Let's turn the table on you, crazycanuck:

What's Aussie politics like in past few years? My partner said that Aussieland and Kiwiland (NZ) relationship is....something like CAnada and U.S. ..a slightly wary neighbourly relationship. That was his observation when bike-touring for 5 months in Kiwiland a few years ago.

I guess Aussieland never has to contend with the underlying English-French bilingual issue...for any national Prime Minister that is elected in Canada. But then you were from Edmonton, Alberta and I don't sense Western Canada having same awareness as Ontario and of course, Quebec. My opinion now living here in Vancouver for past 5 years.