climate change. Other major issues that are contributing to the demise of this wonder of the world are unsustainable fishing practices, poor water quality from streams, and an outbreak of the crown­of­thorns starfish which harms the production of new coral growth. We must take control of these issues before it is too late. About the Non­profit ­ We are the Defenders of the Great Barrier Reef, and our cause is to preserve the magnificence of the GBR for generations to come. We make this happen by funding research operations to maximize the resilience of the reef to climate change and by urging action at the international level to promote the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. We are able to do this thanks to those who graciously support our nonprofit organization through contributions of time and money. 2 Neil Bastendorff Australia Issue Pollution of the land, air, and water is leading to the demise of Australia’s iconic Great Barrier Reef. It has been one of the Earth's richest and most diverse natural environment since its formation began half a million years ago. Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders have fished and navigated these waters for an estimated 100,000 years. The marine park sees more than 1.5 million visitors every year, for coral viewing activities, and scenic flights. As the largest UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Great Barrier Reef has value environmentally, culturally, economically, and as well as in a social sense. Located in the Coral Sea of the Pacific Ocean off the Northeastern coast of Australia’s Queensland, this rich and diverse ecosystem is a collection of 3,000 coral reef, 600 continental islands, and 300 types of soft and hard coral. At nearly 145,000 km², the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is the largest living structure on Earth (visible from outer space), and home to hundreds of species of jellyfish, 3,000 varieties of molluscs, 500 species of worms, 1,600 types of fish, 130 varieties of sharks and rays, and 30 species of whales and dolphins. With all of these creatures dependent upon the reef for survival, there is no dispute that the GBR is one of the world's most important natural assets, and one we must fulfill our duty of protecting. Second only to the Sydney Opera House, The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is the most highly rated tourist attraction in all of Australia. More than two million people visit this wonder of the world each year generating more than $AU2 billion in tourism dollars, making tourism a major earner for the north­eastern Australian economy. Tourists are carried to the reef system by more than 500 commercial vessels, and tourism is permitted through nearly all the Park. There are growing threats and pressures to the Great Barrier Reef, and pollution is at the forefront of the deterioration of this wondrous ecosystem. According to research by the Australian Institute of Marine Science, coral cover on surveyed reefs has declined by about 50 per cent over the past 30 years. Climate change is another serious threat to the Great Barrier Reef, as it leads to coral bleaching. Climate change in combination with polluted water run­off, and low salinity, increase ocean temperatures, which put stress upon the the symbiotic relationship between corals and the algae they feed upon. When the algae leave due to warm water conditions, the coral becomes pale and susceptible to disease. This is called coral bleaching and it has severely damaged 50 to 60 percent of the GBR coral reefs since 1998. It is imperative that efforts be made at the international level to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, such as CO₂, which harm the Ozone layer and contribute to rapid climate change. Sustainable fishing practices must be implemented in order to minimize the impacts of the reef’s natural biodiversity. Effective action must be taken now and well into the future regarding the preservation of this great natural wonder. 3 Neil Bastendorff Australia Non­profit Defenders of The Great Barrier Reef Mission Statement Dedicated to keeping “great” in the Great Barrier Reef for generations of the future. What We Do Where does our funding come from? Since tourism is such a powerful market in the region, much of our income is the result of guided snorkeling and diving tours on the reef. People come from all over the globe to experience the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef first hand, experiences such as swimming with a green sea turtle. This quote by Tim Cahill ties the two in very well. He said, “If you get people diving on a coral reef, they're going to become more respectful of the outdoors and more concerned with the threats that places like that face and they're going to care more about protecting them than they would have before.” But if swimming with the real life versions of characters depicted in Finding Nemo, or if you just prefer to stay dry, expeditions are also offered through underwater viewing stations or glass bottom boats. To go along with these spectacular first hand experiences, we also sell popular merchandise as another major source of revenue. We sell clothing items such as t­shirts, sweaters, and hats. On top of that we sell gifts like water bottles, stickers, bracelets, lanyards, and even toys. As is the case for any great non­profit organization, much of the funds that we bring in are thanks to gracious donors who are looking to support a cause that they feel so strongly about. Without this our organization would not be able to do the things we can to protect the Great Barrier Reef and the environment as a whole. We are extremely grateful for your contribution. Where does our funding go? For every dollar we receive, 40 cents is put back into research organizations, 40 cents goes towards efforts of habitat restoration, and the remaining 20 cents are what we use for daily operations. The main purpose of the money we raise is to fund research organizations, whose primary goal is to maximize the resilience of the Reef. Our proud partner, the Australian Institute of Marine Science, does research for sustainable use and protection of marine resources. In order to reverse the devastation that has already occurred to the reef, we ourselves must put forth great efforts to restore damaged. The best way to prevent future destruction is