88-509: Outback Steakhouse is an American chain of Australian-themed casual dining restaurants , serving American cuisine, based in Tampa, Florida . The chain has over 1,000 locations in 23 countries throughout North America , South America , Asia , and Australia . It was founded on March 15, 1988, with its first location in Tampa by Bob Basham, Chris T. Sullivan , Trudy Cooper, and Tim Gannon . It
176-725: A Heart program to raise funds for various organizations in these communities. The company and its founders are major contributors, via the Outback Steakhouse PAC , to the Republican Party , contributing $ 303,015 and $ 334,197 for the 2000 and 2004 election cycles, respectively. The Outback Steakhouse PAC itself is one of the largest donors in the food and beverage sector, second only to the National Restaurant Association , which itself represents 300,000 restaurants. Outback Steakhouse
264-542: A PAC according to the state's election laws . Contributions to PACs from corporate or labor union treasuries are illegal, though these entities may sponsor a PAC and provide financial support for its administration and fundraising. Union-affiliated PACs may solicit contributions only from union members. Independent PACs may solicit contributions from the general public and must pay their own costs from those funds. Federal multi-candidate PACs may contribute to candidates as follows: In its 2010 case Citizens United v. FEC ,
352-527: A belief system based on the Dreaming , or Dreamtime, which refers both to a time when ancestral spirits created land and culture, and to the knowledge and practices that define individual and community responsibilities and identity. The arrival of the first British settlers at what is now Sydney in 1788 introduced Western civilisation to the Australian continent. Although Sydney was initially used by
440-531: A candidate or candidate committee. The political action committee emerged from the labor movement of 1943. The first PAC was the CIO-PAC , formed in July 1943 under CIO president Philip Murray and headed by Sidney Hillman . It was established after the U.S. Congress prohibited unions from giving direct contributions to political candidates. This restriction was initially imposed in 1907 on corporations through
528-614: A central committee maintained by said PAC. Furthermore, it required PACs to file regular reports with the Federal Election Commission(FEC) disclosing anyone who has donated at least $ 200. The Supreme Court has declared unconstitutional limits imposed on PACs by the legislature under First Amendment grounds in many cases, starting with Buckley v. Valeo . Throughout the past 30 years, campaign donations from PACs have been increasingly growing, with $ 333 million being raised in 1990 to $ 482 million in 2022. Even with
616-470: A concern for the " battler "—forged against the brutalities of the bush. This image was expressed within the works of its bush poets , the most famous of which are Henry Lawson , widely regarded as Australia's finest short-story writer, and Banjo Paterson , author of classics such as " Clancy of the Overflow " (1889) and " The Man From Snowy River " (1890). In a literary debate about the nature of life in
704-574: A convict free region and experienced prosperity from the late nineteenth century. Contact between the Indigenous Australians and the new settlers ranged from cordiality to violent conflict, but the diseases brought by Europeans were devastating to Aboriginal populations and culture. According to the historian Geoffrey Blainey , during the colonial period: "Smallpox, measles, influenza and other new diseases swept from one Aboriginal camp to another ... The main conqueror of Aborigines
792-408: A host of American content. The 1956 Melbourne Olympics , the first to be broadcast to the world, announced a confident, prosperous post-war nation, and new cultural icons like Australian country music star Slim Dusty and dadaist Barry Humphries expressed a uniquely Australian identity. Australia's contemporary immigration program has two components: a program for skilled and family migrants and
880-406: A humanitarian program for refugees and asylum seekers. By 2010, the post-war immigration program had received more than 6.5 million migrants from every continent. The population tripled in the six decades to around 21 million in 2010, including people originating from 200 countries. More than 43 per cent of Australians were either born overseas or have one parent who was born overseas. The population
968-568: A local variant of football, Australian Rules Football , became treasured cultural traditions. The Commonwealth of Australia was founded in 1901, after a series of referendums conducted in the British colonies of Australasia . The Australian Constitution established a federal democracy and enshrined human rights such as sections 41 (right to vote), 80 (right to trial by jury) and 116 (freedom of religion) as foundational principles of Australian law and included economic rights such as restricting
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#17327839171541056-488: A majority of seats in the Australian House of Representatives selecting a leader who becomes Prime Minister . Australia remains a constitutional monarchy in which the largely ceremonial and procedural duties of the monarch are performed by a Governor General selected by the Australian government. Australia fought at Britain's side from the outset of World War I and World War II and came under attack from
1144-437: A national school of Australian poetry". First published in serial form in 1882, Rolf Boldrewood 's Robbery Under Arms is regarded as the classic bushranging novel for its vivid use of the bush vernacular and realistic detail of situations in the Australian bush. Founded in 1880, The Bulletin did much to create the idea of an Australian national character—one of anti-authoritarianism , egalitarianism , mateship and
1232-489: A number of classic comic poems including The Man from Ironbark and The Geebung Polo Club . CJ Dennis wrote humour in the Australian vernacular – notably in The Songs of a Sentimental Bloke . The Dad and Dave series about a farming family was an enduring hit of the early 20th century. The World War I ANZAC troops were said to often display irreverence in their relations with superior officers and dark humour in
1320-472: A pioneer farming family and became immensely popular. Sydney's grand Capitol Theatre opened in 1928 and after restoration remains one of the nation's finest auditoriums. In 1955, Summer of the Seventeenth Doll by Ray Lawler portrayed resolutely Australian characters and went on to international acclaim. That same year, young Melbourne artist Barry Humphries performed as Edna Everage for
1408-584: A publicly traded company on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol "BLMN." Most Outback locations are corporately owned by Bloomin Brands, however locations in California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico are separately owned by a corporate franchisee, Out West Restaurant Group . Outback Steakhouse currently operates over 1,000 locations worldwide, with 694 in the United States. The Bloomin' Onion
1496-566: A source of much art and literature in Australia. In 1984, a group of Pintupi people who were living a traditional hunter-gatherer desert-dwelling life were tracked down in the Gibson Desert and brought into a settlement. They are believed to have been the last uncontacted tribe . While the British cultural influence remained strong into the 21st century, other influences became increasingly important. Australia's post-war period
1584-433: A sunburned country". Early Australian children's literature was also embedded in the bush tradition; perennial favourites include Norman Lindsay 's The Magic Pudding (1918), May Gibbs ' Snugglepot and Cuddlepie (1918) and Dorothy Wall 's Blinky Bill (1933). Significant poets of the early 20th century include Kenneth Slessor , Mary Gilmore and Judith Wright . The nationalist Jindyworobak Movement arose in
1672-838: A way dominant parties can capture seats from other parties. A leadership PAC sponsored by an elected official cannot use funds to support that official's own campaign. However, it may fund travel, administrative expenses, consultants, polling, and other non-campaign expenses. In the 2018 election cycle, leadership PACs donated more than $ 67 million to federal candidates. Super PACs, officially known as "independent expenditure-only political action committees," are unlike traditional PACs in that they may raise unlimited amounts from individuals, corporations, unions, and other groups to spend on, for example, ads overtly advocating for or against political candidates. However, they are not allowed to either coordinate with or contribute directly to candidate campaigns or political parties. Super PACs are subject to
1760-561: Is a signature Outback item, though it is not an Australian item and is not typically sold in Australia apart from this chain. It is a 1 pound (500 g) onion cut to 'bloom' open, breaded, deep-fried and served with mayonnaise-horseradish sauce. Other restaurants offer items similar to the Bloomin' Onion, as in Chili's Awesome Blossom (discontinued), Texas Roadhouse 's Cactus Blossom, and Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon 's Texas Rose. Many of
1848-416: Is believed that there were between 200 and 300 Australian Aboriginal languages at the time of first European contact, but only about 70 of these have survived and all but 20 are now endangered. An Indigenous language is the main language for 0.25% of the population. Comedy is an important part of the Australian identity. The "Australian sense of humour" is characterised as dry and sarcastic, exemplified by
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#17327839171541936-452: Is highly urbanised, with more than 75% of Australians living in urban centres, largely along the coast though there has been increased incentive to decentralise the population, concentrating it into developed regional or rural areas. Contemporary Australia is a pluralistic society, rooted in liberal democratic traditions and espousing informality and egalitarianism as key societal values. While strongly influenced by Anglo-Celtic origins,
2024-509: Is known as the first Indigenous Australian author. Oodgeroo Noonuccal was the first Aboriginal Australian to publish a book of verse. A significant contemporary account of the experiences of Indigenous Australia can be found in Sally Morgan 's My Place . Contemporary academics and activists including Marcia Langton and Noel Pearson are prominent essayists and authors on Aboriginal issues. Charles Bean ( The Story of Anzac: From
2112-420: Is largely monolingual with English being the de facto national language . Australian English is a major variety of the language that is immediately distinguishable from British , American , and other national dialects by virtue of its unique accents, pronunciations, idioms and vocabulary, although its spelling more closely reflects British versions rather than American. According to the 2011 census, English
2200-732: Is the Miles Franklin Award , which is "presented each year to a novel which is of the highest literary merit and presents Australian life in any of its phases". Patrick White won the inaugural award for Voss in 1957; he went on to win the 1973 Nobel Prize in Literature . Peter Carey , Thomas Keneally and Richard Flanagan are recipients of the Booker Prize . Other acclaimed Australian authors include Colleen McCullough , Nevil Shute , Tim Winton , Ruth Park and Morris West . Helen Garner 's 1977 novel Monkey Grip
2288-476: Is the home of Opera Australia and the Sydney Theatre Company . The Bell Shakespeare Company was created in 1990. A period of success for Australian musical theatre came in the 1990s with the debut of musical biographies of Australian music singers Peter Allen ( The Boy From Oz in 1998) and Johnny O'Keefe ( Shout! The Legend of The Wild One ). Political action committee In
2376-422: Is the only language spoken in the home for around 80% of the population. The next most common languages spoken at home are Mandarin (1.7%), Italian (1.5%), and Arabic (1.4%); almost all migrants speak some English. Australia has multiple sign languages, the most spoken known as Auslan , which in 2004 was the main language of about 6,500 deaf people, and Australian Irish Sign Language with about 100 speakers. It
2464-589: Is today the oldest purpose-built theatre on the mainland. The mid-19th-century gold rushes provided funds for the construction of grand theatres in the Victorian style, such as the Princess Theatre in Melbourne, established in 1854. After Federation in 1901, theatre productions evidenced the new sense of national identity. On Our Selection (1912), based on the stories of Steele Rudd , portrays
2552-449: Is widely considered one of Australia's first contemporary novels–she has since written both fiction and non-fiction work. Notable expatriate authors include the feminist Germaine Greer and humourist Clive James . Greer's controversial 1970 nonfiction book The Female Eunuch became a global bestseller and is considered a watershed feminist text. Among the best known contemporary poets are Les Murray and Bruce Dawe . David Unaipon
2640-968: The 1990 season . In September 2023, Outback Steakhouse sponsored Stephen Mallozzi , who had previously worked as a server at the restaurant, for a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway . Culture of Australia Australian culture is of primarily Western origins, and is derived from its British , Indigenous and migrant components. Indigenous peoples arrived as early as 60,000 years ago, and evidence of Aboriginal art in Australia dates back at least 30,000 years. The British colonisation of Australia began in 1788 and waves of multi-ethnic (primarily Anglo-Celtic ) migration followed shortly thereafter. Several states and territories had their origins as penal colonies , with this convict heritage having an enduring effect on Australian music , cinema and literature . Manifestations of British colonial heritage in Australia include
2728-556: The 2012 Goody's Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway . One of the promotions the company had with Newman is a free Bloomin' Onion on the Monday after a race in which Newman would finish in the Top 10. Kevin Harvick took over Outback's sponsorship and promotion in 2014 for two races in their No. 4, after Newman left the team to drive Richard Childress Racing 's No. 31 car. The company
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2816-455: The 2018 election , the top ten PACs donated a total of $ 29,349,895 (directly, and via their affiliates and subsidiaries) to federal candidates: In the 2020 election , the top ten PACs donated a total of $ 28,276,448 (directly, and via their affiliates and subsidiaries) to federal candidates: In the 2022 election , the top ten PACs donated a total of $ 28,051,395 (directly, and via their affiliates and subsidiaries) to federal candidates: In
2904-701: The Adelaide Festival Center began in 1970 and South Australia's Sir Robert Helpmann became director of the Adelaide Festival of Arts. The new wave of Australian theatre debuted in the 1970s as “a new and more realistic look into [Australia’s] beginnings as a nation”. It explored the confrontation in social relations, the use of vernacular language and expressions of masculine social habits in contemporary Australia. The Belvoir St Theatre presented works by Nick Enright and David Williamson . The Sydney Opera House , inaugurated in 1973,
2992-782: The Australian gold rushes of the latter half of the 19th century, but following Federation in 1901, the Parliament instigated the White Australia Policy that gave preference to British migrants and ensured that Australia remained a predominantly Anglo-Celtic society until well into the 20th century. The post- World War II immigration program saw the policy relaxed then dismantled by successive governments, permitting large numbers of non-British Europeans, and later Asian and Middle Eastern migrants to arrive. The Menzies Government (1949-1966) and Holt government maintained
3080-706: The Supreme Court of the United States overturned sections of the Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (also known as the McCain–Feingold Act) that had prohibited corporate and union political independent expenditures in political campaigns. Citizens United declared it was unconstitutional to prohibit corporations and unions from spending from their general treasuries to promote candidates or from contributing to PACs. It left intact these laws' prohibitions on corporations or unions contributing directly to
3168-558: The Tillman Act . The Smith–Connally Act extended its coverage to labor unions in 1943. A series of campaign reform laws enacted during the 1970s facilitated the growth of PACs after these laws allowed corporations, trade associations, and labor unions to form PACs. In 1971 the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) created rules for disclosure, which made it so all donations received by PACs must go through
3256-460: The monarch . At least 14,9% of lands in Australia are referred to as Crown land , considered public land . There are many geographic places that have been named in honour of a reigning monarch, including the states of Queensland and Victoria , named after Queen Victoria , with numerous rivers, streets, squares, parks and buildings carrying the names of past or present members of the royal family. Although Australia has no official language, it
3344-555: The 1850s into the 21st century. During the colonial era, distinctive forms of Australian art , music , language and literature developed through movements like the Heidelberg school of painters and the work of bush balladeers like Henry Lawson and Banjo Paterson , whose poetry and prose did much to promote an egalitarian Australian outlook which placed a high value on the concept of " mateship ". Games like cricket and rugby were imported from Britain at this time and with
3432-543: The 1850s resulted in exponential population and economic growth, as well as racial tensions and the introduction of novel political ideas; the growing disparity between the prospectors and the established colonial governments culminated in the Eureka Stockade rebellion and the shifting political climate ushered in significant electoral reform, the labour movement, and women's rights ahead of any such changes in other Western countries. Federation occurred in 1901 as
3520-557: The 1930s and sought to develop a distinctive Australian poetry through the appropriation of Aboriginal languages and ideas. In contrast, the Angry Penguins , centred around Max Harris ' journal of the same name, promoted international modernism . A backlash resulted in the Ern Malley affair of 1943, Australia's most famous literary hoax . The legacy of Miles Franklin , renowned for her 1901 novel My Brilliant Career ,
3608-537: The 1950s, the satirical character creations of Barry Humphries have included housewife "gigastar" Edna Everage and "Australian cultural attaché" Les Patterson , whose interests include boozing, chasing women and flatulence. For his delivery of dadaist and absurdist humour to millions, biographer Anne Pender described Humphries in 2010 as "the most significant comedian to emerge since Charlie Chaplin ". The vaudeville talents of Daryl Somers , Graham Kennedy , Don Lane and Bert Newton earned popular success during
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3696-472: The 1960s, at which point full legal equality was established. A 1967 referendum to include all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the national electoral roll census was overwhelmingly approved by voters, signal the beginning of action and organisation at a national level in Aboriginal affairs. Since then, conflict and reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians has been
3784-406: The 1970s onwards. According to Paul James , this consciously created interlock of the image of the multinational corporation with aspects of Australia’s national mythology, has itself over the last decade [the 1970s to 1980s] contributed to the maintenance and evolution of those national themes. But paradoxically, during the same period it has reinforced Australia’s international orientation. When
3872-428: The 1970s, satirical talk-show host Norman Gunston (played by Garry McDonald), with his malapropisms , sweep-over hair and poorly shaven face, rose to great popularity by pioneering the satirical "ambush" interview technique and giving unique interpretations of pop songs. Roy and HG provide an affectionate but irreverent parody of Australia's obsession with sport. The unique character and humour of Australian culture
3960-840: The 4,600 active, registered PACs, named "connected PACs", sometimes also called "corporate PACs", are established by businesses, non-profits, labor unions, trade groups, or health organizations. These PACs receive and raise money from a "restricted class", generally consisting of managers and shareholders in the case of a corporation or members in the case of a non-profit organization, labor union or other interest group. As of January 2009, there were 1,598 registered corporate PACs, 272 related to labor unions and 995 to trade organizations. Groups with an ideological mission, single-issue groups, and members of Congress and other political leaders may form "non-connected PACs". These organizations may accept funds from any individual, connected PAC, or organization. As of January 2009, there were 1,594 non-connected PACs,
4048-599: The Australian colonies federated on 1 January 1901, an official competition for a design for an Australian flag was held. The design that was adopted contains the Union Jack in the left corner, symbolising Australia's historical links to the United Kingdom , the stars of the Southern Cross on the right half of the flag indicating Australia's geographical location, and the seven-pointed Federation Star in
4136-401: The Bloomin' Onions have come under fire for high- calorie counts, sometimes going over 1,500 calories . Outback Steakhouse has a program to support the communities in which its restaurants are located. They have also joined GroupRaise, a platform where non-profits can book restaurant fundraisers in their locations. On a national level, Outback partners with Heineken USA and their Heineken with
4224-492: The British as a place of banishment for prisoners, the arrival of the British laid the foundations for Australia's democratic institutions and rule of law, and introduced the long traditions of English literature , Western art and music, and Judeo-Christian ethics and religious outlook which shaped the Australian national culture and identity. The British Empire expanded across the whole continent and established six colonies. The colonies were originally penal colonies, with
4312-452: The Empire of Japan during the latter conflict. These wars profoundly affected Australia's sense of nationhood and a proud military legend developed around the spirit of Australia's ANZAC troops, who came to symbolise the virtues of endurance, courage, ingenuity, good humour, and mateship. The Australian colonies had a period of extensive non-British European and Chinese immigration during
4400-712: The Outbreak of War to the End of the First Phase of the Gallipoli Campaign 4 May 191 5, 1921) Geoffrey Blainey ( The Tyranny of Distance , 1966), Robert Hughes ( The Fatal Shore , 1987), Manning Clark (A History of Australia , 1962–87), and Marcia Langton ( First Australians , 2008) are authors of important Australian histories. European traditions came to Australia with the First Fleet in 1788, with
4488-649: The U.S. federal level, an organization becomes a PAC when it receives or spends more than $ 1,000 for the purpose of influencing a federal election, and registers with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), according to the Federal Election Campaign Act as amended by the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (also known as the McCain–Feingold Act). At the state level, an organization becomes
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#17327839171544576-512: The UK market. In 2006, a new Outback logo was introduced, dropping the old kangaroo logo for a more simplistic and modern Outback mountain range logo. With this new logo, Outback then went on an aggressive remodeling campaign, starting in 2008, renovating most of their locations, along with opening brand new ones, for a fresher, more modern look to their business model. This included the removal of their iconic neon signs for more energy efficient LEDs, and
4664-519: The United States became Australia's foremost military ally after the latter. After the Second World War, 6.5 million people settled in Australia from 200 nations, further enriching Australian culture in the process. Over time, as immigrant populations gradually assimilated into Australian life, their cultural and culinary practices became part of mainstream Australian culture. The oldest surviving cultural traditions of Australia—and some of
4752-493: The United States, a political action committee ( PAC ) is a tax-exempt 527 organization that pools campaign contributions from members and donates those funds to campaigns for or against candidates, ballot initiatives , or legislation . The legal term PAC was created in pursuit of campaign finance reform in the United States . Democracies of other countries use different terms for the units of campaign spending or spending on political competition (see political finance ). At
4840-741: The White Australia Policy but relaxed it, and then the legal barriers to multiracial immigration were dismantled during the 1970s, with the promotion of multiculturalism by the Whitlam and Fraser governments . From the protest movements from the 1930s, with the gradual lifting of restrictions, Indigenous Australians began to develop a unity sense of Aboriginality , maintained by all Aboriginal artists, musicians, sportsmen and writers. However, some States and Territories of Australia retained discriminatory laws relating to voting rights for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people into
4928-559: The bottom left representing the six states and the territories of Australia . Other official flags include the Australian Aboriginal flag , the Torres Strait Islander flag and the flags of the individual states and territories. The Australian Coat of Arms was granted by King George V in 1912 and consists of a shield containing the badges of the six states, within an ermine border. The crest above
5016-406: The bush, Lawson said Paterson was a romantic while Paterson attacked Lawson's pessimistic outlook. C. J. Dennis wrote humour in the Australian vernacular, notably in the verse novel The Songs of a Sentimental Bloke (1915), while Dorothy Mackellar wrote the iconic patriotic poem " My Country " (1908) which rejected prevailing fondness for England's "green and shaded lanes" and declared: "I love
5104-520: The culture of Australia has also been shaped by multi-ethnic migration which has influenced all aspects of Australian life, including business, the arts, cuisine , sense of humour and sporting tastes. Contemporary Australia is also a culture that is profoundly influenced by global movements of meaning and communication, including advertising culture. In turn, globalising corporations from Holden to Exxon have attempted to associate their brand with Australian cultural identity. This process intensified from
5192-592: The early years of Australian television. The variety show Hey Hey It's Saturday screened for three decades. Among the best loved Australian sitcoms was Mother and Son , about a divorcee who had moved back into the suburban home of his mother – but sketch comedy has been the stalwart of Australian television . The Comedy Company , in the 1980s, featured the comic talents of Mary-Anne Fahey , Ian McFadyen , Mark Mitchell , Glenn Robbins , Kym Gyngell and others. Growing out of Melbourne University and The D-Generation came The Late Show (1991–1993), starring
5280-440: The exception of Western Australia and South Australia , which were each established as a "free colony" with no convicts and a vision for a territory with political and religious freedoms, together with opportunities for wealth through business and pastoral investments. However, Western Australia became a penal colony after insufficient numbers of free settlers arrived. Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, grew from its status as
5368-402: The face of battle. Australian comedy has a strong tradition of self-mockery, from the outlandish Barry McKenzie expat-in-Europe ocker comedies of the 1970s, to the quirky outback characters of the "Crocodile" Dundee films of the 1980s, the suburban parody of Working Dog Productions ' 1997 film The Castle and the dysfunctional suburban mother–daughter sitcom Kath & Kim . In
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#17327839171545456-620: The fastest-growing category. Elected officials and political parties cannot give more than the federal limit directly to candidates. However, they can set up a leadership PAC that makes independent expenditures . Provided the expenditure is not coordinated with the other candidate, this type of spending is not limited. Under the FEC (Federal Election Commission) rules, leadership PACs are non-connected PACs, and can accept donations from individuals and other PACs. Since current officeholders have an easier time attracting contributions, Leadership PACs are
5544-639: The first production being performed in 1789 by convicts. In 1988, the year of Australia's bicentenary , the circumstances of the foundations of Australian theatre were recounted in Timberlake Wertenbaker 's play Our Country's Good . Hobart's Theatre Royal opened in 1837 and is Australia's oldest continuously operating theatre. Inaugurated in 1839, the Melbourne Athenaeum is one of Melbourne's oldest cultural institutions, and Adelaide's Queen's Theatre , established in 1841,
5632-611: The first time at Melbourne University 's Union Theatre. His satirical stage creations, notably Dame Edna and Les Patterson , became Australian cultural icons. Humphries also achieved success in the US with tours on Broadway and has been honored in Australia and Britain. Founded in Sydney 1958, the National Institute of Dramatic Art boasts famous alumni including Cate Blanchett , Mel Gibson and Hugo Weaving . Construction of
5720-469: The government to acquiring property only "on just terms". The Australian Labor Party was established in the 1890s and the Liberal Party of Australia in 1944, both rising to be the dominant political parties and rivals of Australian politics , though various other parties have been and remain influential. Voting is compulsory in Australia and government is essentially formed by a group commanding
5808-546: The head of state. Women's suffrage in Australia was achieved from the 1890s. Women became eligible to vote in South Australia in 1895. This was the first legislation in the world permitting women to stand for political office and, in 1897, Catherine Helen Spence , an Adelaidean, became the first female political candidate. Though constantly evolving, the key foundations for elected parliamentary government have maintained an historical continuity in Australia from
5896-492: The influential talents Santo Cilauro , Tom Gleisner , Jane Kennedy , Tony Martin , Mick Molloy and Rob Sitch (who later formed Working Dog Productions ); and during the 1980s and 1990s Fast Forward ( Steve Vizard , Magda Szubanski , Marg Downey , Michael Veitch , Peter Moon and others) and its successor Full Frontal , which launched the career of Eric Bana and featured Shaun Micallef . The perceptive wit of Clive James and Andrew Denton has been popular in
5984-423: The major growth, PAC contributions only made up 23% of the money raised by House candidates and only 10% for senate candidates, despite media coverage which tends to exaggerate contributions. Federal law formally allows for two types of PACs: connected and non-connected. Judicial decisions added a third classification, independent expenditure-only committees, which are colloquially known as "super PACs". Most of
6072-482: The office of the Prime Minister's political advisory (spin) department, and The Chaser's War on Everything , which cynically examines domestic and international politics. Actor/writer Chris Lilley has produced a series of award-winning "mockumentary" style television series about Australian characters since 2005. The annual Melbourne International Comedy Festival is one of the largest comedy festivals in
6160-497: The oldest surviving cultural traditions on earth—are those of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, collectively referred to as Indigenous Australians . Their ancestors have inhabited Australia for between 40,000 and 60,000 years, living a hunter-gatherer lifestyle. In 2006, the Indigenous population was estimated at 517,000 people, or 2.5 per cent of the total population. Most Aboriginal Australians have
6248-635: The permanent closure of all remaining Hawaii locations, as part of financial restructuring, citing a significant decrease in profits. This was part of a larger, mass closure of over 41 locations. All three locations in Hawaii were permanently closed by February 18, 2024. Outback Steakhouse opened in the UK with locations in Birmingham, Basildon, Enfield, Romford, Stevenage and Staines. By September 2011, only its Basildon and Romford stores remained and they closed down on September 13, ending Outback's foray into
6336-545: The primacy of the English language and Western Christianity , the institution of constitutional monarchy , a Westminster -style system of democratic parliamentary government, and Australia's inclusion within the Commonwealth of Nations . The American political ideals of constitutionalism and federalism have also played a role in shaping Australia's distinctive political identity. The Australian gold rushes from
6424-695: The province of Ontario , citing poor economic conditions, but in June 2009, Outback Steakhouse opened a location in Niagara Falls, Ontario . A second location in Niagara Falls has been opened. As of 2024 these are the only Outback Steakhouse locations operating in Canada. Outback locations in Hawaii began to open in the mid 1990s, as part of a massive expansion across the country. On February 17, 2024, Outback’s parent company, Bloomin’ Brands , announced
6512-427: The result of a burgeoning sense of national unity and identity that had developed over the latter half of the 19th century, hitherto demonstrated in the works of Heidelberg School artists and authors like Banjo Paterson , Henry Lawson , and Dorothea Mackellar . World War I and World War II profoundly impacted Australia, ushering in the heroic ANZAC legend of the former and the geopolitical reorientation in which
6600-529: The same organizational, reporting, and public disclosure requirements of traditional PACs. A hybrid PAC (sometimes called a Carey Committee) is similar to a super PAC, but can give limited amounts of money directly to campaigns and committees, while still making independent expenditures in unlimited amounts. OpenSecrets maintains a list of the largest PACs by election cycle on its website OpenSecrets.org. Their list can be filtered by receipts or different types of expenses, political party, and type of PAC. In
6688-456: The shield and helmet is a seven-pointed gold star on a blue and gold wreath, representing the 6 states and the territories. The shield is supported by a red kangaroo and an emu , which were chosen to symbolise a nation moving forward. Green and gold were confirmed as Australia's national colours in 1984, though the colours had been adopted on the uniforms of Australia’s sporting teams long before this. The Golden Wattle ( Acacia pycnantha )
6776-635: The styles inherited by Australia's various migrant communities. As the convict era passed—captured most famously in Marcus Clarke 's For the Term of His Natural Life (1874), a seminal work of Tasmanian Gothic —the bush and Australian daily life assumed primacy as subjects. Charles Harpur , Henry Kendall and Adam Lindsay Gordon won fame in the mid-19th century for their lyric nature poems and patriotic verse. Gordon drew on Australian colloquy and idiom; Clarke assessed his work as "the beginnings of
6864-542: The switch from a dark, rustic feel to a brighter, more vibrant look. Today, few original-style Outback locations remain, with most of them either abandoned for newer locations, or renovated. On June 14, 2007, OSI Restaurant Partners completed a stock repurchase plan, and the company became privately held. In April 2012, Bloomin' Brands, the current owner of Outback Steakhouse, filed with the SEC to raise up to $ 300 million in an initial public offering. Bloomin' Brands, Inc. became
6952-418: The talk-show interview style. Representatives of the "bawdy" strain of Australian comedy include Rodney Rude , Austen Tayshus and Chad Morgan . Rolf Harris helped defined a comic tradition in Australian music . Cynical satire has had enduring popularity, with television series such as Frontline , targeting the inner workings of "news and current affairs" TV journalism, The Hollowmen (2008), set in
7040-435: The works of performing artists like Barry Humphries and Paul Hogan . The convicts of the early colonial period helped establish anti-authoritarianism as a hallmark of Australian comedy. Influential in the establishment of stoic, dry wit as a characteristic of Australian humour were the bush balladeers of the 19th century, including Henry Lawson , author of " The Loaded Dog ". His contemporary, Banjo Paterson , contributed
7128-553: The world, and a popular fixture on the city's cultural calendar. The arts in Australia — film , music , painting , theatre , dance and crafts—have achieved international recognition. While much of Australia's cultural output has traditionally tended to fit with general trends and styles in Western arts, the arts as practised by Indigenous Australians represent a unique Australian cultural tradition, and Australia's landscape and history have contributed to some unique variations in
7216-416: Was defined in cartoons by immigrants, Emile Mercier and George Molnar , and in the novel They're a Weird Mob (1957) by John O'Grady , which looks at Sydney through the eyes of an Italian immigrant. Post-war immigration has seen migrant humour flourish through the works of Vietnamese refugee Anh Do , Egyptian-Australian stand-up comic Akmal Saleh and Greek-Australian actor Nick Giannopoulos . Since
7304-428: Was marked by an influx of Europeans who broadened the nation's vision. The Hawaiian sport of surfing was adopted in Australia where a beach culture and the locally developed surf lifesaving movement was already burgeoning in the early 20th century. American pop culture and cinema were embraced in the 20th century, with country music and later rock and roll sweeping Australia, aided by the new technology of television and
7392-557: Was officially proclaimed as the national floral emblem in 1988. Reflecting the country's status as a constitutional monarchy , the Crown remains part of Australian public life, maintaining a visual presence through federal and state coats of arms, charitable and cultural patronage , the names and symbols of public institutions and the governor-general and state governors, who are the monarch's representatives on Australian soil. Some Australian banknotes and all coins bear an image of
7480-667: Was on Harvick’s car from 2014 until 2018, including his championship in 2014, and in 2019 and until the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020, the steakhouse was a personal sponsor which kept the Blooming Monday promotion around still. It ended after 2020. The company also sponsored retired Sprint Cup Series driver and current Fox NASCAR announcer Jeff Gordon 's No. 67 for the AC-Delco 200 in the Busch Series during
7568-404: Was owned and operated in the United States by OSI Restaurant Partners until it was acquired by Bloomin' Brands , and by other franchise and venture agreements internationally. The first Outback Steakhouse location was opened on March 15, 1988, in Tampa, Florida. Canadian Outback Steakhouse restaurants began in 1996. In March 2009, Outback Steakhouse Canada abruptly closed all nine locations in
7656-773: Was the title sponsor of the Outback Champions Series tennis events and NCAA football's Outback Bowl . The sponsorship lasted through 2020. Outback is also a partner of the Tampa Bay Lightning and has a concession stand in Amalie Arena . In 2012, Outback Steakhouse became a sponsor of Ryan Newman and the No. 39 Chevrolet for Stewart-Haas Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series . In their first race as sponsor, Newman won
7744-478: Was to be disease and its ally, demoralization." Calls for responsible government began to develop; William Wentworth established Australia's first political party in 1835 to demand democratic government for New South Wales and later was central in the establishment of Australia's first parliament . From the 1850s, the colonies set about writing constitutions which produced democratically advanced parliaments as constitutional monarchies with Queen Victoria as
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