Australia has a huge amount of land,and in the 1940s the government decided that the best way to develop the country was to invite more settlers to come from Europe.To attract immigrants, they offered money and other forms of help.More than 1 million people from Britain moved to Australia then, a long with several hundred thousand Europeans who had lost their homes in World War II.
Migration is still growing.In 2007, more than 177,000 people went to Australia to stay permanently.Four main types of people settle there.Some go there because employment and business opportunities are better than in their home country.Others are the children,parents,orother relatives of immigrants who have become Australian citizens.A third group is refugees who are escaping from war or political problems in their home countries.Finally,country and now want to come home.
At the same time, Australia also sends immigrants to other countries-a smaller number.Each year,about 60.000 Australians go to live permanently in other countries.With people from so many cultures migerating in and out,Australia is truly a diverse nation