Questions About Australia

[Mayor of Mildura]

I could of sworn Russel Crowe was Australian. Learn something new every day I suppose.

What about Australias gun laws? (Yes, I'm aware that I'm probably fitting the American Stereotype by asking this)


BTW, Asshat = asshole, *********, someone who needs slapped...you get the idea.

What is a gun?

 

[np1962]

Also there are two types of rugby. The one that is awesome is Rubgy League. This other is rugby union that nobody really likes unless you are a stuck up private school toff.

Rugby Union is the Awesome game, League is the game of mercenaries.(sp). And we wouldn't let Russel Crowe own one of our teams :lol:
Union World Cup= 100's of countries trying to qualify for a spot in the final 16.
League World Cup= Players from 3 or 4 countries pretending to be from somewhere else to make up 8 teams to see if Australia or NZ are world champs.

 

[Mayor of Mildura]

Rugby Union is the Awesome game, League is the game of mercenaries.(sp). And we wouldn't let Russel Crowe own one of our teams :lol:
Union World Cup= 100's of countries trying to qualify for a spot in the final 16.
League World Cup= Players from 3 or 4 countries pretending to be from somewhere else to make up 8 teams to see if Australia or NZ are world champs.

:lol: I was waiting for you to bite.

 

[Bada Bing Brewery]

EMalgrem - mate welcome.
When I was 21 I worked on a summercamp for kids in Seattle and then bought a grey primer ford van (it was seriously pimped man- red crush velvet with mirror love hearts) and travelled through your beautiful country.
A few highlights

Q. where are you from
A. Australia
Repsonse - Thats just of the coast of LA right???

Buying beer at supermarket
Q. do you have ID
A. yes its my Australian passport
small talk - crack a joke etc etc
Response when leaving - My, you speak very good english.

Any country where you can walk into a liqour store and buy a 1/2 gallon Jack Daniels then walk to the back of the same shop and pickup a Magnum 44 handgun .... mindblowing for us lot down here.

If it's not 110F at christmas - Its not christmas.....
Cheers
BBB

 

[Bribie G]

I'm currently being treated for a nasty eye inflammatory disease. I went to see my family doctor. This would normally cost around $50 but you get $32 back off Medicare. However because I am on a Social Security part Pension (being semi retired and other reasons) I don't get charged. They sent me to the local Hospital E.D. - free - who sent me to the Main State Hospital which fortunately is nearby.


I was seen within a couple of hours by an Opthalmologist who has been following me up every Wednesday for the last two months so he knows me by name now - he's Dave - Free.
It's quite cheap to travel down there on public transport because being a part pensioner I get half price public transport on our reasonably good electric train and bus network.

There are a lot of private hospitals as well, but you need to be in a health insurance plan, I believe that about 30% of Aussies are, but it mainly covers you for operations etc rather than just seeing a specialist - you don't get back everything and it can still be expensive because - as in the States - there is often a "gap" payment, for stuff like anaesthetists, CAT scans etc so you can still end up paying a lot.

My partner is half aboriginal and I can speak with a bit of insight here. There are basically three main "cohorts" of Aborigines - A large number live in urban society and have a few Aboriginal traditions that they follow (for example in their family relationships - I'm always referred to as "uncle" by the young folk) - they generally work, often in good government jobs or just out there at our equivalent of WalMart etc. For example I went to a wedding a couple of years ago, about 300 people there and only half a dozen drinking and everyone turned up in nice cars.

Then there are the "traditional" people who do live in reserves which are referred to as Indigenous Communities, with varying levels of integration but sadly a lot of them - as I know American Indigenous peoples do - sink into a pretty wretched life with huge alcohol problems and high unemployment. There is currently an "outstation" movement where the young people in particular go to live out in their traditional lands in small "out stations" with elders who show them hunting skills and reacquaint them with traditional stories etc.
Then there are peoples who have moved to the cities and live on welfare and get drunk in the street and hang around on skid row etc. Sadly this is often the only time that "mainstream" Aussies ever get to see an Aborigine in person.


I'm quite puzzled by the United States. Like most people in the "West" I've grown up imagining that most American families are:


And this is the "party line" fed to us by the media, mainly through family sitcom shows.

Now one of my interests apart from brewing is exploring and photographing historical neighbourhoods - some Australian City suburbs are now 200 years old and you can wander round some suburbs in Sydney and Melbourne and you are seeing the same sort of things as you would do taking a stroll in Philadelphia etc, so we are not all living in nice bungalows on quarter of an acre. Google Earth and Streetview has really opened up the USA to scrutiny and it amazes me that rather than the above photo, literally millions of Americans are living like:



Some places look so much like the streets I grew up in, in the North of England it's incredible. Makes me realise that we have long been fed a very sanitised version of the USA which is one of the reasons I want to buy a really good camera and go on a tour. For the craft beer as well. :icon_cheers:

 

[Filby]

Gday EMalmgren

I remember you said you didnt know the metric system but you already use it and if you follow the engineering units (powers of 3) you cant go wrong. For example:

terra x1012
giga x109
mega x106
kilo x103
BASE UNIT
milli x10-3
micro x10-6
nano x10-9
pico x10-12

So there's 1000 millimeters in a meter, 1000 meters in a kilometer. 1000 millilitres in a litre and 1000 litres in a kilolitre. On that note, a litre of water is 1 kilogram (1000 milligrams/millilitres), a tonne is 1000 kilograms of water, 1000 litres of water and also 1 cubic meter (1m x 1m x 1m).

You already use the metric system in the US for your money, volts, amps, watts etc and even your military use metric for all measurements.

A very simple system to learn and I cant understand why the US is the only non-metric 1st world country left (the UK are going through metrification).


Oh and dont get me started on Fahrenheit..its based on the temperature of a horse's anus!


Fil

 

[Spork]

Since I'm new around here and, of course, American...I thought that I would ask a few questions to become acquainted with your country.

For the record, I'm not really interested in political debate. Discussion is one thing, but this is a brewing forum so I wont get into a left v. right debate with anyone (this typically happens on "American" forums BTW)

I've seen a few comments about your healthcare system. Is everything really free? I could walk into a hospital right now with a gash in my head, get it stapled/stitched and walk out not having to worry about a bill? Does this include dental/vision and everything else?

What is your federal tax rate?

Is Rugby pretty much Austraila's version of baseball or what?

Does anyone else think that Russell Crowe is an asshat also?

Is it awesome having Christmas in summer?

What has happened with the Australian aboriginee (I butchered that spelling I'm sure). Do they live on reservations like many Native American tribes do?

Do you guys watch American movies at the theater? Australian? Both?

What is the general perception of America and Americans in your country? What is YOUR perception?

Hi, nice to see you showing an interest. That busts one of the stereotypes many of us have about Americans.
I'll answer your questions the best I can, from my own perspective.

Health care: Emergency treatment is free, however if you have insurance you may get a few more choices, choice of hospital and surgeon for example. You may also receive "better" parts. For example, the little spiral thingies used in cardiac angioplasty. Medicare pays for the basic model, which works fine, but often doesn't last as long and IIRC has a slightly higher post surgery infection rate than the "deluxe" model that a patient with private insurance may get.
Dental is not free for many Australians, and those that do qualify for free dental may have a long wait to get work done.
A visit to the GP, depending on if their practice "bulk bills" or not might be free, or it could cost you $80+ up front, a fair portion of which you get refunded from the government. Pharmaceuticals are not generally free, but if you qualify you have an upper limit you have to spend on them each year, after which the ones on the PBS will be free. Also people who qualify (pensioners etc) only pay (IIRC) $5.40 per script, regardless of the actual price of the medication. Not all medications are on the PBS list however.

Tax. As stated above, income tax is dependent on how much you earn, but there is another taxation scale above the 45%: If you earn a fuckload you can afford an accountant who will fix things so you pay practically no tax at all!

Rugby is probably more like your gridiron. Cricket (esp: 20-20 matches) would be closer to baseball. Rugby is more popular the further north you go. Down south AFL dominates the codes.

Russel Crowe is a Kiwi, and an arsehole.

Having Christmas at any other time seems like a waste of time off!

We massacred many of our indigenous people and the survivors have had their culture bastardised. British colonialism at it's best... We have forced our culture, values and beliefs on them, then think they are stupid/useless/lazy when they don't tow the line. The Australian aborigines were here for 40k years, and hardly left a mark on the land. If left undisturbed they could probably have continued on indefinately. White man has been here just over 200 years, and has made so much "progress" that in another 200 there may be nothing left to do...

Americans still go to theaters? JK. We watch both on our screens.

As for our "General perceptions of Americans"... I guess there is still some dislike, perhaps jealousy, that I think probably started during WW2, when a common saying (regarding American servicemen) was "Over paid, over sexed, and over here". Most of us have seen lots of American TV. Probably not the best America has to offer, more like the entertainment industries version of "megaswill". It probably contributes to our doubts concerning the intelligence of the average American. Electing Ronald Regan to president and Arnie to governor didn't do the worlds perception of your smarts much good either... Of course, most of us on this forujm has internets, so we have most likley interacted with Americans online, and I think that helps to overcome some generalisations. Yes, there are dumb ones. Yes, there are loud and opinionated ones. Yes, there are nationalistic, warlike, racist ones. But the same goes for pretty much any nationality you want to name. There are some really nice, educated, intelligent ones too. Oh - and contrary to popular opinion, some of them (I'm looking at you Lagunitas, Bison Brewing, Avery Brewing co.) make some truly awesome beers!

 

[Online Brewing Supplies]

I feel rather uneasy about your use of the word "butchered" in such close proximity to the word "Aborigine" (sp).

Boy you are game even to mention that word. Appears you cant even mention the word these days without some sort of backlash.
GB

 

[np1962]

View attachment 45995

Some places look so much like the streets I grew up in, in the North of England it's incredible. Makes me realise that we have long been fed a very sanitised version of the USA which is one of the reasons I want to buy a really good camera and go on a tour. For the craft beer as well. :icon_cheers:

Don't think you'll find streets that wide in the north of England though Bribie.

 

[Liam_snorkel]

The Australian aborigines were here for 40k years, and hardly left a mark on the land.

apart from eating all of the mega-fauna I wanna ride a giant wombat!

 

[brett mccluskey]

Hey EMalmgren

I remember you said you didnt know the metric system but you already use it and if you follow the engineering units (powers of 3) you cant go wrong. For example:


terra x1012
giga x109
mega x106
kilo x103
BASE UNIT
milli x10-3
micro x10-6
nano x10-9
pico x10-12

So there's 1000 millimeters in a meter, 1000 meters in a kilometer. 1000 millilitres in a litre and 1000 litres in a kilolitre. On that note, a litre of water is 1 kilogram (1000 milligrams/millilitres), a tonne is 1000 kilograms of water, 1000 litres of water and also 1 cubic meter (1m x 1m x 1m).

You already use the metric system in the US for your money, volts, amps, watts etc and even your military use metric for all measurements.

A very simple system to learn and I cant understand why the US is the only non-metric 1st world country left (the UK are going through metrification).


Fil

Americans will go metric ...inch by inch :lol:

 

[scott_penno]

I could of sworn Russel Crowe was Australian. Learn something new every day I suppose.

Reminds me of the question - What do you call a successful Kiwi (New Zealander)?

Answer - Australian

Unless they prove to be unpopular in which case... they're a Kiwi...

sap.

 

[jayse]

dental is not covered, vision can be government assistance if your on low income but you still pay something.

Rugdy is only really queensland and NSW and the major sport there, not a major national sport really, not even a sport if you ask me

Aboriginees do live in camps in the outback, some even set up camp in city parklands, some live in houses and live well, many have a very poor unheathly enviroment ripe with violence, drug and child abuse and poor heatlh, but it would be racist and unfair to say they are all the same, they also recieve more goverment assistance and many do not have to meet the same job search or other requirements to continue recieving benefits.
You can't really sum up them in a paragraph though.

I often think of America, however wrong I may be, as corupt and backwards but generally the way of life and the people the same as ours.

 

[EMalmgren]

Americans will go metric ...inch by inch :lol:

Lmao.

We were briefly taught the metric system in school long ago. However, I hardly ever use it. The only time I can think of is when I'm using the socketwrench at work. It usually goes something along these lines:

"Hey bro, grab me a socket would ya? I gotta pull this damn bolt out of the stud. Looks like it is 3/8 or 1/2"

"I can only find the metric set"

"Why the hell is that still around? Lets try the 9mm. Ok, that didnt work, give me the 12. Nope. I know that other asshole took the standard! Where the hell is he!? Give me the f***ing pipe wrench instead, I'll make it work"

 

[EMalmgren]

So what are the gun laws like there?

Can you legally own weapons for sporting/home defense purposes?

Here in the States we have to obtain a FOID (Firearm Owners ID) card, which is basically our state of residence saying that we arent drug addicts, felons, or otherwise just friggin crazy. We can then buy a firearm (with different restrictions in each state), after we wait for about 3 days for a last go around with a criminal background check. This is what happens in IL. I lived in Arizona for awhile, down there you dont need a FOID card. They look up your criminal weapon real quick, and hand you your weapon as long as you arent a convicted felon. In AZ you can even carry a handgun on your person to most places, except banks, places serving booze, or anywhere otherwise posted.

 

[Mayor of Mildura]

So what are the gun laws like there?

Can you legally own weapons for sporting/home defense purposes?

Here in the States we have to obtain a FOID (Firearm Owners ID) card, which is basically our state of residence saying that we arent drug addicts, felons, or otherwise just friggin crazy. We can then buy a firearm (with different restrictions in each state), after we wait for about 3 days for a last go around with a criminal background check. This is what happens in IL. I lived in Arizona for awhile, down there you dont need a FOID card. They look up your criminal weapon real quick, and hand you your weapon as long as you arent a convicted felon. In AZ you can even carry a handgun on your person to most places, except banks, places serving booze, or anywhere otherwise posted.

No guns here dude. Police/army have them. Some farmers can have them. Very restricted.

 

[EMalmgren]

No guns here dude. Police/army have them. Some farmers can have them. Very restricted.

Wow, that blows my mind. I really cant imagine that.

 

[Supra-Jim]

When Russel Crowe does good (rarerly!), we refer to him as 'Australian Actor Russel Crowe'.

When Russel Crowe screws up (much more common), we refer to him as 'New Zealand born Actor Russel Crowe'

When he tries to sing, we don't say anything, we're too busy trying to rip our ears off!

Cheers SJ

 

[fraser_john]

What is your federal tax rate?

This would be a bad thing to pick as a comparison. Here in Australia we do not have city/county/state payroll taxes like you do in the USA (lived there 10 years). So when we look at a tax rate here of 45% most Americans wig out. But, add all the individual payroll taxes up in the USA and you'd come close. Then, our houses are not taxed on their value to pay for the local school district either. All of that comes out of our main Federal taxes, or the sales tax revenue (GST as it is called here).

 

[fraser_john]

No guns here dude. Police/army have them. Some farmers can have them. Very restricted.

Not true, nearly anyone can own them, you just need to have a safety certificate, almost the same kind required in the USA if you want to hunt in Colorado if you are a non resident, I had my Ohio certificate so I could hunt Elk near Boulder.

You also need to have a clean background and store them appropriately. To own a handgun, you need to be a member of a pistol club for x number of years. Not clear on these details as I have never owned a handgun.

I currently own three guns, 30-30 lever action winchester, 12 ga U/O Miroku and a basic air riffle for the rabbits.