You wouldn’t believe how nanny state Australia has become. We’ve got this romanticized image of Australia, reinforced by things like Outback Steakhouse’s “No Rules. Just Right.” ad campaign. Aussies live under millions of rules. They are far more conformist than any German.
Prices are about double the prices here. Minimum wage is $15/hour, but the average Australian can afford less than the average American. Despite lots of space, they live in smaller homes and drive smaller cars. Work rules hammer employers with maximum work weeks and extended vacations.
Here’s an example of the difference in the prices. One of the better beers in Australia is Cooper’s. It cost $22 a six-pack from a bottle shop in Sydney and slightly more in Cairns. I can buy it in the convenience around the corner, here in Dallas for $11 a six pack. Think about the cost to ship it to the states and distribute it so that it shows up in the neighborhood convenience store. Costs are far higher to get it to us, but prices are far higher in Australia. Why? Taxes.
I was writing a proposal for the Australian navy as a sub to BAE. The Australian solicitation stated that Australian flagged carriers could not be used. The supplier was responsible for all shipping, delivery and installation. (Meaning we’d have to price in sending technicians with the equipment. That’s very expensive.) When I asked why I was told that due to Australian labor problems they wanted the supplier to do all the work as the supplier could be relied on and Australian labor couldn’t.