We have fought in wars, changed our views on women's rights in the family, and in the work place, opened our arms to people in need of safe refuge as well as coming to terms with our past treatment of the aboriginal community.

We have hosted the "best ever" Olympic games, and have gone from being a new country to well established, being shown high respect from overseas, not only for our cooperation towards other countries in need of troops to help them keep peace in countries such as East Timor, but we have also been highly commended for our willingness to accept people of other cultures, and accept them as our own.

In 1946, Ben Chifley's labor government opened Australia's doors to the immigrants of Europe; fleeing the destruction that world war two had left behind. 100,000 to 150,000 people from all around Europe took the chance to start fresh. Since then, more than 5 million immigrants have seeked permanent living arrangements in Australia. This number includes 500,000 refugees, who have come to Australia, seeking a way of life, from their war-torn home countries.

Since the white-Australia policy was scrapped in 1973, a large p

The aboriginals have also been given a lot more privileges as well, for example, the Mabo decision. This was one of the major turning points in the way the aboriginals are treated.

Another major turning point, was that of the National Sorry Day walks started in 1999, where people walked across the Sydney Harbour Bridge, in order to say sorry to the Aboriginals for their family's part in the stolen generation.

Of course there is really no point to doing this, as by the time they get around to paying the fees for these services, there is only the money from one of the spouses jobs to put food on the table. Not that this really matters, as the average family is only 1-2 children, as women are more career orientated, and don't have the time for children. They have become more independent from men, and their relationships with the male species has done a complete back flip, from a time when the women would impress her man with her impressive house keeping skills, to now, when the man has to impress the woman with his money and looks

Due to their high hopes and such a small minority of men actually fitting into the category, women are choosing to either marry later in life, of not at all. Those choosing to marry later in life (the average is 25, compared with 20, 30 years ago) are then finding that it it's easier to escape their problems by divorcing rather than working through their problems. During the 50's, it would have been a disgrace to divorce. now 1 in 2 marriages fail.

I believe that the traditional family of 40 years ago is much better than that of today. I feel that part of the reason children are becoming less active, is because the computer is a great babysitter, while the mother works tirelessly for no real reason, only personal greed. I also believe that this is the reason so many people are un-employed, for the women are taking the jobs that the men traditionally occupy, then, rather then leaving to look after their children, they are staying on, depriving others of careers, and good lives.

We have also become more accepting of the aboriginals and Torres Strait islanders, the original occupiers of the land.

Australia feared a "domino" effect and so the decision was made to send Australian troops to fight. This was not surprising, as the belief was that if South Vietnam was taken over, it would be a direct military threat to Australia, with our allies, the U.S.

Most of the protests about conscription came from religious groups, and it was possible for men to become exempt from service, if he could prove he was a pacifist, and he lodged a conscientious objection, otherwise, the penalty for not going to fight was a two year jail sentence.

Australians fought in Vietnam between 1962 and 1972 and approxi

Some common words found in the essay are:
Ayres Rock, South Vietnam, Prime Minister, Christmas Island, Ben Chifley's, , Harbour Bridge, World War, Asia Australia, East Timor, world war, food table, choosing marry life, leaving children, indigenous australians, marry life, east timor, choosing marry, 40 ago, allowed swim, aboriginal people,
Approximate Word count = 1851
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)