Beoz

That's kind of funny.

You said

Then said

The 2 kind of go hand in hand don't they? If the locals are shite, you bring in the foreigners.

For what its worth, what you see over in Perth isn't really reflective on the rest of the country. It's a little micro climate over there. You just need to walk down St George's Terrace and look at the names on the buildings. You don't see those names in the centres of the cities on the east coast.

the troubadour

No as a number of the imports are not necessary better and those that are tend to be often overlooked. It is a matter of putting the right people in the position not one that fits into the clique ....

Yes I know Perth has a little micro climate of its own. More the reason why the changing winds will have greater impact on this city.

ozzieeagle

Always happens to Perth and the Gold Coast to a lesser degree, but they always bounce back.

steen1976

There's my humble from my narrow viewpoint in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

Bix

These are my views based on Queensland:-

what is it like in Australia (compared with UK) Large, spacious, diverse, big weather events, warmer / hotter. The people speak English but are culturally different.

working there Frustrating with too much "She'll be right" attitude.As Troubadour said many idiots and unqualified people in jobs they shouldn't be in. Who you are not what you know is rife. Use cheap unofficial labour if given the chance. Pride themselves on a "give us a go" ethos but screw each other at every opportunity.

cost of living The only criteria is what percentage of your earnings are spent to live. Now it is all in pounds. Later it will be in dollars. Try not to mix the two by using conversions. You have to look at the whole package as individual items can vary a lot.

salaries Generally higher

view of foreigners Generally okay but geographical origin can sometimes make a difference.

weather Superb for me. Sunny, hot, humid, monsoonal rains. I've liked it all. Warm rain is so much more tolerable!

living in a suburb I've lived in a few without issue but you need to do ground work investigation before choosing. ie is it family orientated, who lives in the community, any weather or wildlife risks, what nearby facilities like schools, shops, doctors etc

men's view of women Chicks are beginning to dominate. Blokes are too thick to realise.

safety Pretty good in every day life. The worst I've seen in the workplace. Full of red tape when it comes to H&S certification and tickets and you can't get a job without it but it's pretty much ignored in situ.

Beoz

That aint ever going to happen in Australia. Too many people protecting their own position through politics, lip service and unionism rather than actually being talented.

ozzieeagle

On the surface concur with most of this, however I've been here a hell of a long while and the Cultural difference thing is lost on me now. In what obvious way are the people culturally different. Historically different I can get... by that I mean different views of recent everyday history like relationships to TV shows and personalities etc...(The UK has Bruce Forsyth and Terry Wogan, Aus Has John Laws and Bert Newton) but other than that I get a tad confused on the Cultural difference. I would have thought that the difference between someone bought up in Inner London v Cornwall for instance would have been no less noticeable than someone bought up in Inner London v Inner Melbourne or Sydney's Western Burbs ?

So can anyone point me at the main obvious cultural difference... After 35 years here I'm really lost on this one now.

Beoz

I don't know. Plenty of bogans in Melbournes inner suburbs ..... plenty

Amazulu

Same same but different

Amazulu

Every city goes through ups and downs (Melbourne has had a few) but a resources-based city like Perth will get it harder

I imagine in can't be much fun in Houston, Calgary and Aberdeen at the moment

We'll be back

Amazulu

Need to disagree with this

HS&E is preached to an extraordinary level but in my experience, it's also put into practice - so much so that it has a massive impact on productivity and the ability to get a job done

Very similar to the UK in this regard

DC10

A lot of references to European and even North American history and culture that would be readily understood by your average middle class Brit would be lost on your average... er... Aussie.

In fact, the British meaning of the term "middle class" (let alone "upper middle class" or "lower middle class") would be lost on them too, which for me is another significant aspect of the cultural difference. Not saying it's a bad thing, just that it's a difference.

ozzieeagle

''

I'd love to put your first point to a quantative test.... Although I definitely concur with your second point, that class thing as in stereotyping even as far as what newspapers one reads would totally baffle most Aussies and probably most other world citizens. Sure it could be an indicator of political leanings but class structure per se is a alien concept.




Overheard a really interesting debate at work yesterday between two postal workers about how Ruperts father Keith Murdoch founded the precursor to the Liberal party way back in the early 40's and how that legacy has influenced right wing politics around the world... So I'd say there are people here at base level that know exactly what makes the world and the UK tick.

Beoz

Would you expect any different? Put Australia's short history in front of your most Brits, and all North American's and they would know zero.

What's your point? That the world neglects history when it isn't in their own backyard?

Amazulu

The British - people and media - are obsessed with the class system. So much so that it, unbelievably, still dominates their society and thinking. Bizarre I know that in the early 21st century this shit still goes on but there it is

An aspect of modern Britain that is to its detriment