How much do you know about Australia?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

1. The Swan River flows through which Australian state capital?

Perth

2. What are 'The Ashes'?

Cricket tournament between England and Australia. Been going on since the 19th Century. Over the past decade or so has been totally dominated by Australia, this year's series is the closest for a loooong time

3. Which states bank the Murray River?

forms the border between NSW and Victoria. Finishes in SA

4. Who has the balance of power in the federal Senate?

Usually the Democrats, or what's left of them

5. Which European (re)discovered Australia? (Both answers accepted, bonus point for one of them in particular)

Some dutch guy (Tasman?) and Cook (from Great Ayton, North Riding of Yorkshire)

6. In which city would you find the suburb of Toorak?
a) Melbourne
Very posh IIRC

7. What is the primary sport of Tasmania?
c) Cricket

Aussie Rules Football is the biggest in winter though. IIRC Fishing is the biggest in terms of actual participation

8. Who is Premier of Queensland? What Party is he from (half point each)

Peter Beattie, ALP

9. From which political party does the Prime Minister come from? What is his name? (half point each)

John Howard, Liberal

10. The name "Macquarie" is often found in titles of places, universities, institutions, etc.; who was 'Macquarie'?

Some egomaniac of a Governer General (or similer colonial post). When around naming everything that moved after himself.

11. In which state or territory would you find Gundagai? (half point)
In which state or territory would you find Wonthaggi? (half point)

One is in NSW. I *think* the other is in Victoria, but I'm not entirely sure

12. What are 'aspirationals'?  (half point)
What are 'doctor's wives'? (half point)

Ah... I dimly recall these as being groups of voters? "aspirationals" being upwardly mobile skilled working class/lower middle class outer-suburban voters (especially in West Sydney). Doctors wives are... er... the more swingable partners of Liberal voting professionals?

13. What is the most popular Australian beer, amongst Australians?

Not sure

14. In which city would you find the suburb of Leichardt?
d) Sydney (I think)

15. Who was the Australian Prime Minister immediately preceeding the current PM?

Paul Keating

[Filuwaúrdjan]

except for 4-either "The Nationals" or "The Coalition" woild have been acceptable

Ah dammit, I'm a few years behind I see...

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Nope; Cricket in the Summer, Aussie Rules in the Winter. Both are huge down there though.

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Slightly more Cricket followers than Aussie Rules followers. Interestingly quite a lot of Tasmanian cricketers play club cricket over here in the winter (our summer).

[Filuwaúrdjan]

England, I feel, have not done as well as they should have in the second and third tests. In the second, they certainly need not have let Australia come as close as they did. They failed to clean up the tail properly at Edgbaston, and did so again at Old Trafford.

True. Sorry to be a parochial bastard, but they should have picked Collingwood.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Whom would you have dropped?

From the squad? Tremlett. From the playing side, it'd depend on the wicket.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

1. Who is Peter Costello?

[Federal] Finance Minister IIRC

2. In what state would you find the Puckapunyal military base?

No idea

3. Name two of the three states that held significant gold rushes.

Victoria, WA

4. Where is the Nullabor?

An extremely barren and flat area inbetween Western Australia and South Australia. Very large

5. What does the name mean?

Empty?

6. Palmerston is the former name of which state or territorial capital?

Victoria?

7. Captain Cook's Cottage is in which state?

NSW

8. There are two "National Galleries" in Australia-one in Canberra, and one in which Australian state or territorial capital?

Sydney

9. What is the name of the primary sporting ground in Brisbane?

The Gabba

10. Who is Libby Lenton?

Swimmer

11. Who was the first Australian astronaut?

?

12. What state is Prime Minister John Howard from?

NSW. Do I get a bonus point if I can name the division/seat/etc? Bennelong

13. Name one member of the federal Australian Labor Party parliamentary caucus. (half point)
Name one member of the Australian upper house, the Senate (half point)

Wayne Swan, John Faulkner

14. What is the name of the river that flows into Sydney Harbour?

There are more than just one. The largest is (IIRC) the Parramatta

15. What state is Whyalla in? (half point)
What state is Burnie in? (half point)

South Australia... I think... and Tasmania

Bonus point-Perth, Sydney and Melbourne all have a suburb by the name of what?

I should know this... but have forgotton...