Music
Things must really be bad - AC/DC are No. 1 again….
First Gordon Brown and Mervyn King, the Bank of England's governor, admitted that Britain was on the verge of recession. Then food sales were reported to have seen their biggest fall for 20 years. Last night came final and irrevocable proof that the country is entering tough economic times, unseen since the 80s: AC/DC have returned to the top of the album charts for the first time in 28 years. Even by the standards of a band whose commercial success is a given - the venerable Australian rockers have shifted more than 80m records since forming 35 years ago (in the midst of the 1973 oil crisis) - the circumstances of their 16th studio album's British success seem striking. http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/oct/27/acdc-music-recession
Film
The Tribal Mind: In advance of Australia HOW WELL do you understand the mood of your nation? And how well do you understand the way the rest of the world regards us? Here's your chance to prove your perceptiveness by making two simple predictions: the amount that will be earned by the movie Australia at the Australian box office, and the amount it will earn at the US box office. http://blogs.sunherald.com.au/whoweare/archives/2008/10/the_treibal_min.html
Tourism
The new Tourism Australia advertising campaign from Baz Luhrmann director new feature film “Australia” see http://www.australia.com while Paul Hogan blast Baz Luhrmann’s new tourism ads
Paul Hogan is not a fan of Australia's new tourism campaign and believes it should have focused on the friendly, laid back nature of Aussies rather than the outback. The actor who appeared in the famous "shrimp on the barbie" campaign of the 80s said he didn't think the new $40 million campaign created by acclaimed director Baz Luhrmann would win over foreigners. http://www.smh.com.au/news/news/paul-hogan-blasts-baz-luhrmanns-ads/2008/10/28/1224956020942.html
Migration could cut or not……
The Federal Government will wait until fresh economic data is released next month to reassess the nation's migration intake the amid global financial crisis. Immigration Minister Chris Evans said today the Government would consider calls for a reduction in immigration to cope with slowing economic growth when it received the mid-year economic data. http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/migration-could-be-cut/2008/10/26/1224955827271.html
Migration Points Test Calculator
http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/885/eligibility-table-overseas.htm
Who we are, the invasions we never noticed
Funny how nobody talks about immigration any more. The hottest issue of five years ago has vanished from the national agenda. That's probably because Australians think there isn't much of it happening these days. We assume the immigration program was cut back during the Howard years because both sides of politics feared that most Australians were deep-down racists, and would vote against any party which brought in more of those dreadful foreigners.
It's time to dispose of some myths. Immigration is at record levels, and if they knew what kind of new citizens we are getting, Australians would be delighted. So lets tell them.
http://blogs.sunherald.com.au/whoweare/archives/2008/10/whowe_are.html
For information on study and education in Australia see Australian International Education Centre http://www.aiec.biz