Australia is a large island continent with a climate ranging from tropical in the north to temperate in the south. The population, basically of European descent, is located largely on the eastern coast with the larger state capitals of Sydney and Melbourne, each having a population of around 5 million. Around 30% of Australia’s population was born overseas. With people from over 200 countries, Australia has a diverse mix of cultures. The population’s diversity provides a rich variety of indigenous and non-indigenous languages, religions, beliefs, traditions and activities.

Australia is a commonwealth of six sovereign states, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland and Tasmania. Under the Constitution, the states have passed onto the commonwealth certain wide powers, such as income taxation, defense, and international affairs and these powers include patents, copyright, designs and trademarks, so that a single patent, design or trademark covers all states of the Australian territories.