Ask an Aussie

Now that Tony Abbott is no longer PM, what does Australian society think of his legacy?

It was like a trainwreck in slow-motion. You knew it was bad, but you just couldn't look away from the ensuing disaster. Joking aside, he wasn't absolutely terrible , but he wasn't a progressive PM - he avoided the gay marriage debate, for a start - and I think he lent himself to a lot more mockery than others.

edited 23rd Jun '16 1:19:30 AM by TheOnlySaneTeen

He was also really easy for the media to make look like an idiot. I think now we're trying to pretend he didn't happen?

So... Abbott was Australia's Boris Johnson?

Nice to see what we've got to look forward to as our next Prime Minister now that that bleached-blond thing's dragged us out of Europe.

Yeah, you'd be correct. Mind you, our newest prime minister isn't exactly the greatest either.

At least you can look forward to being separated from us in the near future.

(assuming you're Scottish, anyway)

What is it like in the Down Under?

I'm not Australian, mate. I'm English.

As an Aussie, I'd like to know if non-aussies eat the following foods: Anzac biscuits, pavlova, lamingtons, fairy bread.

As a Canadian, I learned of all four of those foods from this thread.

Do not click this link.

Yes to Pavlova. It's nice. No to the rest.

You should try lamingtons if you see them. They're nice, especially the ones with jam in the middle.

I tried vegemite once. It didn't agree with me. x_x

I would like to try lamingtons. :)

Lamingtons sound nice. Btw, is there such a thing as the Australian Reserve Force, and if there is, what's the upper age limit?

Is the wildlife really as deadly as everyone says?

Wildlife can be dangerous, but only if you don't know how to avoid it. So long as you're careful, you're not in much danger

So Brits, what does Marmite taste like in comparison to Vegemite? Being an Aussie myself, I often have Vegemite on toast, in sandwiches and even sometimes with chocolate. I don't know how to describe its flavour, but it's quite salty and really flavoursome, way moreso than other spreads.

My friend is convinced that Aussies live in fear of the terrifying bushfire.

It probably goes without saying, but is it true?

There have never been any bushfires too close to where I live, but yeah, they do tend to happen pretty much every summer, usually in Victoria.

I can't remember the last time I tried Marmite, though I think I liked it well enough. It's either that or the taste was so bad I blocked it out of my mind and that's why I can't remember it.

Well, I like Marmite, so...

Also, I know I asked this on the last page, but since it hasn't been answered, I'll ask it again: is Canberra really as boring as everyone says it is?

No, Canberra is okay, really. I went there as part of a school camp once. However, I fell asleep in our House of Representatives, but that was probably because I couldn't care less about what happened in our government. (I was only in 6th grade.)

That said, it's bitterly cold at night, and apart from the War Memorial and Parliament House, there isn't an awful lot to do there. I still liked it, though.

Of course, YMMV.

That's the main problem, I think. I think it was built entirely to be our nation's capital (the reason why is both funny and really kinda stupid). So most people who live there have government jobs, and really there's just not a lot to do. Also it's bloody freezing sometimes.

edited 28th Jun '16 3:05:18 PM by Murataku

Melbourne and Sydney both wanted to be the capital, so they made a city halfway between them in its own territory.

ANZAC biscuits I have eaten and do now and then, and fairy bread I have also eaten and tend to hate.

And to me Vegemite is a touch saltier, but not to any significant degree. I can eat either with no issue.