I'd say many people also assume such things about my country Canada. Both Canada and Australia have small populations, large land area, and are not in the news much. Out of sight out of mind and one day we're in the news.
For example Canada built the NIRISS (exoplanet detection and analysis) and the FRS (guidance) devices for the JWST.
Comments
What is striking about it?
that it breaks the OP's the common misconception that australia is a backwater country that cannot do anything but export resources?
I'd say many people also assume such things about my country Canada. Both Canada and Australia have small populations, large land area, and are not in the news much. Out of sight out of mind and one day we're in the news.
For example Canada built the NIRISS (exoplanet detection and analysis) and the FRS (guidance) devices for the JWST.