Australians are known for the phrase ` no worries mate`. It reflects the great Aussie attitude of enjoying life in the lucky country. But in practice `no worries` really means that Australians can afford to practice `short-time-planning` only. If problems arise, Aussies usually opt for the solution that is in their best interest today, without worrying too much about the future. Living in Australia you will come across many examples as this attitude goes back a long time, amongst others made possible by the abundance of spade. The British already realised that one can test a nuclear bomb in the desert and just leave, as they did during the fifties in the South-Australian desert. It was at a time that not many people knew about the long time effects of radiation or about the local Aboriginal owners who were living of the land.

 

Why plan a complicated infra structure network as trains can just go straight most of the time? The longest straight stretch of railway line in the world is between Adelaide and Perth: 478 km without a curve. Unfortunately public transport is often over-crowded and in bad shape as five years back nobody could ever imagine that anybody would like to change the `V8` for a V-line. Why order new trains or build new tracks? Why build economical and environmental friendly cars if the petrol price is under a dollar per litre? Who could see the rise of the oil price coming? Why sign a Kyoto agreement if it means complicated environmental schemes like carbon trading? Doesn’t the pollution cause problems in the future and mostly elsewhere? It makes sense not to plan too far ahead as Australians are great improvisers and a lack of planning also means that governments do not make big mistakes.

 

Walking around in Hong Kong, London or New York, you notice that most people live in high rise flats on a small area of land. Aussies however are font of their `back yard`. It is the birthplace of the great cricket successes as kids start playing the game at home. It means that Australian city councils get a lot of support for their decision not to build above three stories high outside the business centre, even though migration pushed demand for affordable housing in the big cities through the roof. The official policy: If you need a house, just move on to the suburbs, plenty of space!

 

The biggest credit crisis in history has led the Australian government to believe that the solution is in.....more credit! In true Aussie fashion, the government tries to spend it’s way out of the recession. Hundreds of billions of dollars of debt are built up, left for future generations to worry about. `She’ll be right mate` is a famous Australian expression meaning `all will be okay`. In the mean time the country features high in global charts of `credit card debt per head of the population` and `gambling spending`, reflecting this optimistic attitude of: `We want it all and we want it now`!

 

In Europe high season means hundreds of kilometres of traffic jam and packed beaches. If you do not plan your holyday trip, you may spend the entire time in your car while never arriving! Down Under the whole country gets in the car in the morning on Boxing Day (after Christmas) and drives to the beach to drink a beer and watch or play cricket two hours later.

 

The absence of planning is most obvious in regards to the problem of water shortages. For over ten years now, Victoria and South Australia suffer a severe drought. When the former national treasurer was asked what plans the government had in regards to a solution of the water shortages his answer was: “We hope it is going to rain!” Queensland received record rainfall and even the Romans knew how to build an advanced infrastructure transporting water over hundreds of miles, but Australians rather wait for the rain to fall. It is a great attitude that prevents mistakes and makes life simple and pleasant.

 

Exams tomorrow? No worries mate!