This perception cannot be good for Australian's national identity as perceived by other nations. Australia wants to form its national identity as a strong nation that does not rely on other countries for support.

             Australia is also trying to determine where to focus its foreign policies. .

             As mentioned previously, Howard has a strong relationship with the United States, Britain and other European nations. However, before Howard, Prime Minister Paul Keating was trying to make Australia more focused on its relationships with Asian countries(6). Keating tried to get away from America and Britain, and focus more on policy with China and Southeast Asia. As his successor, Howard stopped the progression with Asian countries and went back to focus more on western countries.

             With this the case, the debate is still alive today whether Australia should be considered a western-like country or an Asian nation. When this debate is answered, it will help Australians determine their national identity in an international sense. There seems to be no lone factor that has more influence in Australia's national identity than sport. David Carter said: "Sport is not just something Australians enjoy; it is seen as fundamental to what makes them truly Australian "(2). .

             Sport became such a huge part of Australian culture when its cricket team would play England.  .

             The Australian team won for the first time in 1877 in what they call The 'Ashes'. This was a huge victory for the entire country because it proved their homegrown strain against that of their ancestry in England. Even today Australians pride themselves on their national cricket team. Sir Donald Bradman was the best cricketer to ever play the game, and Prime Minister John Howard called him the "greatest living Australian". In other countries, a statement like that would never be said for an athlete. Just a month ago, 800 million people across the world watched as the Australians won the cricket world cup and it brought the nation together as a whole.