Australia is a stable, democratic society with a skilled workforce and a strong, competitive economy. With a population of 20 million, Australia is the only nation to govern an entire continent and is the sixth largest country in the world in land area. Australia's multicultural society includes its Indigenous peoples and migrants from some 200 countries.
Australia has had one of the most outstanding economies of the world in recent years. As a high-growth, low-inflation, low interest rate economy, it is more vibrant than ever before. There is an efficient government sector, a flexible labour market and a very competitive business sector.
With its abundant physical resources, Australia has had a high standard of living since the nineteenth century. It has made a significant investment in social infrastructure, including education, training, health and transport.
Australia's workforce of approximately 10 million is highly trained. Many senior managers and technical staff have international experience, while almost half of Australia's workforce has university, trade or diploma qualifications.
In a globalised economy, language skills are a key workforce advantage. Although Australia is an English-speaking country, more than 4.1 million of its people speak a second language. Australia offers the familiarity of a Western business culture with a workforce capable of operating in both Asian and Western business environments - Australia has the widest range of native Asian language skills in the region
The language skills and other capabilities that attract foreign companies are, in part, a result of Australia's culturally diverse society. Migrants have had a marked influence on all aspects of Australian society. In more than 50 years of planned post-war migration, almost six million migrants have arrived in Australia from over 200 countries, including more than 600 000 refugees, and the population has increased from about seven million to more than 20 million.