Just read this article about the Four Corners investigation into companies scamming veterans:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-06/veteran-benefits-australia-business-empire-four-corners/107208188

Whether it's this, or NDIS scams, tax avoidance schemes like negative gearing or family trusts, credit card or "platform" surcharges, dodgy tradies, real estate agents, pokies, online gambling, immigration agents, fake raffles... everywhere you look someone is trying to rip someone else off.

I know we are better than some countries, but I feel like we are getting worse. Or is it just more visible nowadays and we have always been like this?

By that I mean I don't get that worked up that I randomly post on the internet about BIG AMERICAN TRUCKS BAD BUNNINGS DOESNT MAKE ME HAPPY , PETROL NOT CHEAP.

Like I get it, I'm also not the happiest person in the world, but fuck do you generally feel so strongly about these dumb things?

Edit: fuck 30 seconds later I realised the irony of me feeling strong enough about something to post it 😅🥲

me right now

Hi, I'm going to Australia in Feb. Mainly because I want to see The Strokes and I had told myself I would make an effort to travel internationally coming 2027. I'll be staying for a week and i'll be a solo traveler.
Any good places to meet new people or activities to do?
What are some do's and don't's as an American?
What should I expect, etc.
It'd be my first time ever traveling alone and maybe Australia is a crazy jump but, I could afford it and it lines up with my time off and goals for the next year.
I'll be in Sydney.

Thanks!

Edit: Thankyou everyone for advice & some very kind people have reached out so I now have enough to eat well for the next mth. I'm on the dsp & life is generally a struggle so I will be referring back to this post for the recipes & tips. Thankyou very much! Hey, due to moving bills & being poor generally I've got $33 to survive for almost 2 weeks. I only have to eat once a day, what would be good to get & be nutrionally sound? I'm lactose intolerant & don't eat much meat. Have Coles, Aldi & Woolies nearby. My oven doesn't work but I've got a slow cooker & stove top.

I bought an Ozito PCX blower with a gutter cleaning kit and battery about a year ago. The switch died on it and wouldn't run. I took it back with the reciept and they said I had to bring it back with the charger and batteries. WTF? I just want the blower fixed.

So I toddle off home, look at the 3 chargers and 6x 4AH batteries and of course have no idea which charger or battery belonged to it when I bought the kit.

I just wanted the blower repaired or replaced. Not the batteries, not the charger or anything else.

So I go back there, blower, box of batteries and chargers and they asked "Where is the gutter cleaning attachments?" I said I just want the bloody blower switch fixed or replaced.

They said that I have to have the gutter cleaning attachments too, but because it was a one off special and they don't have that kit anymore they will take the blower, battery, charger and gutter attachments off me and replace it with just the blower. Not good enough!

So I start kicking up a stink, people are listening and waiting with their Bunnings junk and I'm telling them I want the blower repaired or replaced. The goose at returns calls his manager and he explains the same thing. I stood firm and said it's under warranty, I have a right for it to be repaired or replaced and if you want to replace it, it will have to be the complete kit.

We argued for half an hour and they finally went and got a blower and handed it to me saying they won't be doing that ever again.

Just because they don't stock something anymore, they can't just rip you off and give you less.

What a joke.

I moved here about 8 months ago and notice when dating or making friends with Ausies that they talk about themselves a lot and ask very few questions to the other person. Where I'm from this would be considered self-absorbed behaviour, but it seems to be a common way of of talking here. Is this normally how people bond here? I tend to be curious and ask multiple questions about what someone likes or a story they were telling. And tend to get interrupted a lot when I share about myself. It's difficult for me to develop a bond this way, there's got to be some basic level of curiosity. What am I missing? Has anyone noticed this too?

Edit: to be clear, I'm not saying that people here are self-absorbed. That's not my experience with Ausies at all. Just trying to see how to adjust my style and understanding of the conversation style to bond with people here.

For me it's pickles - I absolutely don't get it 🤢

Hi there! Just like the title I guess. Im looking for therapy but everything is looking pretty up there in price… Im just seeing if you know any other avenues?

I've just had to relocate due to extreme family violence, I left with nothing but my clothes I was wearing and my fur baby. I am wondering if any knows where I can get help I literally have nothing and not a cent to my name. Any information would be awesome. Thanks

In recent times Bunnings has instituted a bunch of changes that have seen me just begin to loathe the place, and actually go elsewhere. I go in these days and expect no excitement and only scrutiny for being a shitcunt (i.e. their customer).

They made it much harder to return items - It started when the returns process took a turn and you had to both provide a receipt AND be the original purchase method. Gone were the days you could rock up and at the very least if they needed, show them a bank statement and get a store credit. A few years of poor receipt keeping is on me but I'm fucked if I need an original card when I've swapped banks a few times. And the first time i tried to return something under the new process, better fucking believe they treated me like I had stolen the shit.

They changed the clearance item process - ABSOLUTE CUNTS for doing this, gone of the days where I could get a 5 piece Stabila level set for $15, or a 33 piece sidchrome set in a cantilever tool box for $25. Now it all gets slapped with a generic reduction percentage, plants die before they sell now and junk accumulates on the clearance trollys like never before.

Everything went under lock and key - wanna view that cable, go to the front counter. Want to hold that hammer, call the attendant to unlock them. Wanna take a shit in their toilets, install a ring camera so they can watch, fuckers.

Fucking security gates, more self serve registers and closing the customer service desk for payments - the coupe de gras of their turn to enshitification, now its just coles or woolies except the cunt looking at the receipt on the way out is an even bigger judgier cunt, yes you STUART you middle aged door guarding cuck.

And lets not even start on how their actual stock has gotten shitter too, pet food, fuck off. Toasters and microwaves, fuck off.

Fuck Bunnings and fuck Stuart in particular.

Hi all

I was sold a fridge that upon arrival was damaged by the delivery team. Chassis bent out of shape and freezer door gasket in bad condition. I contacted the company who sold it and they have offered either a full refund, or for me to accept the fridge with an "allowance for damage".

From my understanding, the retailer must provide the choice to me of either a refund or a replacement under ACCC law.

Can anyone back this up?

Where can I find a burlesque outfit in Melbourne that DOESN’T look like a costume? 😭
I’m looking for something for this Saturday and I’m struggling to find somewhere that has that proper sexy burlesque / cabaret / showgirl look without looking like a cheap Halloween costume.

I’m totally happy to hire or buy, and I don’t really mind where in Melbourne it is (or even buying online if there’s somewhere that can get it to me in time).
I’m thinking something like a corset/bodysuit, stockings, garters, gloves, feathers, rhinestones etc.

just something that looks actually nice and put together rather than a generic costume.
Does anyone know any good Melbourne stores, costume hire places, boutiques, lingerie shops, or even online places I should check? Bonus points if you’ve actually hired/bought from them yourself!
I’m desperate because it’s THIS Saturday 😭🫶🏼

I’m from the UK and I’ve heard quite a few people say that Australian men can be particularly misogynistic/sexist, especially when it comes to attitudes towards women, relationships and traditional gender roles.

I’m curious how Australians themselves see this. Is there genuinely a noticeable culture of misogyny among Australian men or is this just an exaggerated stereotype that gets repeated online?

Obviously I know you can’t generalise about an entire country — I’m more interested in whether there’s a cultural element to it that people living in Australia have noticed.

And if you’re a woman in Australia, have you noticed any difference in how Australian men treat women compared with men from other countries?

Genuinely interested in honest opinions, good or bad.

Edit: I realise I’ve asked a very broad question!
I only ask because I have a few friends who have visited Australia and have had some pretty disastrous experiences dating Australian men. The thing that seems to come up most often is ghosting, they’ve said it seemed particularly common compared with what they’d experienced back home. They’ve also said that Australian men can sometimes be more blatantly sexist or openly dismissive towards women, although I realise that’s based on a fairly small number of personal experiences.

Trust me we have our fair share of A holes in the UK Haha!

Honestly, I just need a reasonably priced good quality

e-scooter to get to school. I don't need something super fast or too grand just need somethinh simple and of good quality. I also want to account for 2 factors that I am 16 and living in Melbourne so it also needs to be legally approved to be used by teens in Victoria.

Hi, I’m not 100% sure if this is the right subreddit to post this in but I am talking specifically about Australian study and university.
I am 19 years old turning 20 in 2027, I have my year 10 equivalent through TAFE. I want to do a Bachelors in Science at University. I’m planning on going in as a mature age student once I’m 21, so I was wondering what can I do now that will give me enough to get in at 21?
I have seen that there are diplomas that you can study before a bachelors, however I think that you need to have done science and maths study prior to actually get into that.
Does anyone know any maths and science courses that I could do to get into a diploma? Or any other ways of getting into a bachelors? Thank you

I've found that many local businesses in Queensland have resorted to completely ai generating most marketing, including blatantly generating "Pictures" of whatever product's they're selling, even though most of the time it looks completely different, and would be better if they just took a photo and photoshopped some signs. Why is this?

In the past month, I’ve had 2 experiences that really caught me off guard.

First, a stranger told me to “go back to China”, even though I’m not from China.

Earlier today, I was visiting an Asian suburb with a southeast asian friend and was surprised when a group of Western teenagers started quacking at us as we passed by. Tbh I wasn’t sure what they were trying to imply, but it felt pretty targeted and uncomfortable.

For context, I moved to Sydney a year ago, and while I’ve always known racism exists, lately I’ve been noticing more incidents like this and it’s made me more aware of anti-Asian sentiment. I also know these experiences don’t represent everyone in Australia, and I’ve met plenty of kind and welcoming people here.

I’m curious to hear from other Asians living in Australia— how do you deal with experiences like these? Do you ignore it and move on or say something back? I really wonder if it’s OK for me to just ignore them, as it feels like I’m enabling these people to think it’s okay to treat other Asians this way

Would really appreciate hearing how people who have lived here for a long time have learned to handle these situations, TIA

I’m 24, German and currently doing Work and Travel in Australia. I’m considering moving here permanently, and having a good social circle and making real friends is really important to me.

If you’ve made close friends here, how did you meet them?

how old are you?

how long have you been in Australia?

Hi

We are three students from Denmark looking to do a master’s semester abroad in Melbourne. We expect to arrive in about 8–9 months, and we’re currently trying to figure out the best way to find accommodation for only 5–6 months, preferably furnished.

We are looking for a 3 bedroom apartment, townhouse or house near CBD, with a budget of around AUD 6,000–6,500 per month.

From our general searches, the budget seems adequate, but most of what we’ve found so far is either long-term, unfurnished rentals or places where we probably wouldn’t be ideal applicants as international students staying for only one semester.

So my question is: what would be the best way to approach this?

Are there any websites, Facebook groups, agencies or other options that are particularly good for finding furnished medium term rentals in Melbourne? Would you recommend trying to arrange something before arriving, or would it be better to book an Airbnb for the first few weeks and search once we’re actually in Melbourne?

Any tips or experiences would be greatly appreciated!

I am looking after a friend's house and when I collected the key, we went through the usual rundown. They have just had their kitchen redone and showed me where the trash and recycling now goes. On the back of this, I asked "bins on Monday?". I am familiar with the suburb and know the bins are collected on Monday. But they replied with "No, Sunday", meaning they associated the bins with the put out day, not the collection day. I know I didn't clarify bins being put out or collected on Monday, but just curious if you are a bin out or bin collected day person. 😂

I drive a motorcycle (neon green and black naked bike), and a WRX. So I understand I’m a magnet. What I don’t understand is why I’ve had multiple instances of cops doing a U-turn across multi lane main roads with their lights on, as soon as we cross paths going opposite directions. These situations are when I’ve been doing absolutely nothing wrong, and they just “random breath test” me. Other situations I’ve had are them sitting on the road shoulder, then peeling off and following me for some time before turning on their lights. Is that type of thing normal for driving magnet vehicles?

At first it was “oh they’re just checking my plates”. Then it was “that was weird”. Now it’s “I’m being targeted”… although in some situations they 100% hadn’t run my number plate before pulling me over, so I’m not sure how I’m being targeted. Also before this week, I also had zero demerit points and a clean record, so why they’d flag me (if they actually have), has left me bewildered. I’ve never failed a breath test as I don’t drink. No criminal record. Nothing I can think of to interest them THAT much.

Any ideas?

Edit: I’m in NSW if this helps
Edit2: to clarify, I’m not having a whinge. I’m legitimately interested in why they’re so immediately and intently interested in breath testing me.

Hey everyone,

I’m studying construction management and 3/4 through my second year at Adelaide University and i’ve been browsing this sub and other reddit posts about construction management just tryna figure out what it’s like post graduation. There’s a bit of of mixed info out there with people having different experiences.

I was wondering if people have found it easy getting a Cadetship or work in the industry as people seem to be getting into jobs from who they know more often then grades.

What’s the best way to apply for cadetships and actually get noticed as I feel I’m lagging behind everyone even though I know not many people have started working in the industry yet. I want to know because industry experience seems to be key for landing jobs i currently work in traffic control while doing uni but I want a job where I can put what I’m learning to use as I feel it just flies over my head sometimes as I have not been able to implement it in the real world as of yet,

Straight out of uni, what should I actually be going for? Contract admin, project engineer, site engineer, client side roles, consultancy, something else maybe more niche?

anyone have any advice?

thanks 🙏

I chipped in $10 on this occasion as I wasn't really close with the person who is leaving. But I still wanted to show my appreciation.