Melbourne
Melbourne has a population of 3.4 million or 18% of Australia's population. The Port of Melbourne is Australia's largest container port, handling almost 40% of the nation's container trade as well as being one of the largest general cargo ports.

Melbourne is the eighth largest telecommunications market in the world - making it one of the best-wired cities globally. Melbourne is home to eight of Australia's top ten spenders on research and development (R&D) including Australia's largest, Telstra and Ericsson. In addition, Melbourne boasts Ericsson's 42nd Precinct, one of only three Ericsson R&D centres in the world.

Melbourne's scientists have been pivotal in the development of the world's most innovative biotechnology breakthroughs including Relenza, Relaxin and the bionic ear, which has provided hearing to 20,000 profoundly or totally deaf people in over 55 countries.

Each year Melbourne plays host to tens of thousands of interstate and overseas visitors who come to see the Australian Open Tennis Championships, the Australian Grand Prix and the Melbourne Cup. Melbourne Cup Day is Australia's most famous Tuesday. It's a day when the nation stops whatever it's doing to listen to the race call, or watch the race on TV, and even those who don't usually bet try their luck.

SYDNEY - NEW SOUTH WALES
The majority of the major food organizations in Australia are located along the east coast with most based in Sydney and surrounding area. Sydney is a favourite site because it offers first-class transportation links to air and seaports, and a sophisticated communications infrastructure.

Many of the world's largest food and beverage and food service companies have based their Australian operations in New South Wales, or have established substantial manufacturing facilities there.

The food processing industry plays a significant role in the NSW economy generating a turnover of more than $17 billion, and employing more than 50,000 people. Exports from this region are worth about $3 billion.

NSW's processed food industry is highly diversified with strengths in cereal and bakery products, meat, dairy, horticulture, seafood, edible oil, confectionery, wine and pet food. NSW is particularly well endowed with value-added food products.

NSW also has world-class research and development capabilities in food production, processing, packaging and handling. Companies can draw on the facilities and skills available from organizations including the CSIRO's Division of Food Processing, a range of Cooperative Research Centres, the National Centre of Excellence in Functional Foods, the National Wine and Grape Centre, BRI (formerly the Bread Research Institute) and universities in the area.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA (WA)
Western Australia is the largest state, covers one-third of the entire Australian continent and, economically, is the fastest growing state in the country.

Western Australia's agri-food sector currently contributes AUS$9.2 billion to the state's economy and employs 10 per cent of the workforce.

The State's vast area provides soils and climates suited to a variety of agricultural production, from open range grazing and broad acre cereal cropping to irrigated pastures and horticulture, orchards and vineyards.

Western Australia is a major grain grower, accounting for a significant proportion of Australian barley and wheat production.

The current Government ran on a platform that included a five-year moratorium on the growing of GM food crops for commercial purposes. The entire State was declared a GM-free area (GM Crops Free Areas Act 2003) in order to protect the State's 'clean and green' status.

Wheat, wool, beef and lamb are the main agricultural products from Western Australia. Tropical and temperate horticultural products and stock feed are also important. The main vegetable crops grown are carrots and potatoes.

The diverse agriculture sector provides the raw material for a rapidly growing range of processed exports. These include wine, ice cream, barley malt, noodles and fine leather. Instead of being just a primary producer, Western Australia is now increasing its range of value added products and manufactured goods. Processed mineral and agricultural products are the State's major manufacturing exports, worth approximately $2 billion.

Similar to Alberta, Western Australia has extensive natural gas reserves. The state supplies liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Japan, and is developing markets in Taiwan, Korea and other growing Asian economies.

Perth
Perth is the capital city of Western Australia and home to about 1.4 million people. Perth enjoys more hours of sunshine than any other Australian city.

The University of Western Australia (UWA), based in Perth, has acquired an international reputation for excellence and enterprise. UWA, regarded as one of Australia's top research institutions, attracts researchers of world standing across a range of disciplines, with international leaders in many diverse fields.

The University has a strong research culture. Recently it attracted more competitive research funding -- on a per capita basis of staff involved in research -- than any other Australian University. This strength in research makes the University especially appealing to students from across Australia, and from neighbouring Asian nations, Europe and America.

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