Australia s ties with Great Britain and the USA. Initially, Britain and the Commonwealth countries were the central elements of Australia s foreign policy and activity.
Later, closer relations were also developed with the USA, partly because of the vital role it played in the Pacific during and after World War II. Australia can seem quite British at times and somewhat American at others.
Political, legal, and educational institutions derive from Britain. Each state capital is named after a colonial politician Perth, Brisbane, Sydney, Hobart, Melbourne or British royal figure Adelaide. Dry and witheringly hot towns bear names from England s green and pleasant land. The representative of the England queen is the formal head of the governmental structure.
Only since 1984 has required that a civil servant in Australia be an Australian previously it was sufficient to be British. American influence comes in culture, technology, defense arrangements, and business. Books from USA have made a major advance in Australian intellectual circles since the 1960s. American ideas of management and problem-solving are becoming more and more popular.
Significantly, Australian dollar was introduced in 1966. In the past some Australians often felt that Australian culture, products, accents, lifestyles compared unfavorably with Britain and the USA. This attitude has changed. A strong sense of distinct Australian identity has grown with the growing recognition in the world of Australian films, literature and arts. Literature 1. Australia and New Zealand in brief, Москва, издательство Лист, 1998 г с.223 2. Т.Ю. Журина. 55 устных тем по английскому языку Москва, издательский дом Дрофа, 1997 г с. 160 3. Филипп Стил. Атлас мира. Москва, Олма-Пресс, 1998 г с. 95.