Tell me the bad things about living in Australia.

[ilovepixie]

Following on from the USA thread what's the worst thing about living in Australia.

@Fedupwiththemedia I've lived here for about 15 years in Sydney and I have never seen a snake...

@TomPinch

"Furthermore, in NZ at least, finding out the history of Maori culture is difficult, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if Australia is the same."

Again - that is an ethnocentric view - much of Maori history is oral. But that doesn't make it less legitimate.

I don't know about Australia but in NZ there have never been more opportunities to find out about Maori tikanga. A number of learning institutions offer free courses and there's a wealth of online resources too. And of course, you can talk to a kaumatua or a Maori historian - my local museum often has talks and opportunities for Q&As. If you haven't found any information, that's because you haven't looked.

I think people who say that Australia has no culture are so ignorant. Just because it's not presented in the way of old buildings and castles doesn't mean it's not there. There's actually thousands of years of completely fascinating aboriginal culture and history if you bother to look.

If the most important things in your life are shopping and tv, yes you will find a greater choice in the more densely populated UK.

Also in the 8 years I've lived here I've seen 1 snake and 1 spider. It's not a massive factor in the way people live their lives. People still enjoy the ocean, swimming, surfing, hiking, ect ect.

@StartupRepair couldn't have said it better myself.

My husband and I have been living in Sydney for nearly 9 years after 32 years in the UK and I don't recognize it from a lot of other PP's descriptions. It's not perfect, nowhere is without its issues, but I love my life here and it's a great place to be raising a family.
Things that are negative compared to the UK/Europe IMO are:

• Distance- everywhere is far away when you're in a country this big so delivery costs, distribution, weekend trips and trips back to see family in the UK are all relatively expensive
• Cost of living is high depending on where you are, but wages are also higher in some places
• Keeping in touch with the UK can be tricky with timezones etc

I have to say I have never experienced any racism or sexism which I would consider to be more than in the UK (there are always some idiots around), the culture is different in terms of architecture and museums etc but vast if you take an interest in the indigenous heritage. Snakes, spiders, sharks are not a major worry, just something to be aware of if you are in the water/bush etc.

For a different perspective here is my favourite politician, Senate Penny Wong, speaking today to recognise National Reconciliation Week. www.facebook.com/1460723714179630/posts/3089433187975333/?d=null&vh=e. This is the tone of contemporary Australia.

As a Brit living in Melbourne, some of these posts make me laugh, I've lived here over ten years and never find negativity towards being British, There are lots of us here! And as for the racism, i agree there is a some casual racism but this is changing with the younger generations. If you're earning the AUD it's not expensive at all. If you're on holiday here, it would be for sure.

Of course there are negative things about every place. My number one is how far away it is, from the uk especially. Second is how cold my house is with what feels like no insulation and drafts everywhere!

It's a great place to live though.

Agree with @bananabread2000

The heat.
The bushfires (not just last year, although that was only the second time in nearly 11 years that I was properly scared)
The heat.
The distance from family, especially when something like CV19 happens and we can't get home to see them.
The heat.
Where I live, the bloody hilliness - makes cycling and walking far less enjoyable (or doable!) than in the flat area of the UK I lived in.
The heat.
Cockroaches and mozzies. So many fucking cockroaches!
The heat.
The cost of books.
The cost of food.
The moronic politicians - oh wait, you've got them too.
Oh, and the heat.
Also our health service is costing more these days - something like a cervical smear is $100 now.

There are good things though - many toys are cheaper here, fuel is cheaper here, train travel is MUCH cheaper here (unless you're travelling out to the airport by train in which case it's a total fucking rip off)

I used to think it was a good thing that your kid would have a place in the local school, even if they had to build a new classroom to take them. But that was before the govt brought in new rules that your kid pretty much HAS to go to the local school, regardless of how shit it might be. It is possible to go to a different one but you have to jump through hoops to manage it, or go private.

Did I mention the heat?

The drop bears (koalas) in the backyard, you can’t go anywhere near the trees. Doesn’t happen much, but it’s dangerous.

The snakes, the brown snakes can also kill you and are super aggressive in summer, and the pythons are so big they’ll eat a dog on its chain.

Kangaroos I agree, they can jump so high you can’t keep them out of your yard, they shred your vegetable garden and they’re forever causing traffic accidents.

The sharks and jellyfish are everywhere, the local freshwater lake gets them as well in summer so you can never swim anywhere in the heat.

Spiders yes but it’s also frogs under the toilet seat, quite an unpleasant surprise at night at least once/week.

Too far away from Europe and a lot of other places.
Climate change is going to finish it off, later this century.
Hugely expensive.
Racist and insular, in places.
Sickening bugs and other horrible creatures.
Massive cockroaches.
Shit current government. The Liberal Party are cunts and Scott Morrison is a twat.

Christmas is in the summer! That makes no sense!

@onlyreadingneverposting8 - I agree that you should read this thread www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/3877702-Just-need-to-share-no-solution. Something I never realised about NZ until this thread is that they consider your children to be "habitually resident" in NZ the minute they set foot in the place, so if you have any doubts about going/liking it/wanting to be able to return with the children if you don't like it, DON'T GO.

I've been here (Sydney ) a year and a half and am keen to back to the uk.
Spiders/snakes/cockroaches/sharks - I can live with (baffled by people who have lived here for years and have never seen them)
It is a really insular society- its like living in the 1970s - or even 50s!sexism/racism abounds. it feels like there's no depth to anything -humor or analysis- I actually find the US news better- at least there are options for intelligent analysis.
Its very nationalistic- everything is pro Australia/Australia's are great etc - self deprecation doesn't really happen
People are mainly friends with school friends - its very cliquey and hard to get to know anyone well.
Its a long way from home as well...

Spiders the size of dinner plates - enough said

Has anyone mentioned the drop bears?

@AtaMarie - loving your posts

Interesting read. Especially love the posts from people who say "I have never been but...."

I have lived in Australia for almost 8 years, I have seen 4 snakes, I have seen a lot of spiders but only a few dangerous ones.

The only racism I have encountered has been from English people who think that making Irish jokes is hilarious and that saying "top of the morning to you" in a fake Irish accent is acceptable - it isn't!

We like it here, our children love it here, we have lots of friends from all over the world. Yes it is far from everywhere else but that can't be changed so just don't come here if you don't like that.

The coffee is amazing, the food is incredible. I live in a wine producing area, we are spoiled for choice with places to eat and wines to taste. We also live near some of the best beaches and because we are in Victoria we get seasons. It is a bright Autumn day today and it is beautiful.

Yes I realise the thread was about what the bad things are, but it did need a little balance as well.

Australian here 👋

Sitting in my garden enjoying the winter sunshine.

This thread almost has me convinced that a snake is going to slither out from the shrubs and I’ll have to fight through the spiders to get back inside.

You really think we are all racist and sexist?? Thats not a great impression of Aus

I am very tempted to start a 'Tell me the bad things about living in the UK' thread.

My daughter’s school has air con

To be honest, during a pandemic is not a bad time to be far away from other countries.

@alwayscrashinginthesamecar1 why not, although it would fill up quickly