Hmmm...pity you aren't speaking in Melbourne. Good to see you are having a look around.

The Australian telco Telstra is being sold off by the government and has a Universal Service Fund issue similar to your last post. Australia is a very large country with a relatively small population and therefore has telco service level problems, especially when considering fixed line.

Have fun up north - Darwin is a very different place to Melbourne. Friends of mine are holidaying on the Coburg Peninsula right now, amazing place.

Australians can be unfriendly - as a remote island and part of the old Empire, we are very monolingual and can be distrusting and xenophobic. Especially when you are fed a diet of fear-of-terrorism. However, like all countries, your mileage may vary.

Hope you have a good time. Looking forward to your observations.

Yeah, dark skins by and large don't see the nice side of Australia. There's a long and rich tradition of quite savage racism. Remember, this is a country that only accepted in 1968 that the aborigines were human beings, and still (officially) doesn't think it has anything to apologise for.

Wait until you get to Darwin... not only are there more aborigines, they're generally treated worse. I think Darwin still has a curfew on blacks, for instance.

But the landscape is bloody nice.

I have always thought of Australia as one of the most accepting places in the world (except New Zealand, who I freely admit has us well-and-truly beaten). I'll admit there are strong prejudices against aborigines in same places, particularly where there are many who are unemployed and troublemakers. Not their fault, not at all, but unfortunately they do have a tendency to stick out because they are not white. It's sad, really.

That said, I went to school with an Aboriginal girl, and I never saw her picked on. Not once. So we're really not that bad over here. We try, we really do.

As for the not apologising, I believe that's because the government doesn't want to be sued! What a sad world we live in where we can't say sorry for fear of legal action.

I think Australian's have a reputation as being friendly, layed-back etc, and to a point I'm sure we are, but like any culture we are made up of a lot of individuals. There is definitely a number of strains of racism that exist here- racism toward our indigenous aboriginals- this is made worse by our prime minister being unwilling to aplogise for all the atrocities that happened during colonisation, and also I racism driven by the terrorist “fear campaign” and fear of the “other” is quite strong too.

We are also a very diverse group of people and there ARE, I hope, a majority that are friendly and accepting. And yes- Canadian accents rock! I friend of mine from Canada back in uni days used to get jobs in hospitality just because of his accent alone =)

Hope you had a good trip – wish the weather turned it on more for you.

When I first moved to the US, I was shocked that I couldn't even get away with telling racist jokes. I was afraid of black people and espically Mexicans (never seen many before). And overall I'm impressed with the many laws trying to protect minorities here. When I go back to Australia, I'm now amazed that even my family will happily make jokes about Asians or any other nationality, although they mean nothing bad by them. Just strange.

its a pity we have people like Daniel and his family in this country . why tell racist jokes ? does that make you feel better about yourself ? when i was in Australia i was shocked to hear the jokes about the indiginous population its like most "aussies" know them ..
Of course you would be scared in the US (thats great)its a little to multicultural for rednecks like you . Go to new york i got got family in Flat bush Brooklyn and tell the NON WHITE people your jokes and see what happens . Dont be scared you get what you deserve :)

After travelling the world pretty extensivly, i find that canada is definately the most similar place to australia i have ever been, having lived in vancouver and calgary, and now living in london uk for over a year, i think we are hardly like england at all. There are parts of sydney and melbourne i have to look twice at to make sure i havnt fallen asleep and found myself back in the great white north.

The thing that definately sets Australia appart from london is most definately the food, i have always heard that england has a bed reputation for food, and it has.
Sydney kills london in the eats department, london has a lot of nice high end places to eat, then so does sydney, then so does any of the worlds big cities. But i know that within 3 minute walk in sydney you can stumble on about 5 different nationalities cuisine, all tasting great and affordable, but in london unless your in the city, good luck. Its a pub, a fish and chip shop or a curry. A lot of the times nothing at all.

I don't know about coloureds, but the racism toward the English is the one thing that no one ever comments on (presumably because it isn't politically incorrect enough). The English are "poms" and stupid and not to be trusted, let alone spoken to or befriended. The colonial chip they have on their shoulder toward the English is gobsmacking, and the constant casual racism is finally driving me to drink (and a one-way ticket out of this racist berg).

Racism toward the English is also alive and well here in New Zealand and appears to be the accepted 'norm'. I take great offence to being called a 'pom'and will not accept anyone calling me it in any form. If one were ever to make a comment about Maoris, Asians, or Indians etc. in the same manner there would be a riot on your hands of the biggest proportion - why is it so acceptable toward the English? The strangest thing about it is that the English admire the Aussies and Kiwis and are nothing but friendly and accomodating to them on their O/E's - it's a shame they cannot extend the same courtesy.

Look, basically anywhere you go you're going to encounter racism, maybe you should start to accept that it's human nature for some to descriminate against those who are different from them, and poms (if i may be so bold, i hope not to offend anyone by the horrid discriminatory nature of the word, THE HORROR!) are not exempt from this, far from it. Maybe before pinning things like the genocide of Tasmania on australia, you should understand that was done by English soldiers who henceforth returned to England, or you should take into account that Australia's indigenous mess was kickstarted by the English. Although it's been along time since federation, strong preconceptions are hard to break, no matter what race is concerned.

Australians can be racist, then so can the English, or any other socio-cultural group (Hence why the world is such a violent place), stop being pathetic, if you don't like NZ or Australia, don't come back, i doubt anyone really cares either way.

A very good summary indeed. Nicely put :)

I am an African-American grad journalism student from America. I was thinking about doing a study abroad in Australia but I got really scared when I studied a little about the history of the Aboriginal people. To think they weren't considered humans until 1968? Does anyone know if it is a good idea for black people not from Australia to visit the country?

Yes, definitely. Your accent will definitely tear you apart from the Aboriginals from here.
I'm sure you LOOK African-American so you won't be discriminated against...
Chances are people will be quite fond of you and treat you like a rich tourist. Believe me there's a lot of people in Australia that want to meet an African-American. I know I do. Curtis Jackson just isn't enough for me.

I know a little bit about the riots in aus.. I'm a British Asian Indian... doing Medicine in Oxford... and I can tell there's quite a bit of racism to both of my nationalities over in Aussieland :(. I love that place on Neighbours, but suddenly when u look behind the facade you see the racist side of Australia and its really sad... I thought Australia was such a friendly place.

Anywhoo... I have about 4 months when I can go work in a hospital in a foriegn country... and i didnt want to go america or anywhere that doesn't speak the language i speak. No offence. I just want to work thats all and i thought Asutalia would be just fab..

You think I should be scared if i decided to go there... or would they really judge me because i was born in a particular place and by the amount of melanin in my skin?!

Really hope not... please reply need some answers soon! :)

love to all, Tav. Xxx

I was just asking a few friends about moving to Austrailia from the US. I'm trying to gather all of the facts before even applying for residency. I've read some of the comments in this blog, but doesn't sound like Austrailia is very inviting, but I don't want to just hear it from someone who just speculates. Is their anyone out there who has worked temporarily over there or lived for a short time? I'd be glad to hear your comments and or recieve your email.

Cheers!
Tony

I am graduating from undergrad in the States in April. I spent 2 months in Australia this summer and it was amazing!! I am an African American female and I felt by-far more comfortable, accepted and welcomed in Australia than in the U.S.! I plan/hope to return to Sydney to study toward my masters and even Ph.D. and I can't wait!!!

Australia is alright for a peaceful life, but to be honest, I don't get the bad attitude towards the English, after all they are English! So wtf get on your kangaroo skipper.

So I am also planning on studying abroad in the spring but I am of mixed race of white and black. I do not know to much about the aborigines but I am afraid I will be mistaken for them. I have never encountered much racism in the US and prefer to avoid it. What do you think?

We're of many different cultures and descents, I live in Bankstown in Sydney's South West, one of the most culturally diverse suburbs and even places in Australia. We are not all "english" in descent, I have lived in Sydney my whole life, and it is sad to say that for the past four or so years SOME Australians induced a climate of racism spawned from our now ex-pm's conservative influence. Most of us living in the cities are just as tolerant, peacefull, educated, and aware as any American or English city. Personally I think it is a joke to have to defend ourselves as being MORE racist and LESS diverse than America or England. Please. I am of mixed descent and have not recieved and prejudice toward myself in a very long time. I'm proud of where I live, and I think Sydney is a fantastic city to explore, and yes, of course it has its bad points, like anywhere, speaking in general about the rest of Aus too. Feel assured, its just like any other western city... ;)

And our sense of humour can be defined as... wait for it.... "UNPOLITICALLY CORRECT", as in RELAX ITS A JOKE WE'RE NOT THAT STUPID.

I am amazed and shocked that there are some people, especially the dark skinned, that honestly are not sure if they want to come visit over here. Dont always go by what you read. The majority of people that post onlinr, are not what the majority of aussies are like.
Of course every country have there rude overegotistic racists. Find one country that doesnt have some that are like that... I assure you that you will come back with none.

All in all Australia is a beautiful laid back country, where most of us are very nice and welcoming.
No matter of the skin colour!!
Oh and dont forget that other part of Australia people :-) Perth is also a great place, with a wide range of races.

I met an australian couple on holiday in Rhodes who have invited me to visit them in perth, they are of greek and italian decent and i am black british, (my parents are from caribbean but i was born in the uk).

I was afraid to visit because of the potential racism but now ive read that perth is a multicultural city i feel more open to visiting. People will always have racist views no matter where you go, and i cant change that. but why should i miss out on experiencing wonderful things in life because of that. Britain can be just as racist as anywhere else!

I will definately be going to perth in 2010, i cant wait!