13 March

Incredibly powerful way to see so much about Australian life. - we’re one of the most urbanised nations on Earth, though we pretend we all live in the outback (which we can’t define) - that level of urbanisation is what makes us such a peaceful and pragmatic place. Urbanised communities tend to be more peaceful and cosmopolitan. It’s nearly always regional and remote areas that breed the most toxic politics - we don’t live in Australia, we live on it. We’re tourists in our own land, that vast expanse that is barely occupied is not much more than tourist destinations, farms and mines for us. Nearly all ‘country’ towns owe their existence to some extractive industry, and still do.