All true, but humans are maximisers. With the prospect of significantly reduced QoL, who can blame Aussies for desperately wanting out?
The future, in terms of consumer goods and even catalysts for crime, looks bleak.
Australia is about the fall off an economic cliff with little hope of recovery. We have no large industries to pull us back up. There is very little research or value-add production in Australia, and there's no prospect of that starting. It's just not a priority for our government or the bulk of our population. We produce legions of design engineers, for instance, but those who stay in Australia don't design anything -- they simply become managers. Our only substantial exports are primary products. We have a few mines, most of which are foreign owned, and none of which are large employers -- even in 'flow-on' industries. We have agriculture, but are undercut by developing countries and fenced out with tariffs.
Most people are employed in low-to-middle skilled jobs in administration (including accounting, management and low-end 'white-collar' jobs), hospitality and human services; all of which are exposed to bottomless downward wage pressure. It's entirely conceivable that five years from now, the median Australian will have a small fraction of the purchasing power he or she does now. We're going to see a large disenfranchised, undereducated, exurban working poor. They'll be commuting hours to work in poorly-paid jobs and won't be able to afford the basics. Many will choose to opt out and we'll see the social costs of that.
It's not going to be pretty. Sure, it won't be civil war, but it will be a large reduction in quality of life in this country. Many folks want 'out' to realise their potential and to make good on expensive educations. There's no good in dismissing them.
