Eh? So you fail if you move back rather than living in a second rate country? By your recaning you succeed by making do and adjusting to your less than ideal environment, or more typically do as the ozzies do and settle always for less than perfect and ignore all the stuff that's wrong with the place..

I agree to succeed here you need a big dose of the ozzie attitude of 'She'll be right'.

I can't believe you think someone that returns has failed or substandard in some way because they 'failed to adapt'...priceless....

But that's only one project in how many years as a nation? They might be able to do the odd grand thing but it's by no means a common occurance and usually they wait for the disaster to happen before trying half hearted to do something about it.

You have to take it in the context of my reply to a bullshit post that misquoted me. Dont take it to heart Arkon

Excellent, but the Snowy Mountains is Over East, and thus the other side of the planet (might as well be) to West Aus and therefore serves no benefit. Could hardly see the WA Government chipping in on that one. Or The Top End government (but then, we all know noone lives there anyway :P) etc.

Are you forgetting who Australia's head of state is, and you want to go to the country where she has more power than here ? I shudder at the thought

I'm not so sure about that, because there is a National electrical grid... AFAIK.

get away with you!

No, I think it's genuine

Or I have far higher aspirations for my family.

Asking as person that sits in a fairly netural position on the pros and cons of Aus V the UK, I feel I'd like to ask a question that is nagging at me. Have you ever considered the possibilty that you could be wrong from the point of view of standard of living for the average Joe. This affiliation that Australia has with China now, could well be very interesting long term.

I think one of the first litmus tests on this, will be how Aussie rides out the American credit crunch that has just sent a mini tidal wave sucking the breath out of the UK property market.

I'll give you a pointer on what I'm seeing and what they are talking about in London right now...

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/b37ab482-bfd...nclick_check=1

Have you been to any of these Arab worlds? Most of the people live in abject poverty and there is very few industries outside oil production. Only the rich get an education.

Australia's biggest export destinations are China, the US and Japan. The state of Australia's economy is down to the huge commodities boom that Chindia is generating. Take away the commodities and the housing market will dive as this country has higher levels of consumer debt that the US. Take away housing and commodities and this country will be like anywhere else in the sub prime mess.

The big question is when will China's boom end? China's boom is built on excessive credit and just like the rest of Asia in 1997 and any other credit led boom it will bust. Hopefully by that point the US and Japan will be back online.

The other wonderful thing about commodites exports is that they bring the government billions in tax royalties that mean Australia has been able to slash income tax rates and fund some pork barrelled election campaigns. This is despite the need for critical infrastructure projects so we have fresh water, electricity and schools for the 125,000 a year migration intake.

But not only the migration population, just the current poulation. I really do believe that water is the next oil.

I heard the expansion of FNQ is being sponsored by Canberra as they know the water is going to dry up down South.

Extra housing stock is being prepared before the mass exodus to the North.

You are kidding, aren't you?

Manufacturing is Australia's largest export earner.