galloping gaijin

Is this what lines the corridors of Aussie companies??

http://www.despair.com/viewall.html

NKSK version 2

I sometimes wonder how the hell Australia became so wealthy.

My experience with Australian companies - superann, suppliers, Auspost, energy companies, Telstra - has been so dire that I just can't understand how they can be organised enough to actually make any money.

Regulated markets is surely one reason.

galloping gaijin

Just think how depressing it is for some of us who are struggling to even be employed by these fools

Ozzidoc

Actually, in my experience you could just replace "Australian" with "British".

Vash the Stampede

Yeah, we used to have that one on our wall - right next to this one:

BartSimpson

F**K you are totally at the right point....
I always scrach my head in anguish and great awe

MikeStanton

No.

Most Aussies can't spell procraz..., procras..., procrasss...strewth...putting stuff off.

Wol

When you see a thread with an oxymoronic title, you just *have* to take a look, doncha?

<bg>

arkon

What's a zit cream got to do with the title?

As for how they are so rich, they dig it all out of the ground and do bugger all with it and just sell it all to the Chinese. The Chinese who actually do know what the phrase "work ethic" means then process it into higher priced goods and sell it all on to the 'developed' nations. Then use all the billions in profits to actually bank roll America. China sure knows how to play the long game, no need to ever invade America they will effectively own it soon!

Vash the Stampede

Superannuation isn't regulated; energy isn't regulated; the airline industry isn't deregulated.

Etc., etc.

So which regulated markets did you have in mind?

Vash the Stampede

Wrong, as usual.

Our largest export partner is actually Japan, which takes more than double the exports we send to China.

Our smallest export partner is the UK - probably because she has no manufacturing industry and is therefore incapable of doing even "bugger all" with the exports we supply.

NKSK version 2

I assume that you meant the airline industry IS regulated? Unless the recent complaints from Australian airports about the govt restricting the rights of international carriers to land in Aus (and thereby restricting tourism growth)didn't happen. (Or the preferential treatment that Qantas has on landing slots. Or the recent govt report stating that Qanats needed to be treated differently (that link is posted on this site somewhere) Or the purchasing of a Singapore low cost carrier (Valuair) by Jetstar and the subsequent removal of Valuair's services to Perth. Jetstar owned by Quantas, majority owned by - you guessed it - the government))

Energy - you think that you can just start supplying the WA (or Australian) energy grid do you? Get your own power station and chug away into the high voltage overheads?

Lets go on....licences for selling newspapers - you can't just open your own newsagents here in Australia you know. Nope, all tightly controlled.

Telstra - allowed to control use of its infrastructure, not brought to book about overcharging suppliers (because of upcoming sale of govt investment perhaps?).

There are enough licences necessary to operate businesses in Australia to ensure that many, many markets are essentially regulated. And those markets which aren't officially regulated often have huge financial and technological barriers to entry that they are essentially carve-ups. This, coupled with a weak ombudsman allows rip-offs and poor service - a la the banks.

Enough examples?

I'll credit you with the superannuation one.

Wol

Oz *has* to be by far the most over-regulated yet least *managed* country in the world.

For God's sake, where else would you be prohibited from installing a new tap in your own home? Or a ceiling fan?

Having said that I think I saw that the UK is going down the same road - probably courtesy of our friends the EU.

Part of the reason things are so expensive here and building is of such poor quality is that you are effectively at the mercy of tradesmen who have little incentive to improve - the government makes it obligatory to employ them regardless.

(Generalising of course, as usual <g>)

NKSK version 2

Want to change a plug? No chance – bring in the electrician.

JaneandJim

I've just had a phone call from a furniture shop. 4 months ago I ordered a small display table, and was told it would take 3 weeks. Its finally ready!

Things do get done here, just verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry slowly. It took 7 months to get the final plumbing approval for our house. In his own words, the builder was "too lazy" to get it sorted.

Jane