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Limey! The world agrees: Oz the place to be
BY:NICOLAS PERPITCH From: The Australian August 19, 2013 12:00AM
ALONG the coastline of Perth's northern suburbs known as Little Britain, it's not hard to see why so many people want to live in Australia rather than the Old Dart.
Even on a stormy winter's day, the sudden expanse of the choppy Indian Ocean as you pass over the last hill before the shoreline is a welcome sight.
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Last edited by Poncho_NM; 08-24-2013 at 08:16 AM..
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It's usually not a good idea to quote surveys like these on city data, all you will get is a whole heap of people saying how stupid and incorrect the whole thing is, just saying sorry.
Last edited by Poncho_NM; 08-24-2013 at 08:16 AM..
A total of 83 per cent of Aussies said Australia was their first choice, far ahead of people in Japan, on 71 per cent; Canada, on 69 per cent; and the US, on 64 per cent. Around the world, 34 per cent of all participants named Australia as one of their top three picks, followed by Canada (27 per cent, the US (24 per cent) and Switzerland (21 per cent).
I wonder how many of those overseas respondents have ever actually been or lived here?
We really are the lucky country. No other place has the combination of climate and liveability as here. I feel life in the US is too harsh and competitive, Canada is too cold, Europe crowded/dreary. Of course those places have advantages over Oz, but for life I'm glad I live here.
These articles tend to focus on the sun sea and surf aspect of living in Austalia and ignore the fact that most Brits who migrate there for economic reasons. Australia's GDP per capita is higher than Britain's, unemployment is lower, wages are higher and the quality of life is just better. Britain has had two recessions since 2007 and the economy outside London is still in a terrible depression. Australia on the other hand is booming, and has not had a recession for over 20 years now.
Although it is horribly far away and there are visa/immigration issues to deal with - the culture and society is incredibly similar to Britain's and most people have no problem transferring their jobs and getting their qualifications recogised Down Under.
Of course weather is a factor, but really it's only part of it. If weather was the only factor there'd be thousands of us migrating to places like Portugal, southern Turkey or west-coast Mexico - which are closer to Britain and all have similar climates to Perth.
We really are the lucky country. No other place has the combination of climate and liveability as here. I feel life in the US is too harsh and competitive, Canada is too cold, Europe crowded/dreary. Of course those places have advantages over Oz, but for life I'm glad I live here.
Too right. The only thing I've heard people complain about in Australia is the "far away factor" and the "lack of culture". But I don't even get this to be honest!
Sydney and Melbourne were backwaters in the 1950s but surely are thriving international cities now. What can you seriously do in London that you cannot do there? OK there's not nearly as much (white) history as in Europe but so what? Unless you're literally a historian or archeologist does the fact that there are no old cathedrals and 13th century manor houses to poke round really affect your life? Perhaps it does - having never been to Australia I'd be interested to know.
And while it may be fun to easyjet it over to Paris/Rome/Madrid etc while working in London - if you're based in Sydney you have NZ, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, PNG, and Indonesia all within a relatively short flight. Not to mention all the incredible natural scenery on your own continent.
I'd be interested to know what is genuinely bad about living in Australia... ?
It's usually not a good idea to quote surveys like these on city data, all you will get is a whole heap of people saying how stupid and incorrect the whole thing is, just saying sorry.
Actually, this survey appears to be among the more legitimate ones on C-D, and is probably somewhat accurate. However, I suspect a lot of the respondents outside Australia might be unaware how expensive the country has become to live in. It is hard to depend on the opinion of a place, from people who have never been there, and are just making wild speculations about what they have heard about it.
I live in Australia (born and raised), and I can't wait to move.
Where?
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