Originally Posted by WelshRanger

Far away (only 24 hours doesn’t seem a lot but when combined with jet lag and cost it’s more than you anticipate).
Climate can be very harsh, heat can be overbearing, both dry heat (Adelaide) and humid (Brissie)
Some Aussies have extreme dislike of ‘Poms’.
People don’t tend to walk anywhere
Drive though off licences
Once out of city suburbs feeling of being cut off and isolated, only sparse small villages and towns lie between the cities
Lack of places to go once you have seen the sights and been to the local places umpteen times there’s nowhere else to go. You have to travel interstate, which means you have to drive long distance with overnight stops or fly which is expensive with a family.
4 weeks holiday as standard
Mossies (especially in SA), Redbacks, Huntsmen, snakes. Jellyfish, blue ringed octopus etc. etc
Pokies (gaming machines)
Pubs??!!
Chocolate – even Cadburys
Have to pay to see Doctor and Dentist, Medicare only meets some of the payment you have to make up the difference.
School fees, you have to pay these whether you’re working or not can be expensive if you’ve got 3 kids (doesn’t apply in all states)
Interstate rivalry
Lack of choice in supermarkets
You might have to re-qualify even though your qualifications are recognised to emigrate, amazingly it doesn’t mean that they are recognised for you to work there e.g electricians have to re-sit exams and qualify before they can work fully, even if they are fully time served and have full UK quals, applies to other occupations too e.g mental health nurses
No light evenings
Poor TV, more and more advert breaks as the evening goes on
Rental houses can be scruffy no heating/aircon (you need heating in most cities other than Darwin and Brissie, it does get cold in Aus!)
Stobie poles
Salaries relatively low and cost of living no longer cheap
Property auctions
Cars mainly Holden (Vauxhall) or Mitsubishi
Distances, timezones
Graffiti
Feeling of having to be on your guard all the time – can’t believe what you’re told
Disdain for Aborigines
Politicians, Police
Compulsory to vote
Hook turns (Melbourne)

Plus, plus, plus......

Originally Posted by saveme

It's hard to believe that a country could be so loathsome. I doubt even a Zimbabwean could come up with a longer list of things they hated about their country. (assuming they'd dare to publish it!)

Naturally, it's a given that New South Wales is far superior to any other state but I did not realize that it is so truly awful elsewhere in Australia.

Living in Sydney often overwhelmed me but I was never bored. Comparing it to the UK, apart from London, I doubt if there is a city with more going on.

I never once had an argument with an Aussie because I was a Pom, not even when I was gloating after the 'Botham' test.

The distances in OZ are huge but I spent 99 per cent of my life in a relatively small part of Sydney, just as I do in England in fact where the twelve miles I drive to work is about the furthest I go.

What's wrong with the likes of 'property auctions' (apart from the fact that Aussies pronounce it 'OCKtion!), 'compulsory voting' (encourages more participation in our democracy)?

Originally Posted by saveme

Living in Sydney often overwhelmed me but I was never bored. Comparing it to the UK, apart from London, I doubt if there is a city with more going on.
)?

Originally Posted by Fleaflyfloflum

That put a smile on my face at the end of a long day here in Surry Hills

How can something be democratic if it is compulsory?

Originally Posted by rabsody

Try living in Brisbane, boring with a capital B!!!!

Originally Posted by ezzie

Lordy...give me strength! Just talking to Brum LEA who officially now have not one single school place left in the whole of Brum...so, want to go back, but events are conspiring against us somewhat. That and the fact I've been transferred 9 million times as no one can tell me if a NSW School Certificate will enable my son to start Yr 12 in the UK....have to pay a fortune to NARIC. I think 'rampant bureaucracy' is one thing that has to count against the UK.

Off for a snifter of schnapps after that....so good hearing those Brummy accents on the phone though. Almost worth the agro!

Originally Posted by WelshRanger

Have you considered Distance Education (School of the Air), don't know if it applies in NSW, but when we moved back to the UK we enrolled our kids on this, they sent out all their books etc and marked assignment gave feedback etc our eldest got his school cert through it

Originally Posted by ezzie

Sorry Saveme...you're going to have to spell it out for me, what exactly does Sydney have going on? (apart from Country & Western nights, pokies and bowls!!)


Living in Sydney often overwhelmed me but I was never bored. Comparing it to the UK, apart from London, I doubt if there is a city with more going on.

Originally Posted by rabsody

Exactly. Just means you get lots voting when they don't know the first thing about political parties or their policies.

Originally Posted by saveme

There are arguments both for and against systems of compulsory voting. The Australian Government is trying to encourage greater participation. Why would anyone OBJECT to casting a vote in elections anyway? I think I'd rather have compulsory voting than the apathy that allows extremists to take control.

Originally Posted by saveme

There are arguments both for and against systems of compulsory voting. The Australian Government is trying to encourage greater participation. Why would anyone OBJECT to casting a vote in elections anyway? I think I'd rather have compulsory voting than the apathy that allows extremists to take control.