We have a welfare system, which is actually quite good compared to the US I believe, so yes he has something while not working and his wife has gotten a minimum wage job.

It's really that hard to get work at the moment. It's an employer's market, so they can pick and choose, which is why I think he ends up in such remote areas where there are less people with his skill sets and education. He has a double degree, which seems popular here.

It's not so much the people of Australia, but more the situation they're put in which makes for that kind of behaviour. In fact many are immigrants trying to keep their jobs. The job situation has been deteriorating since the end of 2017 when the car manufacturers pulled out of the country. Now we've got China falling out with us after so many companies have been relying on their consumption for so long and neglected the home market.

We've all got some interesting times ahead of us for sure. This reminds me of the generations conversation you started a few weeks ago. Further resentment that the boomers were the last generation to be able to look forward to early or comfortable retirements, perhaps?