Why was Australia called a priso

Why was Australia called a prison colony when it was founded in the late 1700s?
【正确答案】：About 91% of Australians describe themselves as “white” and of a primarily European background. At its founding in the late 1700s, Australia was a prison colony. Europeans were sent to the continent as convicts from Great Britain and Ireland and as security support personnel, such as guards and soldiers.
【题目解析】：参见教材P289。