Re: Basic differences between Aus and the UK
 

"Cars, too many 4x4's on the road in OZ". Different conditions and uses here

Um, if you call driving to Woolies instead of driving to Tesco a different use, then yes. :blink:

Re: Basic differences between Aus and the UK
 

but they can still be done for being unroadworthy and they have to have a roadworthyness certificate to sell them

Re: Basic differences between Aus and the UK
 

yes, but if you don't sell your car for, say, 20 years it doesn't legally have to be checked. and let's face it, who bothers paying out to get it checked unless you are forced to.

there are some awful bombs, V8 falcons and the like, driving about with 18 year olds behind the wheel. deathtrap much?

Re: Basic differences between Aus and the UK
 

I am surprised that my Son has to take 3 buses to get to school here.
x

Re: Basic differences between Aus and the UK
 

too true but it doesn't mean they can't be prosecuted for the state of it should a cop decide to take the time to check it over

Re: Basic differences between Aus and the UK
 

unlikely though isn't it? they are too busy hiding behind trees at the bottom of hills waiting for motorists to go 3km over the speed limit.

Re: Basic differences between Aus and the UK
 

I must mention here, that the above is not the case for all of Australia. The above is correct for Queensland, athough NSW, and some other States, have an annual test before the car can be registered, similar to the MOT.

And that is one point to be aware of, as things are different, not only between Aus and the UK, but also between the different states in Australia.

Re: Basic differences between Aus and the UK
 

Property damage is NOT covered under the compulsory third party cover

Re: Basic differences between Aus and the UK
 

Now that is an important difference.

Re: Basic differences between Aus and the UK
 

Although it will be Indian Tonic anyway and that's just rong. I've virtually given up gin. :(

Re: Basic differences between Aus and the UK
 

Thanks hadn't thought about the difference as we also have comprehensive cover so it's sorted for us but glad you pointed it out as I didn't mean to mislead anyone.

Just trying to point out that a minimal level of ins is inclded with rego, which I think is a good idea. Would be even better if it included 3rd part property eh?

You have to admit that a far higher % of 4x4 here actually get to see off road, at least occassionally, than do the chelsea tractors in UK

Re: Basic differences between Aus and the UK
 

They may be where you are Safin, but I think in Sydney most of them are parked outside nice little cafes in Balmain.

Re: Basic differences between Aus and the UK
 

I'm sure you didn't. And I agree its a good idea to have compulsory med insurance as part of the road tax (rego).

Re: Basic differences between Aus and the UK
 

Britain (particularly in the north) is obsessed with global warming, hoping it would hurry up. Aussies are obsessed with global warming hoping they can stop it.

The computer equipment known as the router is not pronounced rooter in Australia.

All prefixes in Australia have one pronunciation.

Cheerio means hello.

At various intervals during rugby matches here they stop and give the ball to the other team.

Their cricketers are better than Britain's cricketers.

Britain's soccer players are better than Australia's soccer players.

Australians believe golf is a drinking game.

The reason the weather is so good on the Gold Coast is because it doesn't rain. That is why they have water restrictions.

Electrical systems have trip switches at the main board rather than fuses in the plugs.

Hot water tanks are left on all the time.

Brisbane is closer to Melbourne than it is to Cairns.

Cars don't rust as much in Australia because there is never any need to put salt on the roads.

Paintwork on many cars is destroyed by the sun. Something you'll never discover in Britain.

The ABC prefer to tell what the weather was like today rather than what the weather will be like tomorrow.

The weather tomorrow is usually the same as the weather today.

Almost any small animal can kill you in Australia.

Australians are obsessed with the Olympics.

Australia's only national sport is cricket.

"Cool" australians are never seen, they are floating out to sea waiting for a wave.

Australian lifesavers' hats are sillier than British lifesavers' hats.

Australia is different to Britain. Full stop.

Re: Basic differences between Aus and the UK
 

That's just the sort of broad-brush approach I like!

Re: Basic differences between Aus and the UK
 

No council tax for renters in AUS and no TV tax either.

Re: Basic differences between Aus and the UK
 

Fashion in Aus is generally 1 or 2 years behind England/America. Add 5 years if you're in a country part of Aus.

Automatic cars are more common here than manual. In the Uk and Europe manual is alot more common.

Re: Basic differences between Aus and the UK
 

In Aus, voting in elections is COMPULSORY for citizens over 18.

Re: Basic differences between Aus and the UK
 

Re: Basic differences between Aus and the UK
 

Strangers talk to each other quite readily and with good intent in Aus.

Strangers talking to you in the UK, are treated with suspicion

Young people will move aside when you walk along the footpath in Aus.

You move aside when Encountering a group of Youngsters in the UK.

Aussies in the hot summer months, will try and find shade.

Brits in the hot summer months will stay out of the shade.

Starbucks is regarded as a crap coffee house by most Aussies.

Starbucks in the UK is more often than not regarded as the holy grail of Coffee.

.....

Thread hijack statement....

Aussie women tend to be more physically able and more willing to do physical work than UK women.

wheres the door ;)

Re: Basic differences between Aus and the UK
 

It's a good life here init :thumbsup:

Re: Basic differences between Aus and the UK
 

Not where I live (inner city Sydney where there are many asians). Just this morning I had to reprimand an asian guy for trying to get on my lift before I had exited. Sadly it happens quite alot. Many of them have no manners.

Re: Basic differences between Aus and the UK
 

As with any nation. Can we keep this thread race free please.

Re: Basic differences between Aus and the UK
 

I wasn't racing anyone.

Re: Basic differences between Aus and the UK
 

The shoes are lovely here in Perth, much better than the UK just can't find anywhere to wear them except work

The cars are noisier than Uk cars

Potatoes are expensive
Bread is more expensive
Milk is more expensive
I paid 3.99 for a burpless cucumber :ohmy: only one there else i'd have suffered the burps
Chicken fillets seem tougher???
Veg's taste nicer
Meat is better
NO GRAVY GRANUALS??????? or Gravy thickener
6000000 varieties of sausage
Stamp duty on 2nd hand cars
Beer is more expensive but that could be agood thing as Uk was labelled Booze britain because of its cheap and easily accessiblity to Alcohol
Chocolate not as nice
When your bored pop out for a stroll instead of the shops
Kids playing out instead of being kept in because of the never ending rain
Not having youre rellies close by is a major difference and quite a sad one for us
It's just different, I quite like the supermarkets, remind me of the old days when Sainsburys & Tesco just sold food and not everything else

Re: Basic differences between Aus and the UK
 

Ok, ok.

It doesn't rain much on the Gold Coast and the dams are too small for the population, which is why they have water restrictions.

The hot water tanks can be switched off. But most people don't. They do use a sort of storage power though. Took me ages to discover that the only way to switch mine off in my rental was to go outside and find the switchboard.

People keep sending each other cheerios on the radio, which presumably intends hello rather than good bye.

It's important tht people know that Brisbane is closer to Melbourne than it is to much of its own state centres. Isn't it?

More:

Reservoirs are known as dams in Australia. Dams are known as ... er.. dams.

You can catch about 500 different kinds of fish in the sea off Australia, off Britain you're lucky if you get one mackeral.

A car with a V12 engine and a shelf on the back is sexier than a Ferrari in Australia. (can anyone tell me why they don't tip up onto their noses?)

Almost every car in Britain would be considered a "girl's car" in Australia.

A 400km journey is considered "just popping out to the shops" in some parts of Australia.

Many more houses are built out of wood in Australia than in Britain.

Australia has more termites than Britain.

Australia seems to have one politician for every five citizens.

Australia has seven governments for 20 million people, Britain has one and a bit for 65 million people.

Bring your own snooker table.

Unless you know four hundred different ways to bet on a two horse race, you'll find it hard to fit into Australia.

The Melbourne Cup is a flat race.

Trotting is a horse race where the horses aren't allowed to run.

"Wogs" are not the same thing in Australia as they are in Britain.

Re: Basic differences between Aus and the UK
 

Just how much is Milk in Britain ?



Bisto Gravy granules can be bought in most Supermarkets, as a product called "Sooo! Gravy", made by Bisto in the UK

Re: Basic differences between Aus and the UK
 

Safeway stopped carrying it in Melbourne... so I dont think you can get that down here anymore.... hopefully someone will correct me :thumbup:

Re: Basic differences between Aus and the UK
 

Thanks , only been here 8 weeks or maybe 9

Re: Basic differences between Aus and the UK
 

Oh if only that were the case!

Re: Basic differences between Aus and the UK
 

The hot water thing got me too - whaddya mean it's OUTSIDE? On the front street??? :blink: It was only when Burbage and Rudi both told me it was quite usual here, and we can leave them on all day and not need a mortgage to pay the bill, that I stopped looking for the switch in the house. I guess we all came via Asia where the house would probably blow up if you left the heater on for more than 15 mins so it's something we would pick up on.

I think people in the UK do chat to strangers - it's something I've always noticed on our annual trips. Maybe it's more the norm in the North. :) Then again, they talk to me in Sydney. Maybe it depends on the vibe one gives off?

Re: Basic differences between Aus and the UK
 

You still have many things to find out about then ;)

Re: Basic differences between Aus and the UK
 

Britains soccer players better than Australias...wouldnt be so confident on that..remember the last time the two met 3-1 to Australia...be nice to see them meet in the world cup 2010....

Re: Basic differences between Aus and the UK
 

Looking at the Third Test from India I'm not sure that Australia's cricketers are better than Britain's either.

Re: Basic differences between Aus and the UK
 

Well done chaps...

We got there in the end. Safin, thanks for kick starting it again.

My original post was clear in that I wanted to highlight the differences between the two countries and what I should have said was facts rather than opinion.

For example, it is a fact that Australia has better weather than the UK. It is also a fact that the higher rate of tax is 47% compared to 40%.

I make no judgement on whether it is better or not. Previous posts have indicated I'm a firm believer that the grass is not greener, just a different shade or colour.

I hate the idea that Australia is the 'greatest country in the world' (Borat has that sewn up). No country is the greatest but some people may feel that, because it depends on where they have come from, and what they do and everywhere has it's issues.

The thread was aimed at those people who are contemplating a move, and even though they could have been on holiday for months, living in a country is totally different to holidaying in a country. Thus I wanted to highlight the differences to assist people with background knowledge and experience.

If we could keep it to facts rather than opinions it would help. But I smile at some comments as well...

Cheers all...

Re: Basic differences between Aus and the UK
 

Agree with them all - meat especially. UK is dire compared to Aus, which is a shame but the reality. Only Costco comes close in the UK. And small butchers.

Schooling - varying opinions on this. And a very subjective view will always be the case, since you cannot truly compare.

But thanks...

Re: Basic differences between Aus and the UK
 

I think they've done pretty bloody well at staying on topic for a BE thread.....we all need to smile:D

Re: Basic differences between Aus and the UK
 

Another difference - factual.

Australia is obsessed with speed limits and making money out of the motorist with ridiculous speed limits and dirty hidden speed traps at 2km over the limit.

Yet they have no annual check on cars in many places meaning, as others have said, dangerous cars can be on the roads for a long time.

Yet history and research has shown that driving in Australia is almost twice as likely to result in injury or an accident than the UK.

Thus showing that the whole 'speed kills' nonsense spouted serves only to try and blow something out of proportion. How about 'sh*t old un-cared for cars kill' - since they do. Or how about 'inappropriate use of speed kills' - far more accurate and relevant all over the world in developed countries.

One final thing - Australia tends to charge for everything. It may be small amounts but it all adds up.

Re: Basic differences between Aus and the UK
 

costco beef is easily best in uk:thumbsup:

Re: Basic differences between Aus and the UK
 

Nonsense. My old butcher in Harpenden did the best beef in the UK. Lovely man as well :wub: