Australia

A. Introduction

Australia is one of the five continents in the world and it is a member of the British Commonwealth and has a common law system. Australian became an independent nation in 1901. Most Australians are descendants of the British stock and speak the English language. Its land size stretches into both the Tropical and Temperate regions of the Southern Hemisphere. Northern Australia has dry and wet seasons and in other parts of the country there are four seasons. The seasons in Australia are in reverse from the Northern Hemisphere. The national capital is Canberra. There are 6 states (Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia) and 2 territories (Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory).

B. Population

According to the 2016 census, Australia has a population of about 23 million, 69.8% of the population are Australian-born. The top 5 countries of birth by proportion are Australia (66.6%), England (3.9%), New Zealand (2.2%), China (2.2%), Philippines (1.0%) and India (1.9%). Asians made up 4.7% of the population. People with Chinese ancestry (3.9% - about 1.2 million). Aboriginal Australians make up 1.5% of the population. As of 31 March 2019, the estimated population of Australia is 25 million.

C. Religions

30.1% of the population report themselves as “no religion”. 52.1% of the population are Christians (approximately 13 million); two thirds are Catholics or Anglicans. The Anglican Church used to be the largest church until 1981 when the Catholic Church surpassed the Anglican Church. Muslims in Australia make up 2.65% of the population, the Buddhist and Hindus 5% and Judaism 0.4%.

D. The development of the True Jesus Church

In 1982, a prayer house was set up in Melbourne and the following year in Sydney. In 1987, family services started in Perth and in 1990 a church was established in Brisbane. Presently, there is one prayer house in Adelaide (South Australia), one church in Brisbane and a place of worship in Gold Coast (both in Queensland), one place of worship in Darwin (Northern Territory), 2 church buildings in Melbourne (Victoria), 2 churches in Perth (Western Australia), 2 churches in Sydney (New South Wales) and a place of worship in Wagga Wagga (rural are in New South Wales). As of 31 December 2018, the total number of registered numbers of the True Jesus Church in Australia is 934, being made up of 232 (Brisbane), 282 (Sydney), 221 (Melbourne0, 56 (Daniella, Perth), 97 Cannington, Perth), 36 (Adelaide) and 10 (Darwin in Northern Territory).

E. Things to take note of when traveling to Australia

Passport, visas, and arrival card.

Prohibitions: firearms, fresh meat, eggs, soil, shells, protected species, and medicines.

Cash in any currency amounting to AUD10,000 or more (or equivalent currency) needs to be declared (this excludes travellers cheque).

All travellers are to Australia are advised to declare all foodstuff, animal and plant products to customs to avoid heavy fines.

Passport holders of Argentina, Austria, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Finland, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxemburg, Macau, Malaysia, New Zealand, Qatar, San Marino, Singapore, Switzerland, Sweden, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Nations, United Kingdom and United States of America may use the SmartGates upon arrival at Immigration.