Husband offered a job in Australia!!

[OnionPatch]

I've never been there. He was there years ago as a young marine biologist. I'm doing my research and thought I might get some input from you here regarding the political situation. I admit, I don't really know much about it. Are the people generally more or less liberal than us? Does the average Australian like or hate Bushco? I know the govt. sent troops to Iraq.
I couldn't stand to go over there and be around more rightwingers. If it's not better than here, I'd rather just stay.

[otohara]

1. More Like Us

vs Canada, France.

[rsmith6621]

2. Go .....If Hes got a Job

GO.........Things are going to sux in the states for many more than 4 years......

This is a once and a lifetime opportunity......

[Demit]

3. I'd be willing to wager there aren't many besides the PM who like *

--but where's matilda? She's an aussie.

[babylonsister]

8. Yeah, but Howard got voted in again.

I'd say GO! Just for the experience, adventure, and also to keep us posted on the vibes you're feeling from the folks over there. Plus, the Aussies are great, fun people to be around! We meet up with several yearly in Bali and always have a wonderful time!

[Matilda]

18. Here I am!

Well - since more than half the population just voted for John
Howard, what can I say? Truth is, he played the terrorism card,
and ran a scare campaign that under Labor, interest rates would
rise, and too many people forgot about lying, and dismantling
Medicare, and supporting rich schools, and ..... sound familiar?

We have our fundies too - we're seeing the rise of parties like
Family First (supposedly funded by the Assemblies of God), but I
think most Australians regard them as slightly nutty.

But I can say one thing - we do have a straight voting system, and
things will turn around in time. And I think we are probably a bit
more liberal than the US, however much Howard might like to change
that. And life is just a little bit more laid back, and the
weather's great - if you can imagine Christmas in a heat wave!

And now we have our own forum on DU - what more could anyone want?

[Out the Parasites]

4. OMG: THE DINGO ATE MY BABY!!!!!

sorry just had to say it. My friend just got back, loved it. People were nice. I think you'll have a great time. :-)

[tarheel_voter]

5. I was there in September

Fantastic place, long flight though from LA it was 15 hours.

The Aussies are great friends of America, everyone was incredibly friendly. I had a great stay, although I wish I could have done some sightseeing. I was on a three week business trip so I spent most of my time in the city. I think you'll love it there.

Cheers Mate!

[rooboy]

6. Our right wingers aren't anything like yours...

so there are a number of people around who support * and Howard, but they're usually the ones who don't know the first thing about politics. Don't forget that we aren't part of the USA, so not all our political concerns revolve around America and dubya.

People in general will be fairly decent - you shouldn't get anyone hassling you for having an American accent... in fact, you might get a few folks buying you a beer out of sympathy.

[OnionPatch]

7. So what are they like?

n/t

[babylonsister]

9. My experience is

that Aussies are just like us except the accent, though perhaps more tolerant than some Americans :o}.

[OnionPatch]

10. Even a little more tolerant

would be a great improvement. Are they as materialistic, you think? Do they have a lot of corporate corruption and are they in kahoots with the Bushies much? I just want to get away from the Bush/Corporate America influence. I could handle some right-wingers if they were just good old fashioned conservatives. It's these people that want to take over the world's resources and turn us all into slave labor that I have a problem with.

[babylonsister]

11. OP, I've never been there, but

the folks I know don't like Shrubbie at all, and were very sad to hear about this election. I might also add that the people I know aren't overly political, like we must be to be on DU so often. That could be because they don't have the issues we face in this country nor the divisiveness. Where might you move? I can turn you on to a good friend of mine who lives near Perth if you like. He's recently offered to look into emigrating for us should we desire to. Also, there are Aussies on this board who, if they see your post, will most assuredly respond to you. Good luck!

[OnionPatch]

12. Thanks

The job is in Melborne. Actually it's with the California company we work for now. They have branch offices around the globe.
I wonder what the health care system is like, and the schools. I love to garden and ride horses. Would that be possible while working in Melborne? My husband mentions something about "more deadly animals/insects than anywhere else on Earth." Hmmmmm...
I feel so clueless. Any more info or recommendations of places I can find out more about life there would be appreciated. Thanks.

[babylonsister]

13. Is there any possibility of

contacting someone currently working in the Melbourne office? Don't they send you some sort of welcome or info packet? Boy, if I could, I'd go in your place!

[rooboy]

15. Health care is pretty good...

and Melbourne is a really nice city. I'd live there if not in my current home of Brisbane. Melbourne has a really good cultural scene and you can probably get to ride some horses if you just go out of town a little. If you get a house with a garden, you'll definitely be able to do that...

And don't worry about deadly insects etc in Melbourne. You might get the odd spider (you'd have to be VERY unlucky), but most of them are up here in Queensland.

[Matilda]

19. Don't forget - we now have the Mad Monk as Health Minister.

n/t

[Matilda]

21. I'm from Sydney, but my Dad was from Melbourne, and I have

lots of relatives there.

It's kind of tidier and more orderly than Sydney, the beaches are
not as good, but they have marvellous restaurants and a very lively
night life. Theatre there is good, if you like theatre, and the
national ballet company is based in Melbourne, while the opera
company is based in Sydney.

Oh, and although the Federal Government is Liberal (which means
conservative here), all the states have Labor governments. So there
is an antidote to Howard at local levels.

[Djinn]

36. self deleted

[Violet_Crumble]

23. Here's some links for you...

And all of a dangerous/poisonous/really ugly variety. I've got a real fear of them, but unless you've got a real phobia, common sense and stuff will keep you safe...

Spiders...

http://www.termite.com/spider-identification.html

More about spiders and everything else...

http://www.tma.com.au/faq.asp?Keywords=FAQ&RegionID=&StateID=&StoryID=224

The Victorians here could probably fill you in on what life in Melbourne's like. I've only been there once, and passed through it quickly on the way to Tasmania. But this site should have heaps of stuff on it...

http://www.vic.gov.au/index.jsp

and our Prime Minister's blog!;)

http://johnhoward.blogspot.com

What a shame yr not moving to Canberra. We're the only state or territory that voted heavily Labor in the federal election and then a week later returned our local Labor govt with an increased majority. Plus heaps of things are legal or decriminalised here that are illegal in other states...

Violet...

[Djinn]

28. From a Melboune girl

I'd say come on over - we have our problems don't get me wrong, Howard has been PM for pretty much my entire adult life for example and as Matilda mentions we have the scariest Health Minister ever, but we have a lot going for us as well.

Disclaimer - parochial Melbourne rant to follow

Victorian beaches kick arse over NSW ones! unless of course swimming with feces and e-coli sounds tasty! We have Port Philip Bay to take the kiddies to and the BEST surf beach in the country at Bells.

Melbourne itself has the best (and some of the cheapest) food and drink on offer whether it's at restaurants, the markets or wineries etc. Great "cultural" life with museums/theatre/concert hall etc

Good mix of suburbs (I'm a north of the Yarra girl myself) although housing prices aren't that cheap. (check out www.realestate.com.au) Choice of Bayside, near rivers (Yarra and Maribyrnong), inner city, outer areas like Eltham (very "leafy) where I grew up..

We do have a fairly decent deadly insect (and snake) population but the average surburban dweller doesn't really come into contact with anything other than hunstman spiders (gross and hairy but harmless) it is a good idea NOT to stick your hands into old logs etc though!

I'd say come down - if for nothing else than the change...as they say it's as good as a holiday.

[SweetLeftFoot]

29. I'm from Melbourne

Melbourne is a great town. Its a very left town (the suburbs voted Liberal, which, confusingly, is the right-wing party in Australia, but that was based more on economic decisions rather than the war etc) so you should like it.

Great restaurants, cultural scene, bars, pubs and so on/

Best of all, you will get to see (you won't eb able to avoid it from march through til september!) a proper sport - Aussie Rules. No namby pamby American padding wearing football there.

The only insects you need to worry about are redback spiders. but you will rarely see one.

Hope you have a great time. Sure you will.

[u4ic]

31. I have friends in Melbourne

who ride, and that's no problem at all. I don't think Western is very popular as I recall, but they do have a heavier stock saddle if you're uncomfortable with an English saddle.

And Aussie racing rocks! (if you like horse racing)

[SweetLeftFoot]

32. Horse racing

We have a public holiday for a horse race - the Melbourne Cup - can there be anything wrong with that?

[rooboy]

14. Nowhere near as much corporate crime...

in fact, Rupert Murdoch just moved NewsCorp from Australia to Delaware partly because the corporate governance provisions weren't as strict in the USA.

We certaintly wouldn't consider ourselves to be as materialistic as Americans, although people have become more greedy in the last 20 years.

You just won't meet rabid right wingers like Hannity and Limbaugh - conservatives in our country are really limited to fiscal conservatism. Just visit some Australian news sites and read the op-ed pages - that should give you a good cross-section of social attitudes...

[Matilda]

20. Check into the Sydney Morning Herald, and read some of the

columnists. Alan Ramsay and Mike Carlton are great, then you can
read Miranda Devine and P.P. McGuinness to get a view of the other
side of things. But I think people like Miranda and P.P. are just
so silly that sane people just laugh at them. There's not the level
of pure hate you see with people like O'Lielly (I've never seen
Rush, but I've heard about him).

[Djinn]

27. not at all

we speak English but other than that and a few really superficial things I'd say we're not "just like" Americans.

Even Australians who vote conservative agree almost 100% with keeping a fully publically funded health care system. Very very few Australians attend church and even less agree with religion entering politics. Most Australians support higer public funding of education.
Our electoral system is more transparent & most people beleive in compulsory voting. Our environmental protectionlaws are stricter. While unions membership is falling you'd be hard pushed to find people voting for the rremoval of minimum wages (which aren't the slaves wages they are in US) or sick or annual leave or unfair dismissal laws. There is nowhere in Australia where consenting sexual acts between adults are illegal and it is illegal everywhere to discriminate against someone in housing, employment based on sexdual preference.

There are many similarities and we could do with adopting some of your characterisics (bill of rights and the right to free speech) but we're a long way from the same.

[anakie]

16. Even though it is Melbourne

you should grab the opportunity with both hands. Like Rooboy I would consider living in Melbourne if I didnt live in beautiful south east Queensland. Lots of good food, coffee and culture in Melbourne. Bring lots of black clothes as it is all they wear down there.

Politics here is of the lite variety; most Aussies I would think are mostly apolitical and Howard is nowhere near as nasty as Bush; although the federal government is moving ever more right. Schools are generally good, although your kids will have to get used to wearing school uniforms.

Most Aussies do like Americans personally but are less enamoured of American cultural imperialism and of America's foreign policy excursions. If you want to bash Bush over here you will have lots of company.

Travel is cheap also. I recently went to Tasmania from Brisbane and the fare was only $69 (aus) each way. My wife recently travelled to Melbourne for about $49. At the moment it will cost you about 75 cents for one of our dollars but that is slowly going up as your economy goes down the gurgler.

Do it and I bet you will enjoy it.

[Matilda]

22. I had it from someone who worked in Howard's security detail

that he's actually a very nasty person indeed.

Really hates aborignes and Muslims, and thinks women have no place
in the work force once they're married, and should just stay at
home and have babies and keep house. He really believes all that -
after all, look at Janette.

This guy left because he just couldn't stand working for Howard
any longer.

[anakie]

24. I'm not surprised to hear that

and probably petty as well. Sticking up for Hollingsworth for so long as well as his appointment of Jeffrey.

His attitude to woman is obvious given his response to the abortion debate this week when he wouldnt rule out changes to the law and endorsed his heir apparent (Abbott) view and would not rule out a private member's bill.

He truly is a horrid man. My comment re not as nasty as Bush referred to his place and influence in the world compared to Shrub.

[Violet_Crumble]

25. If Howard was President of the US...

..and had the sort of total control over both the House of Reps and the Senate that he'll have here come June or July next year, this is what the US would look like...

* Abortion would be illegal. End of story. If the US doesn't have private members bills, then things are going to change!

* Every citizen would be equal - except if yr a Muslim and then yr shit, or if yr a practising Anglican and then you rock! If yr a member of the clergy, Johnny has a cushy little high-level position for you and will defend you to the death, even if you do believe girls and women ask for it when they're raped...

* If there's still any government departments that work for the interests of the indigenous people and do so by employing large numbers of indigenous people, they must be abolished! There are much better ways of dealing with indigenous issues, preferably issuing them with special swipe cards only for indigenous people that will monitor them and swiftly remove their benefits if they're not spending it in the Howard approved way...

* Johnny would be the first US President to persuade the throngs of sheeple that the American War of Independence was really a bad move, and was where the first blow in The War Against Terror should have been struck. Nauseating and embarressing adulation of the British Royal Family ala Menzies in his glory days is the goal that should be strived for, so let's not hear any more of this silly talk about a Republic...

Violet...

[toffee prophet]

17. reasonable dislike of Bush over here...

One thing to remember about Australia is whenever Clinton has come over, either as president or post his presidency he's been adored and loved and welcomed pretty much, and generally made himself available to Australians and made some effort to learn about the place, and Australians respect that. When Bush came over last year he only dropped in for the day or afternoon or whatever to thank howard personally, stuff the Australian people, who were locked out of their own capital, which was in total lockdown. You can read about it in Margo Kingston's great book 'Not Happy John' which goes into great detail about it all.
Most Australians, as much as they voted for Howard, don't like Bush. I know people who actively dislike Bush and have read all the Michael Moore books and so forth and yet they voted for Howard. Personally i find that puzzling but i just think the neo con thing and the war at any cost sort of thing doesn't really fly over here. People see through it, whereas our own conservatives adapt their awfulness to the sort of things that work over here. which seem to be dullness? I don't know.
Anyway, Australia is pretty conservative at the moment in many ways, and seems to be getting increasingly conservative, and its pretty maddening and depressing, but its a pretty laidback bbq happy shrimp on the barbie place in many ways still, for good or ill, although Melbourne is a pretty sophisticated city. Or so I hear. I'm up here in Queensland getting bitten by mosquitos.

[Matilda]

26. The abominableTony Abbott is a neighbour of ours,

and he goes jogging around 5.0 in the morning every day when he's in
Sydney, no minders, nobody else. My husband is an early riser, and
often sees him.

So while I can't abide the man, I do like the fact that in this
country it is still possible for a senior government minister to go
jogging by himself and be safe.

IMHO, John Howard's 14 bodyguards when he goes walking are a big
pose. Nobody really gives a damn.

[SweetLeftFoot]

30. Abbott

He won a blue as a boxer at Oxford. Probly doesn't need bodyguards.

[oscarmitre]

33. Go for it

I live in Adelaide which is in a different state but Melbourne is a great city. It has a vibrant culture, terrific arts scene if you're into that. In Australia we're fond of pointing out that Melbourne has the largest Greek population in the world of any city after Thessaloniki and although in Australia we didn't invent multiculturalism we do practice it - although to be fair I have to say that there are signs of some intolerance but they are at the moment muted.

The average Australian is indifferent to Bush and indeed politics in general. We have compulsory voting at Federal and State levels but for the most part many Australians are (unfortunately) disinterested. However that does translate to a lack of right wing nutbars (although we have enough they're not a force to be reckoned with).

I think generally speaking people here are quite liberal minded. In recent years we have tended to be more conservative but that's more a sort of complacency than a political ideology.

You'll find plenty of lefties here of all persuasions.

As for riding - you shouldn't have a problem. I'm not sure what it's like in Melbourne but I would imagine the yellow pages would give you the info you need. Someone posted about Western saddles. Yes, we do have Western rigs but you're more likely to find European style GP saddles being used although again as someone pointed out there is a version of a saddle we call a Stock Saddle or a Poley that is a bit similar to a Western saddle. I think you'll find it a bit different though as it seats you lower and there are thigh pads in them but you should find them comfortable enough.

http://www.horsedirectory.com.au/index.html

Oh and don't forget you can buy R.M. Williams gear here as well (although there are alternatives which are a bit cheaper and sometimes even better quality so look around and don't let the famous brand name play too much on your decision-making)

[ausiedownunderground]

34. Definately worth a try - You might end up staying!!

Iv'e lived in many countries around the world and seen many other countries on visits, but overall there is no country better than Australia. I'm not saying that's it the best at anything in particular but when you take the whole package it is the best country to live in. I have also lived in the US - 18 months in Pittsburgh (2005-The year of the Steelers YEEhaaaa), 12 months in Minneapolis/St Paul. I know these are both Blue States but i also have family living in Iowa. They own big "Hog" farms and i have fond memories of spending time in Traer a little town near Ames which appeared to be basically run by our extended family. So i have had some experience with "Jesusland"!!! as well.
Australia is far more Liberal and Progressive than the US. The Democratic Party in the US is nearly as right wing as our Conservative party over here. We don't really have a viable Attilla the Hun party equivalent to the Rethuglican Party.
Our present Prime Minister is pretty poor but generally harmless and only wins elections because our opposition parties are still trying to get their acts together -which they will eventually!
Weather here is great although Melbourne,in particular,can have some really odd days - wait a minute and it all changes again. Unlike the States we're upside down. The further north you go the hotter it gets. The state of Queensland is our Florida while Melbourne is our New York. The state of Tasmania in the "Deep South" is New England. Sydney is San Francisco and Brisbane is San Diego approximately.
Unlike the US we have a much more culturally enjoyable "Multicultural" society. Tolerance here is far more widespread than in the US. In fact the whole country is arguably the best example of "The United Nations at work".
Religion is not big here. Only 10% of Ozzies identified themselves as members of a church at the last census in 2002, compared to about 40% of Americans. As a consequence it plays only a very small part in everyday life and in the political arena. Although in the last 5-6 years US evangelical churches have tried to break into the Oz psyche with limited success. No serious "Christian Taliban" problem here at the moment. Abortion legal,Same sex marriages legal,divorce legal and even euthanasia is unoffically legal.
Sport is huge here. All sports are fully tolerated and supported. In fact iv'e never seen a country so sports "mad"!!!Ozzies would bet on 2 flys climbing a wall if they could. Horses huge here so no worries there for you. In fact the whole country basically shuts down for a day in November when they run The Melbourne Cup - our equivalent to your Kentucky Derby. You'll definately find plenty of horses and horsey people types, especially in Melbourne.
Health system is very good and is currently a mixture of Public and Private systems. It has its problems but its in much better shape than the US system.
Education is fantastic. Arguably the best in the world and certainly at the University level i have not experienced any better. Large numbers of foreign students come to Oz over Britain,Canada and the US to study because it is so good. Oz also has the highest retention rate of these students. Most come and don't want to leave!
Social security, although it has its problems as well, is far superior to most other Anglo-Saxon countries. However probably not as good as some European countries.
Militarily we're not in the same league. We don't have a military-industrial complex type of psyche unlike in the US. Make love not war is probably more appropriate for most Australians, although if we get really pissed off with someone "watch out" - there are no better killing machines than ozzies - just ask the Iraqi guerillas and the US marines?
Ozzies also have a great sense of humour and really don't take themselves that seriously. They generally love to have a laugh even at themselves.
Entertainment is widely varied but we'd be up there with the best for music theatre and restaurents where Melbourne is particularly good.
Capitalism is thriving in OZ, and although we've had corporate scandal and corruption as well, Oz law is light years tougher than in the US. Ozzies don't like corruption in government or in the boardroom. Ozzies still like to "feel equal" if in reality there probably not.
Oz economy is similiar to all Anglo-Saxon economy's. Heavily indebted, but unlike the others its ahead on the downward part of the cycle. The housing bubble is starting to deflate which will be good for you if you want to buy a house over here. Unlike the US and Britain Oz interest rates were never lowered to the ridiculous levels that Greenscam and Co has taken. As a consequence the fall out from cheap money will not be as painful here as its going to be in the US!!!! We also have a very good relationship with China and India.Probably the best in the Anglo-Saxon world and as a consequence our products are in huge demand over there. This should also help relieve some of the pain as well.
Anyway, i must sound like a Tourist operator or a second hand car salesman!!!, you should definately seriously consider the move as i don't think you will be disappointed - i know i wasn't. And if you don't like it you can always trade it in for an American version again. I believe our border protection still allows people to leave if their unsatisfied with the product. Good luck!

[SweetLeftFoot]

37. Cheap money

As a consequence the fall out from cheap money will not be as painful here as its going to be in the US!!!!

Dunno about that.

[Megahurtz]

35. And you're in So Cal?

If I were you I would just jump at the chance to get out of this fucking hole, especially to Australia!

Go for it!!!

[Vincardog]

38. If you don't go I will.

Is OZ accepting refugees from Jebus land?