Anglo-Australian relations
Encyclopedia
Australia – United Kingdom relations are one of the closest international relationships in existence, marked by shared history, culture, institutions and language, extensive people-to-people links, aligned security interests, sporting tournaments (notably The Ashes
, a Test Cricket series), and vibrant trade and investment cooperation.
The long-standing relationship between the United Kingdom
and Australia
formally began in 1901 when the six British Crown colonies in Australia federated, and the Commonwealth of Australia was formed as a Dominion of the British Empire
.
Australia fought alongside Britain and its Allies in World War I
, notably at Gallipoli
(against Turkey) and the Western Front. It fought with Britain and its allies again in World War II
, protecting Britain's Pacific colonies from Imperial Japan.
Until 1949, the United Kingdom and Australia shared a common nationality code
. The final constitutional ties between United Kingdom and Australia ended in 1986 with the passing of the Australia Act 1986
.
The contemporary political relationship between London
and Canberra
is underpinned by a robust bilateral dialogue at head-of-government, ministerial and senior officials level. As Commonwealth Realms, the two countries share a monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, and are both active members within the Commonwealth of Nations
. In 2006, British Prime Minister Tony Blair
became, the first British head of government to address the Australian Parliament.
Formal economic relations between the two countries declined following the United Kingdom's accession to the European Economic Community
in 1973. Nevertheless, the United Kingdom remains the second largest overall foreign investor in Australia. In turn, Australia is the seventh largest foreign direct investor in the United Kingdom.
Due to Australia's history as a colony of the United Kingdom, the two nations retain significant shared threads of cultural heritage, many of which are common to all Anglosphere
countries. English
is the de-facto language of both nations, and as such the United Kingdom and Australia share not only the language itself, but the entire heritage of English literature, philosophy, poetry, and theatre. Both peoples are historically Christian
of the Anglican Church, although increasingly secular in the modern era, and with higher populations of other religions through immigration. Both legal systems are based on the common law
.
Streams of migration from the British Isles
to Australia played a key role in Australia's development, and the people of Australia are still predominantly of British or Irish origin. According to the 2001 Australian Census, around 1.2 million Australians were born in the United Kingdom. Although the last substantial scheme for preferential migration from Britain to Australia ended in 1972, the United Kingdom remains the largest source of Australia's new migrants.
The current Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard
was born in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan in Wales
, one of the home nations of the United Kingdom. The leader of the opposition Liberal Party of Australia
, Tony Abbott
was also born in the United Kingdom although to Australian parents.
There is a population of around 400,000 Australians in the UK, especially in Greater London.
Pomme is a common nickname given by Australians to British people, said in jest without malice or prejudice, in a similar way to how British (and other) people call Australians Aussies, and refer to Australia as "Oz" or "down under" (a reference to the fact that Australia is notable for being entirely in the southern hemisphere).
The Ashes
The Ashes is a Test cricket series played between England and Australia. It is one of the most celebrated rivalries in international cricket and dates back to 1882. It is currently played biennially, alternately in the United Kingdom and Australia. Cricket being a summer sport, and the venues...
, a Test Cricket series), and vibrant trade and investment cooperation.
The long-standing relationship between the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
formally began in 1901 when the six British Crown colonies in Australia federated, and the Commonwealth of Australia was formed as a Dominion of the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
.
Australia fought alongside Britain and its Allies in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, notably at Gallipoli
Gallipoli
The Gallipoli peninsula is located in Turkish Thrace , the European part of Turkey, with the Aegean Sea to the west and the Dardanelles straits to the east. Gallipoli derives its name from the Greek "Καλλίπολις" , meaning "Beautiful City"...
(against Turkey) and the Western Front. It fought with Britain and its allies again in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, protecting Britain's Pacific colonies from Imperial Japan.
Until 1949, the United Kingdom and Australia shared a common nationality code
Nationality law
Nationality law is the branch of law concerned with the questions of nationality and citizenship, and how these statuses are acquired, transmitted, or lost. By custom, a state has the right to determine who its nationals and citizens are. Such determinations are usually made by custom, statutory...
. The final constitutional ties between United Kingdom and Australia ended in 1986 with the passing of the Australia Act 1986
Australia Act 1986
The Australia Act 1986 is the name given to a pair of separate but related pieces of legislation: one an Act of the Commonwealth Parliament of Australia, the other an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
.
The contemporary political relationship between London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
is underpinned by a robust bilateral dialogue at head-of-government, ministerial and senior officials level. As Commonwealth Realms, the two countries share a monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, and are both active members within the Commonwealth of Nations
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
. In 2006, British Prime Minister Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
became, the first British head of government to address the Australian Parliament.
Formal economic relations between the two countries declined following the United Kingdom's accession to the European Economic Community
European Economic Community
The European Economic Community The European Economic Community (EEC) The European Economic Community (EEC) (also known as the Common Market in the English-speaking world, renamed the European Community (EC) in 1993The information in this article primarily covers the EEC's time as an independent...
in 1973. Nevertheless, the United Kingdom remains the second largest overall foreign investor in Australia. In turn, Australia is the seventh largest foreign direct investor in the United Kingdom.
Due to Australia's history as a colony of the United Kingdom, the two nations retain significant shared threads of cultural heritage, many of which are common to all Anglosphere
Anglosphere
Anglosphere is a neologism which refers to those nations with English as the most common language. The term can be used more specifically to refer to those nations which share certain characteristics within their cultures based on a linguistic heritage, through being former British colonies...
countries. English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
is the de-facto language of both nations, and as such the United Kingdom and Australia share not only the language itself, but the entire heritage of English literature, philosophy, poetry, and theatre. Both peoples are historically Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
of the Anglican Church, although increasingly secular in the modern era, and with higher populations of other religions through immigration. Both legal systems are based on the common law
Common law
Common law is law developed by judges through decisions of courts and similar tribunals rather than through legislative statutes or executive branch action...
.
Streams of migration from the British Isles
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
to Australia played a key role in Australia's development, and the people of Australia are still predominantly of British or Irish origin. According to the 2001 Australian Census, around 1.2 million Australians were born in the United Kingdom. Although the last substantial scheme for preferential migration from Britain to Australia ended in 1972, the United Kingdom remains the largest source of Australia's new migrants.
The current Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard
Julia Gillard
Julia Eileen Gillard is the 27th and current Prime Minister of Australia, in office since June 2010.Gillard was born in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales and migrated with her family to Adelaide, Australia in 1966, attending Mitcham Demonstration School and Unley High School. In 1982 Gillard moved...
was born in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, one of the home nations of the United Kingdom. The leader of the opposition Liberal Party of Australia
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
, Tony Abbott
Tony Abbott
Anthony John "Tony" Abbott is the Leader of the Opposition in the Australian House of Representatives and federal leader of the centre-right Liberal Party of Australia. Abbott has represented the seat of Warringah since the 1994 by-election...
was also born in the United Kingdom although to Australian parents.
There is a population of around 400,000 Australians in the UK, especially in Greater London.
Pomme is a common nickname given by Australians to British people, said in jest without malice or prejudice, in a similar way to how British (and other) people call Australians Aussies, and refer to Australia as "Oz" or "down under" (a reference to the fact that Australia is notable for being entirely in the southern hemisphere).
See also
- AnglosphereAnglosphereAnglosphere is a neologism which refers to those nations with English as the most common language. The term can be used more specifically to refer to those nations which share certain characteristics within their cultures based on a linguistic heritage, through being former British colonies...
- Britain-Australia SocietyBritain-Australia SocietyThe Britain-Australia Society was established in 1971 as a friendship society to promote historic links between Britain and Australia. It has headquarters in Buckingham Gate in London and branches throughout the UK.- History :...
- Anglo-Celtic AustralianAnglo-Celtic AustralianAnglo-Celtic Australian are citizens of Australia with British and/or Irish ancestral origins.-Demography:From the beginning of the colonial era until the mid-20th century, the vast majority of settlers were British or Irish...
- English AustralianEnglish AustralianEnglish Australians, also known as Anglo-Australians are Australians of English descent, are the single largest ethnic group in Australia and the largest 'ancestry' identity in the Australia Census after "Australian"...
- Scottish AustralianScottish AustralianScottish Australians are residents of Australia who are of Scottish ancestry.According to the 2006 Australian census 130,204 Australian residents were born in Scotland, while 1,501,204 claimed Scottish ancestry, either alone or in combination with another ancestry.- History :The links between...
- Welsh Australian
- Australians in the United Kingdom