Originally Posted by Expatriate
If I could stay here, I would. I love Australia. It's the government, particularly in NSW, that I don't like. It's really a shame that such a great country is run so terribly. For all we pay in taxes here, we're not getting much back. I'm not going to try to defend US foreign policy, as I certainly don't agree with it. But at least in the US you can see what your tax money goes to, and you've got a better shot at making a comfortable lifestyle for your family. I'll get off my soapbox, as I don't want to be misconstrued as insulting the people of Australia, my adopted home. I just think that the way the government here treats its own is worse than how the US treats it's enemies in some cases.
I don't want to talk too much about politics otherwise this thread will be moved to P&R, but Australia has way too much government. Do you really need state government at all let alone ones with 2 houses? Why do we need 12 senators per state? 6 would be enough.
The NSW government is only about as bad as the rest, except they've let infrastructure slide and they're paying for it now, especially the trains.
The weather in Oz is pretty good though - especially Perth. Perfect for cycling all year round.