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The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has just released its latest population summary for Australian States and Territories in their publication Australian Demographic Statistics (Cat No 3101.0) for the December Quarter 2012.

Let's take a look at the latest migration data:

Overseas migration is up again. Net overseas migration for Australia has been estimated at 219,000 for 2011-12, up from 180,400 in the previous year. Data for the second half of 2012 suggests that overseas migration could increase further in the 2012-13 year, with the 6 month period to December 30 2012 showing a 17% increase on the same period in 2011. This is an interesting development given the political pressure to reduce overseas migration due to the fear of rising unemployment and the hubbub over the 457 Visa program.

It is also a pleasing vindication of our overseas migration assumptions for the SAFI (Small Area Forecast Information) project. We have used an assumption of a net gain of 200,000 persons from overseas migration for our current iteration of these forecasts. The consensus amongst pundits was to assume 180,000 per annum, which is looking like a highly conservative figure in the short term at this point.

The share of overseas migration going to Western Australia has grown substantially from 14.8% in 2009-10 to 22.1% in 2011-12. During this period, the share of overseas migration to New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia has fallen, while the share to Queensland has recovered from the low of 2009-10.

The ABS estimates that interstate migration has changed significantly with Queensland recovering some of its gains and New South Wales losing more population to the Sunshine State. Western Australia has also gained substantial numbers of people in net terms from other States. Its net interstate migration gain has been unprecedented. However, there are signs that the numbers to Western Australia may have peaked. The two quarters to December 2012 show lower numbers than the two quarters to December from 2011.

If you'd like to know more about the population of your local area and how it will change in the future, you can view any of .id's population forecasts at our online demographic resource centre. To learn more about how the forecasts can help provide an evidence base for long term planning, please access the forecast.id page on our website.

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Are more people moving to Australia? | .id blog

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The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has just released its latest population summary for Australian States and Territories in their publication Australian Demographic Statistics (Cat No 3101.0) for the December Quarter 2012. Let's take a look at the latest migration data: Overseas migration is up again.

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Over the last few decades, the number of people who answer the census question about religion with 'no religion' or 'not specified' has been on the rise. But just because someone doesn't subscribe to organised religion doesn't mean they're not spiritual. Unlike in France and the United States, the Australian census contains a question about religion. This year, for the first time, 'no religion' will be the first option.

This is because the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) thinks no religion will receive the largest response-the boxes are organised in descending order from the largest to smallest group.

A century ago, Anglicans were the largest group at over 40 per cent of the population. By 2011 they'd declined to 17 per cent, while Catholics were about 25 per cent and the Uniting Church on 5 per cent. Muslims were 2.2 per cent, Buddhists 2.5 per cent, Greek Orthodox 1.8 per cent, and Hindus 1.3 per cent. Christians altogether were 61 per cent.

But the group that has been growing steadily for many decades are those who mark 'no religion'. They rose to 22.3 per cent in the 2011 census. 'Young people today are finding ... old fashioned religion exactly that. Not to their liking,' says Gary Bouma AM, professor emeritus of sociology at Monash University, and an Anglican priest.

'The child abuse thing has had a profound effect in making people shy away from it. So the take up of formally organised religion is much less now than it was before.' Yet he also points out that if you ask Australians whether they are 'spiritual', there appears to be no decline at all. In fact, Australian social research firm McCrindle found in 2012 that nearly a fifth of Australians identify as 'spiritual but not religious', an option that will not be available as a tickable box on Tuesday.

What does 'spiritual but not religious' look like?

Despite being raised a Catholic, Jonathan Murphy will be ticking 'no religion' on this year's census. The Sunshine Coast man is a yoga teacher and organises yoga events and festivals. 'As a yoga practitioner my spiritual practice is how I live my life-how I'm treating others, family, how I live my life towards the planet and being responsible for my actions,' Murphy says.

'At the end of the day, self reflecting and simply trying to be the best human being I can be. 'No religion can do that, we all have to reform ourselves.'

Murphy remembers shying away from religion as a little boy in the 1970s at a convent school in Redcliffe, north of Brisbane, and questioning how the nuns, who were 'mean as mean', could have been acting religiously or morally. Then at the age of 14 he became involved with martial arts, which introduced him to the concept of karma, before eventually starting yoga.

He says spirituality and morality are inherently linked, and being religious doesn't necessarily mean you are spiritual. 'Some people may be deeply religious but for me I may not regard them as being spiritual,' Murphy says.

'True religion is about how you treat people and it has nothing to do with the rank of being a priest, an archbishop, a pope ... they're no more holy than my beautiful aunty who's raised many disabled children, someone who lives her life as a beautiful person, very kind. 'I have seen in my generation the power being taken away from these religious establishments.'

Why does Australia collect religious data in the census?

First is the matter of money. Faith-based schools in Australia now receive significant government funding. So do universities. So do hospitals. Faith-based charities bid for government contracts. Land for schools and places of worship must be planned and allocated. Grants to faith-based organisations are sought. Some Australians form associations and interest groups along religious and ethnic lines.

Parliamentarians want to know and be able to respond to the demographics of their electorates-including their religious organisations and groupings. Religion and ethnicity are part of contentious public discourse.

Second, consider representation. Accurate demographic statistics help us with what we can and ought to expect in terms of our representation.

The Catholic 'groupers' of the mid 20th century fought for fairer political and social representation of Australia's Catholic minority in education, the legal profession and politics. Protestant Australians of the 19th century would have been shocked to hear that at one point, the PM, the governor general and the chief justice of the High Court would all be Catholics: Paul Keating, William Deane and Gerard Brennan.

Catholicism had become normal, and Catholic Australians have represented their community in public life for decades. The statistics don't lie: Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu Australians are next.

Third, census data on religion is used to plan better for social needs. In rural and regional Australia, places like Kingaroy in Queensland or Shepparton in Victoria have had noticeable success in the targeted regional resettlement of migrants and refugees. These new arrivals have helped develop sustainable communities, made industries more viable, and created employment opportunities.

These new settlers require the basic resources for integration if they are to say: familiar places where they can identify and connect with others, including religious associations and places of worship. Virtually every migrant community in Australia uses shared religious identity as its first point of anchor. The arithmetic matters, no matter which box you tick.

Source ABC Religion and Ethics

945 Total Views 4 Views Today

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'Spiritual but not religious': What the census won't say about Australians' beliefs

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Over the last few decades, the number of people who answer the census question about religion with 'no religion' or 'not specified' has been on the rise. But just because someone doesn't subscribe to organised religion doesn't mean they're not spiritual. Unlike in France and the United States, the Australian census contains a question about religion.

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Australia is home to list of different and unique variety of animals, birds, reptiles and plants, Among Australia's best known wild animals are the kangaroo, koala, echidna, dingo, platypus and wallaby.

Famous animals found in Australia also include marine animals such as cone snail, sea snake, blue-ringed octopus and land animals such as Gang-gang cockatoo, Emu, eastern brown snake, tiger snake,wolf spider, wedge-tailed eagle, banjo frog and Blue-tongued skink, here is the list of unique wild animals of Australia.

Kangaroos are unofficially Australia's national animal and describe as the largest species from his family. The Kangaroos are endemic to Australia and one of the species of red kangaroo are known as largest surviving marsupial of the world.

Koala is a tree herbivorous animal native to Australia, mostly found in coastal areas Queensland and Victoria. Koalas are symbol of Australia country but due to habitat destruction and hunting, the animal is a vulnerable species.

Echidna are spiny anteaters and one of the egg-laying mammals and one of the rarest animals in the world. The Echidna has sharp spine like a big porcupine and one of the surviving members of the monotreme species.

Platypus is another egg-laying mammal endemic to semiaquatic area of Australia. The Platypus are combination of duck, beaver and otter,also one of the known venomous mammals in the world.

Wombats are native to Australia, mostly found in mountainous areas of south Australia. Wombats species are protected in Australia and Epping Forest National Park is one of the best place in the country to spot species of Wombat.

Macrotis are one of the endangered animal species in Australia and one of the shortest among mammals in the world. Greater bilby or Macrotis is the largest of the other small Macrotis and lesser bilby became extinct from Australia.

Wallabies are small kangaroo found in Australia and the smallest member of kangaroo family. The wallaby are medium sized marsupial and one of the two species are endangered because of hunting for meat and fur.

Sugar Glider

Sugar Glider is a small marsupial found throughout mainland of Australia. The sugar glider are arboreal omnivores,live in family groups and one of the most commonly traded wild animal.

Tiger Quoll

Tiger Quoll are carnivorous animal,native to mainland Australia and Tasmania. The tiger quoll are largest and the world's longest species of marsupial and a living carnivorous.

The cane toads of Australia are also known as giant neotropical toad and has been introduced in the country. Cane toads are highly toxic in nature and one of the largest of the frogs and toads found in Australia.

Thorny Dragon

Thorny Devil Dragon is the only species of devil lizard found in Australia. The thorny dragon is a small species of lizard and known for their defenses against predators.

Inland Taipan

Inland Taipan is the world's most venomous land snake,living in regions of central east Australia. The inland taipan is an extremely venomous snake based on its venom and has the most toxic venom of any other reptiles in the world.

Tasmanian Devil

Tasmanian Devil are the carnivorous animal found only in the wild forest of Australian island. The Tasmanian devil are among known for the strongest bite per unit body mass of any other land predator.

Australian Goannas are monitor lizards and fourth- largest living lizard found on earth. The perentie is the largest monitor lizard, mostly found in the desert areas of Western Australia.

Dingo is Australia's wild dog but a separate species from dog found in deserts and grasslands of Australia. Dingo wild dogs are the largest terrestrial predator in the country but listed as vulnerable to extinction.

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15 Best Known Unique Wild Animals of Australia

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Australia is home to list of different and unique variety of animals, birds, reptiles and plants, Among Australia's best known wild animals are the kangaroo, koala, echidna, dingo, platypus and wallaby.

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The researchers, whose findings were published in the journal Nature Hazards, said the one cubic kilometre slab in the Coral Sea - dubbed the Noggin Block - "eventually will collapse".

The ominous slab was discovered by geologists who have been using 3-D mapping techniques to build a picture of the sea floor along the deepest parts of the reef.

"It is a pretty big chunk of sea-floor [in] the very slow, early stages of starting to break away from the edge of the Great Barrier Reef," said Dr Robin Beaman, a marine geologist at James Cook University.

"If it were to break away catastrophically, that is break away really quickly, what that would do is it would create a surface wave above it. It would actually cause a tsunami. That tsunami would travel across the Great Barrier Reef, it's about 70 kilometres offshore, and it would impact the local area, the North Queensland area."

The Noggin Block, perched on the edge of the continental shelf, is the remnant of an ancient underwater landslide.

Dr Beaman said the slab appeared stable for now and was only likely to move in the near future if there were a trigger such as a very large earthquake nearby. While such an earthquake is "unlikely", it is possible - and the slab will in any case eventually collapse.

"We don't really know when such a block might collapse," he told ABC Radio.

"All I can say is sometime it eventually will." The finding marks the first discovery of an undersea landslide on the Great Barrier Reef.

"We found this one large block that stood out," Dr Beaman said. "It is sitting on top of a submarine canyon, cutting into the slopes and it is in the preliminary stage of collapse We're not trying to alarm people, but we need to know it is there and what could happen when it falls."

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Sea floor next to Australia's Great Barrier Reef 'close to collapse'

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The researchers, whose findings were published in the journal Nature Hazards, said the one cubic kilometre slab in the Coral Sea - dubbed the Noggin Block - "eventually will collapse". The ominous slab was discovered by geologists who have been using 3-D mapping techniques to build a picture of the sea floor along the deepest parts of the reef.

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enlighten abroad consultancy is now offering spot admission for australia in hyderabad. - for press release distribution service for small business. press release marketing service. free to submit press news by county and by category.

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Enlighten Abroad Consultancy is now offering Spot Admission for Australia in Hyderabad.

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Studying Abroad for the Higher Education will be very helpful for the students to settle in the best job position in their Career. The right selection of university will make the student to choose a right path for their career.

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Throughout the years, Oceania has remained true to its mission of supplying quality, wholesome and nutritious foods at the lowest possible prices, emphasizing organically grown foods. Organically grown means that food is grown without chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Products carried at Oceana contain no artificial additives or chemical preservatives.

Because there are so many different islands, each with a different culture inhabiting it, there is no one cuisine that is shared by them all. There are some common ingredients and spices that some of the islands share between them, but the dishes are extremely varied in flavor as well as texture.

Food in Australia

Because Australia was colonized by people from England most of their cuisine is based in that of Great Britain. There are plenty of meat pies, steaks -steak is a staple in the Australian diet and grilled chicken, often accompanied by vegetables. Some exotic meats like kangaroo, crocodile, or buffalo might also appear in an Australian menu. Seafood like mud crabs or yabbies (shrimp) are also well-liked. Australia major cities are on the coast, so they always have the freshest seafood. With such a huge range of fresh produce, Australia can boast of one of the finest cuisines in the world.

Eating outdoors is popular and most Australian houses would have barbecues. Aussies also share the British tradition of afternoon tea which consists mainly of sandwiches and cookies with tea or juice to drink.

In Australia there are a lot of immigrants -in the 50s they were from Italy and Greece, in the 70s it was Vietnam and Asia- so Australians appreciate a whole range of foods and are not averse to stealing from them all. In the 60's finding a packet of dried pasta in the supermarket was a thrill. Nowadays you can find arborio rice or Malay, Indian or Thai curry pastes in any small town supermarket. Italians brought their love of coffee with them, and in the past 15 years this has grown to be one of Australia's biggest love affairs, black, strong coffee always with the cream floating on the top.

Food in New Zealand

Though there is a love for fish and chips inherited from British settlers, New Zealand cuisine -varied, young and fresh- it is relatively new in the world of food and this relative youth brings a willingness to experiment with dishes. Newly picked ingredients from its fertile farms and sea make it fresh. New Zealanders feel relaxed at meal times and meals progress slowly; that's the way they like it.

Who does not know about New Zealand lamb? But there is also pork, venison, salmon, oysters, paua (abalone), mussels and some varieties of New Zealand clams, kumara (sweet potato) and kiwis. Kiwi cuisine would be New Zealand's.

Many of the islands in Oceana that are close to Asia use rice and noodles, just as the Asian culture does. The starches are a staple in the diet, served with almost every meal. One dish that is popular is called nasi goreng. Nasi goreng is created when fried rice is mixed with other items. Sometimes the leftovers from the night before are thrown into the dish and it is served for breakfast. Chicken is also cooked frequently on the islands. Some islands spice the chicken up and grill it, while others make a type of chicken soup out of it. Many of the island chickens are allowed to run wild and are skinnier and have more muscles because of it.

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Throughout the years, Oceania has remained true to its mission of supplying quality, wholesome and nutritious foods at the lowest possible prices, emphasizing organically grown foods. Organically grown means that food is grown without chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Products carried at Oceana contain no artificial additives or chemical preservatives.

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Tourism in Australia is an important component of the Australian economy. In the financial year 2014/15, tourism represented 3.0% of Australia's GDP contributing A$47.5 billion to the national economy.Domestic tourism is a significant part of the tourism industry, representing 73% of the total direct tourism GDP.

In calendar year 2015, there were 7.4 million visitor arrivals.Tourism employed 580,800 people in Australia in 2014-15, 5% of the workforce.About 43.7% of persons employed in tourism were part-time. Tourism also contributed 8.0% of Australia's total export earnings in 2010-11.

Popular Australian destinations include the coastal cities of Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne, as well as other high-profile destinations including regional Queensland, the Gold Coast and the Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest reef. Uluru and the Australian outback are other popular locations, as is the Tasmanian wilderness. The unique Australian wildlife is also another significant point of interest in the country's tourism.

Trends

Despite the global economic challenges and natural disasters in 2010-2011, Australia's tourism growth was supported by increased consumption (up 4.4% over the previous year, largely due to an increase in the number of visitors from overseas). On the back of a strong Australian dollar, 2010-11 also saw a record 7.4 million short-term resident departures from Australia, an increase of 9.9% from 2009-10. Domestic tourism consumption grew at less than half the pace of international consumption in 2010-11 (up 2.1% compared to 4.4%).

The Australian Government released the 2020 Tourism Industry Potential on 15 November 2010, and estimates the Australian tourism industry to be worth up to $140 billion in overnight expenditure. This growth will largely be due to key emerging markets, including the China market, which is estimated to be the largest economic contributor to the Australian tourism industry by 2020.The number of Chinese visitors has more than doubled from 2006 to 2012 reaching a peak of 626,400 in 2012 and surpassing for the first time the number of arrivals from the United Kingdom.In 2013, China was Australia's fastest growing tourist market.According to Tourism Australia Managing Director Andrew McEvoy, the Chinese are the highest spending visitors to the country.

Visas

Main article: Visa policy of Australia
All visitors to Australia, apart from New Zealanders, require advance permission to enter the country. For most countries, a full visa is required. Holders of passports of all European Union countries as well as all Schengen Area countries and European microstates only need to apply online for an eVisitor authorisation. Citizens of some OECD and some East Asian countries are able to apply for the similar Electronic Travel Authority authorisation.

History

From colonial days the idea of travel has been more natural to Australians than to people long established at one from their homes, were prone to continue their search for wealth or security for a while, or, having settled down, to return to the old countries to visit their kin and refresh old memories. The opening of new lands, the establishment of industries and towns and the consequent dispersal of people over Australia created a habit of mobility and enterprise which encouraged Australians to face the hardships of early travel by coach, on horseback or by ship. Even so, the slow and uncomfortable modes of travel and the vast distances separating Australian towns tended to restrict travel to essential journeys for purposes of trade, to pursue an occupation or to settle. This changed somewhat with the advent of rail travel.

The initial emphasis in tourism for purposes of pleasure was strongest on travel to resorts near the main population centres. These included the Blue Mountains in New South Wales and the hill and coast resorts close to Melbourne and other major Victorian cities. The existing railway services radiating from those cities, together with the 'feeder' horse-drawn, and later motor, coach transport connecting with the railways, rendered the State Government railway tourist bureaux the main means for selling intrastate, and even some interstate, travel.

After the 1914-18 War in the 1920s, and again after the easing of the effects of the Great Depression of the 1930s, travel for all purposes increased steadily. This period saw the establishment of the Australian National Travel Association with bureaux in the UK and USA.The organisation received government funding on top of industry contributions and promoted the country 'vigorously' via a poster campaign and from 1934 via Walkabout magazine.

Traffic in tourism continued to be mainly by rail, but also by sea, although the family motor era began in the 1930s to participate in the shorterintrastate traffic. A considerable fleet of passenger ships provided frequent and popular services linking most ports between Fremantle and Cairns. Other services linked Sydney and Melbourne with Tasmanian ports. The winter cruise of those days to Queensland ports could be regarded as the equivalent of today's drive or flight north for a winter holiday at the Gold Coast or a Barrier Reef Island, or today's shorter South Pacific cruises. The first cruises from Australia to New Zealand were organised in the summer of 1934-35, and Australians were travelling to Britain for as low as $78 in tourist class in the years immediately preceding the 1939-45 War.

In the period following the 1939-45 War the advent of new and improved methods of transportation, combined with rising standards of living and the energetic publicising of foreign destinations, developed international travel into a mass-movement. New ocean liners shortened travelling time considerably, and travel by car and bus increased in many countries. Most of all, air travel became widely available, faster, safer, and cheaper. The beginning of the jet age in 1960, with larger aeroplanes carrying more than 100 passengers at speeds approximating 600 miles per hour, diminished the world by half in terms of time. Rising standards of living in the post-war period led to greater expenditure on tourism, thus making it more important to the national economy.

Australia has shared in this worldwide expansion of travel, particularly in respect of its domestic tourism. Because of the marked increase in incomes and private car ownership among large sections of the population, greater leisure time, three weeks paid annual holidays (introduced first in New South Wales in 1958) and the introduction of long-service leave, thousands of Australians now travel by road into almost every part of the Commonwealth. This has led to investment in the development of new and improved facilities, especially accommodation, of new resorts at dispersed points around Australia, and to modifications in organisation and methods of tourist administration, development and promotion. These activities in turn have had an important influence on matters such as the improvement of highways and the opening up of national parks and foreshores. A recent consequence is the first detailed study and survey of the entire Australian tourist industry, its development and its future potential.

Marketing

Australia's international tourism campaigns have focused on Australia's laid back style, such as an 1980s advertising campaign featuring actor Paul Hogan telling American tourists "I'll slip an extra shrimp on the barbie for you", or its cheeky side, as in its controversial 2006 campaign in the United Kingdom using the Australian colloquialism slogan "So where the bloody hell are you?".

Tourism Australia's "No Leave No Life" campaign was launched in March 2009 by the Federal Minister for Tourism, the Hon. Martin Ferguson AM MP. This campaign was designed to remind employees of the personal and professional benefits of taking annual leave, and of taking that leave in Australia. At 30 June 2009 there were 126 million days of stockpiled annual leave in the Australian economy.At the end of the June 2010 quarter, this number had decreased to 117 million days, following falls in the preceding three quarters.

Tourism Australia's latest consumer campaign "There's Nothing Like Australia" invites Australians to share their favourite Australian place or experience with the world.

The campaign is based on research conducted by Tourism Australia that showed Australians were eager to get involved in promoting their country. It was developed to involve Australians because they are the experts on what makes Australia unlike anywhere else. The core message, that "There's Nothing Like Australia" was designed for longevity through different mediums, audiences and activities.

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Tourism in Australia is an important component of the Australian economy. In the financial year 2014/15, tourism represented 3.0% of Australia's GDP contributing A$47.5 billion to the national economy.Domestic tourism is a significant part of the tourism industry, representing 73% of the total direct tourism GDP.

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Stock Photo - Men and women shearing sheep in a shed Western Australia

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Download this stock image: Men and women shearing sheep in a shed Western Australia - APR9K2 from Alamy's library of millions of high resolution stock photos, illustrations and vectors.

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Because migration in Australia it has heavenly influenced many things and ultimately the environment. When people migrate they bring their culture with them as well as a lot of traditions and basic things like food. In discovery atlas many restaurants were based off other peoples cultures. Showing how migration and environment shape who we are and what we do.

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Environment shapes who we are especially with food. The food is very influenced by environment especially with Oceania as they are surround by water. Leading them to eat ocean food and fish. Drawing a clear parallel to environment shaping who we are as well as it having a influence on other decisions.

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The Great Barrier Reef is a huge part of the average Australians life weather they know it or not. It increases tourism and many other things. Including that it is a big source of money creating jobs and improving the economy. For this reason the Great Barrier Reef has a huge impact on Australia.

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Education and learning will affect you and your environment. The better the education system the more people get educated thus rising the economy making growth happen like a chain of events. If you have a bad education system and no one goes to school then you have less education citizens creating a tear in the economy.

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Religion effects environment and what you do. In discovery atlas we saw a tribe of people who believed and practice very original religions of Australia affecting the environment around them. Other religions can influence things like food and education.

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Over the last few decades, the number of people who answer the census question about religion with 'no religion' or 'not specified' has been on the rise. But just because someone doesn't subscribe to organised religion doesn't mean they're not spiritual. Unlike in France and the United States, the Australian census contains a question about religion. This year, for the first time, 'no religion' will be the first option.

This is because the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) thinks no religion will receive the largest response-the boxes are organised in descending order from the largest to smallest group.

A century ago, Anglicans were the largest group at over 40 per cent of the population. By 2011 they'd declined to 17 per cent, while Catholics were about 25 per cent and the Uniting Church on 5 per cent. Muslims were 2.2 per cent, Buddhists 2.5 per cent, Greek Orthodox 1.8 per cent, and Hindus 1.3 per cent. Christians altogether were 61 per cent.

But the group that has been growing steadily for many decades are those who mark 'no religion'. They rose to 22.3 per cent in the 2011 census. 'Young people today are finding ... old fashioned religion exactly that. Not to their liking,' says Gary Bouma AM, professor emeritus of sociology at Monash University, and an Anglican priest.

'The child abuse thing has had a profound effect in making people shy away from it. So the take up of formally organised religion is much less now than it was before.' Yet he also points out that if you ask Australians whether they are 'spiritual', there appears to be no decline at all. In fact, Australian social research firm McCrindle found in 2012 that nearly a fifth of Australians identify as 'spiritual but not religious', an option that will not be available as a tickable box on Tuesday.

What does 'spiritual but not religious' look like?

Despite being raised a Catholic, Jonathan Murphy will be ticking 'no religion' on this year's census. The Sunshine Coast man is a yoga teacher and organises yoga events and festivals. 'As a yoga practitioner my spiritual practice is how I live my life-how I'm treating others, family, how I live my life towards the planet and being responsible for my actions,' Murphy says.

'At the end of the day, self reflecting and simply trying to be the best human being I can be. 'No religion can do that, we all have to reform ourselves.'

Murphy remembers shying away from religion as a little boy in the 1970s at a convent school in Redcliffe, north of Brisbane, and questioning how the nuns, who were 'mean as mean', could have been acting religiously or morally. Then at the age of 14 he became involved with martial arts, which introduced him to the concept of karma, before eventually starting yoga.

He says spirituality and morality are inherently linked, and being religious doesn't necessarily mean you are spiritual. 'Some people may be deeply religious but for me I may not regard them as being spiritual,' Murphy says.

'True religion is about how you treat people and it has nothing to do with the rank of being a priest, an archbishop, a pope ... they're no more holy than my beautiful aunty who's raised many disabled children, someone who lives her life as a beautiful person, very kind. 'I have seen in my generation the power being taken away from these religious establishments.'

Why does Australia collect religious data in the census?

First is the matter of money. Faith-based schools in Australia now receive significant government funding. So do universities. So do hospitals. Faith-based charities bid for government contracts. Land for schools and places of worship must be planned and allocated. Grants to faith-based organisations are sought. Some Australians form associations and interest groups along religious and ethnic lines.

Parliamentarians want to know and be able to respond to the demographics of their electorates-including their religious organisations and groupings. Religion and ethnicity are part of contentious public discourse.

Second, consider representation. Accurate demographic statistics help us with what we can and ought to expect in terms of our representation.

The Catholic 'groupers' of the mid 20th century fought for fairer political and social representation of Australia's Catholic minority in education, the legal profession and politics. Protestant Australians of the 19th century would have been shocked to hear that at one point, the PM, the governor general and the chief justice of the High Court would all be Catholics: Paul Keating, William Deane and Gerard Brennan.

Catholicism had become normal, and Catholic Australians have represented their community in public life for decades. The statistics don't lie: Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu Australians are next.

Third, census data on religion is used to plan better for social needs. In rural and regional Australia, places like Kingaroy in Queensland or Shepparton in Victoria have had noticeable success in the targeted regional resettlement of migrants and refugees. These new arrivals have helped develop sustainable communities, made industries more viable, and created employment opportunities.

These new settlers require the basic resources for integration if they are to say: familiar places where they can identify and connect with others, including religious associations and places of worship. Virtually every migrant community in Australia uses shared religious identity as its first point of anchor. The arithmetic matters, no matter which box you tick.

Source ABC Religion and Ethics

945 Total Views 4 Views Today

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'Spiritual but not religious': What the census won't say about Australians' beliefs

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Over the last few decades, the number of people who answer the census question about religion with 'no religion' or 'not specified' has been on the rise. But just because someone doesn't subscribe to organised religion doesn't mean they're not spiritual. Unlike in France and the United States, the Australian census contains a question about religion.

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Culture effects everyone around it and people influenced by it. Drawing a clear connection with the effect it has on the environment. For example in discovery atlas the people who lived in the outlook took part of sheep shaving contests effect the sheep's environment. That is how culture effects environment.

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The animals of Oceania and Australia effect the environment and people living in the environment. In discovery atlas a guy was putting up fences to prevent harmful animals to get in to towns keeping their environment where the animals live all natural and un touched preserving the animals life and ecosystem. That is one out of the many ways animals have an effect with environment.

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Tourism causes a chain of effects that ultimately effect environment in Australia. When people come and visit Australia they spend money and boost the economy like the Great Barrier Reef does as it is a hot tourist spot. This helps out many things like schooling and hospitals overall making environment in places like Australia better. This is how tourism has a direct effect on environment.