Million Dollar Days

What Would It Take to Fix Australia? A Raw Conversation

• Robby Choucair and George Passas • Season 1 • Episode 97

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The cultural fabric of Australia is being stretched as citizens plan nationwide rallies against immigration policies, but is the real issue deeper than border control? This raw, unfiltered conversation examines the growing frustration many Australians feel toward governance and decision-making that seems increasingly disconnected from everyday people.

When a government spends $330,000 on a single machete surrender bin while racking up $196 billion in national debt over a decade, something is fundamentally broken in the system. We explore how Australia, despite being the third-largest exporter of fossil fuels globally, fails to capitalize on its natural resources in ways that could generate significant national wealth. This missed opportunity stands in stark contrast to other resource-rich nations that leverage similar assets to secure their economic futures.

Beyond economic mismanagement, we dive into the cultural shifts taking place across Australian society. From excessive political correctness in sports to debates about cultural assimilation, there's a sense that the country is losing touch with its core identity. Yet through all these frustrations runs a deep appreciation for what makes Australia special – the safety, lifestyle, and opportunities that still draw people from around the world.

This conversation captures the complex mixture of affection and frustration many Australians feel – loving their country while increasingly worried about its direction. At what point does simmering discontent transform into meaningful action? As one participant suggests, perhaps Australia needs its own version of the French farmers who dumped manure at parliament to force policy change. The fundamental question remains: what would it take for you to stand up and demand better?


Robby:

Good country, australia. Do you know who coined that term? No, no one knows, because he died and no one cares.

George:

I don't care, I'm not even going to Google it.

Robby:

I'll Google it right now, just for shits and giggles.

George:

I'm assuming. Do you reckon it was an immigrant that would have said something like that? An immigrant, yeah. I could imagine them saying it in an accent Of course Good country, Australia. A hundred percent. I don't know what accent that is.

Robby:

That's like a Slovakian or something. Yeah, that's it Slovakian. Yeah, Slovakian. Who made that term? The term the lucky country for australia was coined by author donald horn.

George:

Someone asked there you go, there you go.

Robby:

Learn something new every day who said good country, australia first First. Yeah, it doesn't seem to be very specific.

George:

Yeah.

Robby:

Anyway, it is a good country.

George:

Yes, I agree. I agree, I like living here. I have a level of frustration living here, but I like living here. I couldn't see myself going anywhere else.

Robby:

Is that because you were here, like if you wanted sweden, would you do the same thing?

George:

yes, yes, probably yeah.

Robby:

All my roots are here, families here, friends are here yeah, because there's people who live in third world countries who say the same thing. Why would I leave?

George:

it's like I mean, you never know, right until you give it a crack. Who knows? So there's a rally happening which you only just found out about because we were speaking about it, and you're going to go because I know you're pumped, of course I know you're pumped.

George:

The rally for Australia, taking Australia back, or something like that on the 31st of August, so this episode will air literally the day after that event and we're just reading up on it before. It's a protest about immigration into this country. So people are saying they're letting too many people in and Australia is losing their identity. Other people are branding it as a racist march as well, which I don't think it is. I think there's just a level of frustration, not specifically to immigration. I think people are just hanging their hat on that and saying, okay, well, cost of living is out of control, I can't buy a house, everything's expensive and we've lost our identity. So it's obviously come down to the immigration. I reckon there's a level of that too. So that's happening on the 31st. It'll be interesting to see what comes of it and how many people actually go to it. They're just marching in capital cities, they're protesting.

Robby:

So what's the outcome?

George:

What's the outcome of most marches? They're obviously going against the policy of their mass immigration that they've got at the moment, and whether that changes or not, so you know, when people strike, I get that it's like, hey, we're not going to work until you do this thing.

Robby:

It's like, okay, cool, we need to change something here, otherwise this thing's not going to get done. But a bunch of people walking through the city, it's like stop walking. I don't understand, I know, I know.

George:

I know it's like it's. I feel that you're right in that regard, that nothing's going to come of this. They're not going to change their policy tomorrow. They're not going to change their views on anything tomorrow.

George:

I think if it happened every day, you know, once when I can't remember what country this it was in, I think it was France and the government came in and put some tax on farmers or something like that, and it was like outrage. The country was like up, they were just losing their mind, so much so that farmers grabbed all the manure across their farms, put them on trucks and whatnot, and then went to Parliament House and blew the shit. He goes. You want to give us shit, we'll give you shit. And they blew all the manure across parliament, across the streets of France, and then the next day they cancelled that tax or whatever it was, that restriction on the farmers.

George:

See, that's great in that regard, from a perspective of the people that are controlling the government. It's not the other way around, whereas I think very much here we're just dictated to in the sense of that's what we're going to do. We're introducing this tax, we're introducing this policy and you can't do anything about it. And that shits me. I'm personally seeing a lot more people creating content about it and saying we're sick of this, we're this, it's this, and so on and so forth. Like those machete bins. Have you seen those or heard of those?

Robby:

Yeah, yeah.

George:

So $13 million for however many bins it was 300 bins or some shit like that I'd love to be a bin maker at that point in time.

Robby:

Surely there's a brown paper bag. Someone's looked after them. Fuckin' oh, Someone's looked after them. There's someone there going I worked it out to.

George:

Yeah $330,000 for a box, a metal box, exactly A metal box, which might have a flap on it or something like that. Okay, don't give me any bullshit that it costs $330,000 to make that thing. It doesn't. In material alone it's probably $1,000. Okay, in labor, what do?

Robby:

you reckon something like that honestly.

George:

Honestly, if you told me they cost five grand, I'd be like, yeah, it's fair enough and even that's a lot big. That's it is. But I'm I'm being practical about it. I understand what. I'm a builder, I know what materials cost.

Robby:

I know what labor costs, even at five thousand dollars, all right you want to bolt it down or anything big deal, I'm just that's four bolts. That's five bucks a bolt.

George:

Do you know what I mean? Even for supply, manufacturing and installation. Call it 10 grand, all right. Supply and install Even that's all expensive, and they've calculated it to cost $330,000 a bin. Now what shits me about that is? I never got asked, there was never a vote, there was never any logic behind the madness. It was just we're going to go out and spend $13 million of taxpayer money to get these bins installed.

Robby:

But the whole concept of voting is not that you vote for everything that happens.

George:

No of course, of course, yes, that's right, but at what point is it irresponsible? So, australia I wish I had the stats on me and I probably should have come a bit better prepared, but we are in a huge deficit, like we're spending more money than we've ever spent before. And I actually heard something the other day in the since 24, from 2014,. Since the time the labor government got into power, so from 2014 prior, we were $21 billion in debt, or something like that. From 14,. In the last nine years, in the last 10 years that we've been that Labor's been in power, they've accumulated like $196 billion in debt. They're spending without thinking. They're spending money they don't have and it's probably going to be okay.

George:

You walk outside. It's a good day. People don't look like they're struggling, especially where our office is. I think it's going to be like that for probably the next five to 10 years, because it creates a false economy, as in they're spending money, so things are happening. Creates a false economy, as in they're spending money, so things are happening.

George:

We've got lots of people coming into the country, immigrants. They've opened the doors to Australia. Yeah, everyone come in. Come in and live here. Those people coming here are spending money. They're buying houses, they're buying food, they're buying clothes and groceries and all that sort of stuff. I don't feel that anyone's really feeling the pinch now.

George:

I reckon in the next sort of five to 10 to 15 years and our children's children, they're all going to be fucked based off the decisions that the government's making now. Like if you're in business, like look at it as a business, you're spending more money than you're making, like that's, you're gone, you're going to be broke. Look, they've got people who have no idea about government and about economics are making huge economic decisions, and I think that's a huge problem. And I reckon that's partly driven about this march, you reckon? I think so. I think there's just a level of frustration. I mean, I'm seeing it a lot on my feed and that's probably just because of the algorithm and what I'm consuming. Yeah, exactly, but I'm seeing a lot of political my feed and that's probably just because of the algorithm and what I'm consuming?

George:

Yeah, exactly, but I'm seeing a lot of political stuff on there and just dumb things, things that a logical, sound person would look at and go. Maybe it's not the best thing to spend $13 million on 150, 300 bins, whatever it is. Maybe that's not the best use of our money right now. Maybe we should do this. Maybe we should cut spending here, and I think politicians are cowards these days. I don't see anyone making hard decisions.

George:

Do you know what I loved the other day I saw with Trump? I haven't spoken about him for a little while, but what a guy. Let's get him on the podcast. He put a law into place that if anyone burns an American flag, they'll get one year in jail, not one day, not 10 days. It's not negotiable. You burn an American flag, you spit on an American flag, you do anything to disrespect that flag you will get a whole year in jail, all right. And you put that in. How many people do you reckon are going to be burning flags now? Yeah, none, none. They're going to get rid of it completely. That whole issue and that whole disrespect of that. They're going to eradicate that. They're the type of things that I don't think any politician here has a backbone to do. Sorry, I've seen a few politicians trying to make a difference and trying to change things, but none in significant power.

Robby:

Yeah, but we're part of the Commonwealth, like we're restricted.

George:

With what? Oh, with the governance.

Robby:

Yeah, yeah, but there is the same way, dude. This is a battle between security and freedom. It is, yeah, 100%. And they're like two opposite ends of the same stick, yep. And it's like, if you want more of this, you have less of this. That's right. That's how things work, that's right.

George:

And it has to come back the other way. There has to be some restrictions. There has to be a level of now security because we're living a pretty no no of now security because we're living a pretty no, no. I'm not saying from a safe perspective, I'm saying even from a financial security. Like there's got to be someone that has to make some hard calls and go, you know what. We're not going to spend money on these things now, because we don't need that. We actually need to start making some money. We need to start generating some positive things coming through, Like they're introducing all these new taxes that they're introducing and new things that they're trying to do.

George:

It's like, mate, are you serious? They're increasing. Now if you work from home, they're trying to claim that you have to now pay more land tax working from home, because your business is operating out of there. It's like you've got people who it's Vic only, yeah, but regardless, it's still a new thing that they're trying to bring in and then watch the other states do it too. I think the government needs to go. There needs to be a change in government Australia-wide yeah, probably Australia-wide. Albanese is a fucking idiot too. You don't like him? No, I just think he's an idiot. The guy might be all right, but I just think you're making stupid decisions. You don't have a backbone and you're not as you said it to me the other day like everyone thinks they're doing the right thing. All right. They really, they genuinely believe that. I think most people are like that.

Robby:

Yes, Of course, no one sits there saying this is the wrong thing, yeah that's right.

George:

So I believe he thinks he's doing the right thing. I just don't. It's just not. I just see the decisions he's making are just not the best for the country. They're the best for his party and to get re-elected and to continue their journey.

Robby:

So why do you think he wants to get re-elected?

George:

Well, because you're in power, why wouldn't you?

Robby:

party to be reelected? Yeah, but so answer the question. Don't say why wouldn't you?

George:

Why do I think? To Well, it's power.

Robby:

So why does he want to be in power? What's the if you're saying he's making bad decisions and he's not doing anything, is it?

George:

money. No, that's my look, that's my opinion. They think even our premier is up there. Yeah, she's. What's her name? I don't know, she's annoying, I'll know when you say it, but anyway she's making half a mil. She's like the most highest paid, she's annoying, did you?

George:

say yeah, yeah, she's a fucking idiot I don't know, just like Andrews it's. He gave her all the fucking idiot choices and she's now taking care of it too, but the decisions like she was the bin decision maker. Just that alone should fire you, nicole. No, oh, whatever. Anyway, see, that's how Lids look like. I don't care enough to even know her name, but anyway, okay.

George:

So let's look at the immigration. Most of these people coming into the country are going to vote Labor as well, so you're getting a huge population of these immigrants going to vote Labor, because Labor always gives. They always look after the people. They always try and please the people, but I think some hard decisions need to be made and changed. What would you change?

George:

Spending? I'd have a look. I'd do what Elon did or what Trump did with Elon. Are they mates now? Did they kiss and make up? Weren't they punching on or something? You were into the politics for ages. Now you're taking a step back into the American one. Just head down working. I would look at spending. I would stop spending To a degree. We still need to spend some money to keep the economy going. But I'd just look at spending. I would stop spending to a degree. We still need to spend some money to keep the economy going. But I just look at where are we spending our money, like what things are actually genuinely going to help us and make us prosper. I reckon we have a spending problem in this country and I think we have a-.

Robby:

How does that impact?

George:

you. How does it impact me? Look, day-to-day probably not at all. I think in the long term it will for sure yeah, but From a perspective of housing prices, from everything, from all the things all our just expenses of living, you know, taxes that are being introduced, it just makes the game harder to win for individuals and, like you, see how hard it is for most people to buy a house today. Imagine what it's going to be like in 20 years or in 15 years, when our kids are now looking to buy their first property.

Robby:

Yeah, but you could say the same thing about America. If you look at America-.

George:

Potentially. I don't know what the economy is like over there, but yeah, potentially.

Robby:

Like it's going to cap out somewhere, doesn't it? With what Like property prices.

George:

Yeah, you would think so Like kind of plateaus yeah, yeah, you would think so and also like you don't have to live where you grew up. A lot of people can't do that, so there are cheaper options for home ownership.

Robby:

A lot of people can't live where they grew up.

George:

Yeah, like as in if you grew up in Albert Park, for example, all right, 30 years ago, 20 years ago, and to buy a house in Albert Park now is very different from what it was back then. So, yeah, there's the urban sprawl that you can do and have that property ladder mindset oh, I'm going to buy here, then I'll buy here, then I'll buy here and I'll eventually move into where I want to move into. But I think that's the problem, as in day-to-day I don't notice it, but it frustrates me. I'm a logical person, I'm a practical person and when I see stupid decisions like the bins, getting that much money being spent on those bins, I'm like what an absolute waste of money. And especially because even the logic behind it is stupid, we want criminals to come and bring their machetes and put them in the bin in their own free will, because do you have a machete?

Robby:

Me.

George:

Three, three. Have you used them recently, though A couple of times, a couple of times. Well, I don't have any machetes. I don't know who would help me to get one Exactly. Do you know what I mean? So the person that's even going to go out to buy a machete and use a machete for whatever fucking purpose it's going to be used for, all right, they're going to go. You know what? I better go to this bin and drop it off, because that's the right thing to do. Mind you, security cameras all over the bin so they can see who's dropping the bins off, who's dropping these things off. I want to go and drop off butter knife, just one, here we go.

Robby:

Put it in Get use of my taxpayer dollars. I don't know, I don't follow the policies, I don't know.

George:

Yeah, I see a lot now, like even on our fossil fuels. We're the third biggest country in the world that exports fossil fuels and we make no fucking money from it. None, we're trying to go to renewable energies, which are so super expensive. When we have coal, when we have oil I don't know if we have oil, but we have gas when we have all these resources at our fingertips and we make no money from it, we give it away for fucking free, pretty much. They're in itself. Why? Just people making bad policies and lining their own pockets? They'll make undercut like the individual is being looked after, I think, in that instance, and it'll be. Oh, we'll give you $100 million. I said, bloke, you go to Saudi. They're exporting their oil and everything for billions and trillions of dollars and you've given me 50 million. That's stupidity, Making those decisions to go okay, guys, you want to take our resources?

George:

Well, our country is going to benefit from that. I'm not going to just look at taxing people more so I can just milk everyone for every cent they own. No, I'm going to create wealth within the country. What can I do to do that? That's the first place you have to look. I look at Australia as a business. What does Australia do really well, we don't manufacture anything. We don't do that because our labor rate's just through the fucking roof and it's just not sustainable for us to make anything here. Okay, so what's the next thing? Well, we've got plenty of natural resources. Let's make money on that. We're the third biggest in the world. We sell coal to China for nothing, and gas and all that sort of stuff, and they use it and they burn it and they make everything they've got to do, and yet we don't do any of that. We don't sell it at those prices. Imagine making trillions of dollars from our resources.

Robby:

That solves half of your issues. So what are you going to do?

George:

about it. That's another question, isn't it? I don't know. I don't know. Even if I was that passionate about it to get into the place and go well, I'm going to do something about this I feel that it would fall on deaf ears. I feel that I'd be trying to fight a losing battle, Because I see some people. I see some people doing their podcasts. They're doing, they're having discussions. I've seen some politicians get up there and talking about it, Like what happens? Why Nothing's happening. I feel that people are having the discussion. They're doing this march now, but what's going to happen as a result of it? I don't feel that anything happens. There's a big disconnect there. The people that are in power are not, or the people, the decision makers, whoever they are, they're the ones not making the call, because I don't think it suits their selfish individual needs and party needs. Let's say the march.

Robby:

What's it about?

George:

I think the topic around it is immigration Stop immigration. I don't think you can stop immigration. I think it's the right thing. They're just saying from what I've read yeah, from what I've read is Australia's losing their identity and we're just letting too many foreigners in and you know they're contributing to the cost of living and to all these pressures. I just think people are blaming that for the bigger issue, which is we're just not well governed.

Robby:

So you think it's a government problem? I think so.

George:

Yeah, I mean. What else is it If you're looking at it from a perspective of?

Robby:

I don't know. You can look at a business and do you always blame the person at the top?

George:

It'd have to be a fair fucking assumption. Yeah, like, why wouldn't it always be the person at the top I'm asking? Yeah, I think so. If the buck stops with you, then yes, absolutely. But I reckon that that's where the problem is, that it's a governance issue and that's what needs to change. And, unfortunately, unless Australians just went, okay, we've got the march, you've got to march on the 31st. If you really cared that much about these things, you need to go to, like, parliament House. You need to like hurl shit, like not violence, not reckless damage. You heard it here first.

Robby:

Like the guys at Brent's. It's like you listen to this on Monday and people bring a truck of manure. Yeah, it's all over the news and people have oh damn.

George:

You've got to force change. Yeah, it's going to air after.

Robby:

Post it on Facebook.

George:

I will. I will Do a snippet from this clip. But if they did that every single day for the next week, like, as you said, we're going to strike because we want change and we're not coming back to work until we get that change, I think there has to be a level of that. It has to be so. People have to be very united in what they want and what they're about in that cause, and then it has to be some serious action that forces change.

Robby:

Yeah, but I don't think we have that here.

George:

I don't think we'll ever have that here. We don't have freedom.

George:

No, but even look at but we have security. Look at, yeah, look at, during COVID, like people were protesting. Then Did anything change? Did you see any significant change to the rules, with all the protests about jabs, about lockdowns? No, none of that. Nothing changed. There's zero.

George:

If anything, it got worse. They had protests in the city with the construction industry the next week. The industry was shut down for two weeks. That's what our mate Andrews did. He shut us down for two weeks.

George:

After they did that march in the city with all the construction workers, they said no, we're not getting the jab, we're not doing this. And then he said oh fine, well, I'll lock you down for two weeks. Now imagine if they said during that lockdown for two weeks, I said fuck you, mate, we're going to be a parliament house every day. You don't have enough police, you don't have an army, you don't have anyone that can stop us for the next two. You want to stop us? Cool, we'll see you outside your parliament house for the next two weeks. And it got so intense. Maybe it is a level of writing I'm not promoting, I'm not endorsing that, but maybe there's. That's what it sounds like, but you know what I mean Like we're going to burn this fucking building to the ground. You have an option. That's all we want. We want someone that's going to come in and change and make the best decisions for this country, for this day.

Robby:

So why do you think no one's done that yet? I don't you know what I hate? This shits me up the wall. I got like you follow AFL. Yeah, I don't follow AFL anymore.

George:

Yes, I think it is. I understand you don't why you don't. To tell you the truth, I really don't.

Robby:

It's become a very extreme. I don't know any other sport that changes its rules as much. I don't know any other sport where the players can't call someone gay without getting four weeks suspension.

George:

Yeah, Like you're too controlled and not allowed to say anything out. The players have no personalities. Politically correct, yeah, I agree. Politically I agree. Do you know what I mean? And I heard the latest just to interject, so you know who's performing at the afl grand final. Have you heard?

Robby:

yeah, yeah, snoop, dogg, yeah, yeah. So have you heard what's happening?

George:

they're trying to stop that. Now. How could you have? I heard like some politicians say something and I never comment on their stuff and I told her to shut the fuck up. I actually commented S-T-F-U, but she said how could we have this guy presenting at the AFL and his derogatory comments to women and this and this and this and blah, blah, blah and all these swear words and smoking and promoting this? What example is he trying to set? Like shut the fuck up. The guy just plays some good music and I love Snoop Dogg for one thing he said specifically Again, a little bit sideways, but one thing he goes. A lady was interviewing him and she's like hey, because he's changed his way. Like he does a lot of charity work, he's a grandfather. Like he's got kids. He's not what he used to be when he was 20 years old, he's grown up. He's grown up. He's a contributing member of society. Now he's a legend. Yeah, but-.

Robby:

Yes, he is. How many people can do it? He stayed relevant.

George:

Yes, and also, anyway, regardless, the lady that was interviewing him. It was in the States and she's like look, you know, see, you've come so far. You're doing songs with, like Katy Perry and all these people, like you're doing kids songs, like you're on you're doing cooking shows. And she's like do you regret the songs that you used to sing back in the days? Like fuck, no, fuck those hoes. Yeah, and he's like but you know what I mean? He said that, but he followed up. He goes fuck those hoes.

George:

But in the sense of that's who I was back. Like that was part of my journey, of where I am today. I would not change a thing. I had to be that person and say those things and do those things and be in a gang and be with this and do all that sort of stuff to be the man that I am today. So he goes. I would not change or regret anything I did, and also there was a level of fame, success, popularity that came from me doing all those things too, because if I didn't say those things, if I wasn't going down that path, I wouldn't be where I am today. What a legend to stick by him and what he's done. And then you got all these fucking lefties in Australia saying, oh, get rid of Snoop Dogg from the AFL grand final. He's not going to go up there and talk about fucking bitches. Do you know what I mean? He's going to go up there and he'll sing some of his songs, his popular songs, and he'll entertain the crowd. It'd be very good if he did though.

George:

I'd buy a ticket. Sorry to interject. You're talking about the AFL and how you're pissed off at it.

Robby:

Where was I going with that, Mark?

George:

You were talking about how they you know they can't they change the rules every five minutes. No one can. There's no personality with the players because they can't say anything.

Robby:

Before that we were talking about.

George:

We're talking about change. Oh, yes, yes, yes.

Robby:

So this shits me up the wall. I oh, yes, yes, yes. So this shits me up the wall. I used to follow footy religiously. I was a member. I'd go to games. I used to watch most games on the weekend. I knew players.

George:

I liked the sport overall. It's kind of sad that you don't like that anymore.

Robby:

Yeah, completely. It's a great sport.

George:

It's not the sport at its core. It's horrible. It's a great sport. It's not the sport at its core. It's horrible.

Robby:

But overall now, looking outside, looking in, I'm telling you I don't know what's happened. Maybe it's just me, it's not. I know so many people that are like this. Yeah, but one thing that used to happen a lot when I used to watch it was I'd get family members or other people that would be like why doesn't the coach just do this, this and that? And it's like dude, they're paying him a million bucks. You're sitting here.

George:

You're in the grandstand.

Robby:

How do you think you are more qualified to make that decision? Yeah, do you know what I mean. Think about it.

George:

I hear people like that all the time, even at the game you hear people like that all the time, Even at the game, you hear people like what's he doing? Run you weak prick, and meanwhile he's eating 43 burgers and hot chips.

Robby:

Yeah, or lazy shit. The coach is so dumb man. You know what I'd do. I'd do this and I'd put him in that position and I'd tell them go kick some more gold. And you're like, dude, shut your mouth, Like why he's there and you're here, that's right, okay. And don't you believe that in some level there has to be some context? They have, like, that person got to that position and, yes, is there going to be the odd one who's not the smartest human being who got lucky and got there? Yeah, without a doubt. But don't you think, most of the time, like majority rules, right, like it's always going to lean in the it's not always going to be the person who's not the smartest that gets there? Yeah, that life doesn't work that way, that's right. It's very low probability of that happening. So don't you think most of the people in that position have some level of context or understanding that you don't have?

George:

Without a doubt, there has to be. Yeah, there has to be.

Robby:

Otherwise how, not how, did you get there? That's, and that's why I'm sure albanese knows a lot about, a lot more about economic policy than I do.

George:

Yeah, yeah, but I'm saying like, do you think he has some context of like he can't be that stupid? I? I think that politicians in this country, anyway, probably in all of them in saying that so there's a level of showmanship, there's a level of influence that you need to have to be able to answer questions. In a certain way. I reckon there's that level of influence like that underground influence, where you can manipulate and change people's views and perceptions based off the words coming out of your mouth. Now I reckon those people are put forward as the leader and then behind them are the people that are making the decisions and doing stuff.

George:

Like that there has to be, if I was leader, right, we say we joke, not we joke, we say when I'm premier, when it happens and then eventually PM that I'm going to go change the world, I'm going to do all these things, I'm going to say all this, going to get rid of all this stuff, but ultimately I would be leaning on professionals to be doing that stuff for me. I would be engaging the best people to do those things and to make those decisions. And then I would gather that information and go cool, we'll go in this direction. But when someone said to me well, what's the GDP of this? What's that? Where's the economic forecast? I don't know.

Robby:

Let me ask my advisor.

George:

Yeah, so you don't think they're doing that?

Robby:

They would have to have teams behind them.

George:

Yeah, what you're explaining would be the easiest way to proceed. Yeah, I don't think it's all that. I reckon there's still a level of smarts about them and you know, they've got to go through the ranks. It's not like Albanese woke up one day and was prime minister, or any of them for that matter. They had a process. They've been doing it for probably 30, 40 years before they got to that spot. So there's a level of experience that comes with that too. Yes, there has to be. They would see things. They would probably be the person doing the do, writing the policy or issuing the policy or coming up with the idea. So, yes, I think there's a level of that. But when they get to that top position, how influential they are, I don't know. I can't recall. I know more things that Trump has done for his country than I know our prime ministers have done for ours.

Robby:

Do you think there's a level of corruption?

George:

Yes, I think there is. I don't know if there is, but there would be Like, how could you be giving all your shit away for free, like all your natural resources, for practically nothing? They don't pay tax, they don't buy it from us, like buy it from us? In the grand scheme of things, they're giving it away. So someone's pockets are being lined. Something is happening in these instances and you hear the stories. You hear a government person was working with Santos, giving them the ins, the outs, whatever it might be, and then they one of the guys exporting resources I think gas, whatever fossil fuels and they then leave politics and have got a million dollar a year job at that company. So I think there is a level of that that goes on. But again, I don't know Just what I've seen and heard and things that come up on my feed, but it's probably like that at all levels.

Robby:

Which takes me back to my original question. So what are you going to do about it? Yeah, honestly, nothing. I'm going to keep working here, I. What are you going to do about it? Yeah, honestly nothing.

George:

I'm going to keep working here. I'm going to try to win here at my game. That's what I'm going to do. I'm going to be above that, so what?

Robby:

if it gets to the point where it's.

George:

You know you can't win. They just come in and take everything.

Robby:

Not you can't win, but like I, we've got pretty high tax rates Maybe.

George:

Yeah, I know.

Robby:

But I'm saying Maybe we go. Yeah, that's right. I watched a. I actually saw a Post that Adrian Portelli did, yeah, yesterday, and he showed and I I got no idea Whether he's putting it on or not, but he showed how much money he's transferred to the ATO In the month of August and it was like I don't know 7 million, and he showed all the transfers. Now is that 7 million because he hasn't paid it for the last 90 days? I don't know, but 7 million bucks is a lot of money. You know what I mean. And it's like at what point does it become to the point where you're like, hey, this is, you know what I mean. You guys aren't providing, like, okay, you pay high taxes with the expectation of you guys provide a ridiculously good place to live, yeah, safe, growing, you know, affordable, blah, blah, blah.

George:

They're not making the best decisions with their money. That's what I mean. They're not. So what are you? What's the breaking point? I don't know, like I don't know the answer to that. There's a I'm. I find I'm just frustrated with it. Yeah, because have you heard the?

Robby:

term of the, the frog in boiling water you had the yes, whether you warm it up yeah, so a frog. If you throw a frog train into boiling water, it'll jump straight out. So some people might come to this country like this is fucked, yeah, but if you slowly increase the temperature of the water.

Robby:

If you throw into cold water and slowly increase the temperature of the water. If you throw it into cold water and slowly increase the temperature, it won't notice. And the next thing you know, the frog's boiled. That's right. So at what point are we starting to boil?

George:

Yeah, I reckon we're getting close to it. In all honesty, I reckon we are. I reckon there's a level of this country is starting to boil, but some people are just fed up with it. And I don't know, I don't know, I don't know the answer. The answer is hopefully you can vote for people that are going to make the positive change at this point, like that's your, that's your power, but, as I said, like too many people are just labor, throwing money at them. Then the life is easy, like the doll is easy. I've heard of like I've heard of stories. I was watching this interview with Pauline Hanson the other day. The goal is easy. I've heard of stories.

George:

I was watching this interview with Pauline Hanson the other day and it was some immigrant from wherever he was. I don't even know where he was from, but he was sitting there and openly saying he goes. I've got family members there's probably six or seven of us. He goes. We've got three houses paid off and we've done it all from the dole. He goes.

George:

The system is set up for us to come in and claim it, so why won't I? I've come to this country. They're just giving me stuff. They're giving me houses, they're giving me this. They're giving me money, so we're going to do it, all of us. We go in there and we get our money, we put it together, we go buy a house, we go do this and then we just continue our role. And Pauline Hanson's like this is your system, we're just working it. There's just bad spending across the board and it's encouraging people to do the wrong thing and look out for their own needs. That's where I see it. I don't know the answer. I'm frustrated that I wish I could do something. I wish if I went, if it meant me going to the protest on Saturday was going to create the difference, I'd probably go, but it's not, so I'm not going to go.

Robby:

By the time this airs, people are going to see footage of George. He'll be the one with the biggest flag Leading the protest.

George:

We're in Australia.

Robby:

I'll have the Australian flag going. The biggest flag Leading the protest. We're in Australia.

George:

I have the Australian flag going yeah.

Robby:

And hey, you got to ask that question though.

George:

Just for context too. Yeah, both you and I are Australian citizens, but we're immigrant parents. We've come here from another country. We were born. Our roots are from another country, not this one. Your parents were born. My dad was born in Greece. My mum was born here, but her parents were born.

Robby:

My dad was born in.

George:

Greece. My mum was born here, but her parents were born in Greece.

George:

My mum lived in Greece for a few years as well. Your mum was born here. Yeah, yeah, mum was born here. Does your mum speak full English? Yeah, yeah, oh, really, okay, yeah, no accent, not like your dad. No, not like my dad. Shout out to Steve. Shout out to Steve week, so we'll get him on. Get him on the podcast. That'll be a great episode for you all. We should say we should say okay. So this one time old man came in the office speaking to robbie and he's like you guy, you guys. He's like you guys don't know what you're talking about. And robbie's like what the fuck, what's? He call me. Yeah, you guys, he gets you gay. He goes no, I'm not, I'm not dating your son. He just couldn't tell the accent. He goes no, you guys, oh, you guys not you gays.

George:

I'm so convinced he called us gays Biggest fan watches every episode on YouTube, number one fan. Yeah, but I mean that might be interesting to have a chat with someone about. You know from a previous generation how they see things and what it was like when they came to Australia. Do you believe we're racist in this country?

Robby:

I believe everyone's racist. Okay, cool, don't you? Are you saying you love all cultures equally? That's stupid. Like that's just you're lying. Yeah, like everyone has some level of. I don't have to like everything about every culture.

George:

No, that's right Now.

Robby:

I think it is incorrect to be like oh, if you're Greek, I don't like you.

George:

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I think that's wrong To have that blanket rule.

Robby:

Yeah, yeah, to have a blanket rule, but I think blanket rules are wrong in life. Yeah, do you know what I mean? Yeah, to think that someone is better because they're a certain yes, that's different. Yeah, nationality is wrong too. Yeah, you know what I mean? Oh, you're Greek, I'm Greek. Oh, cool, and like we should be friends. It's like no, like I look for people who, or something like that. Right, without a doubt.

George:

How many Lebanese have you met that you don't like or you wouldn't align with, and vice versa, with Greek None?

Robby:

Not even one. What are you talking about?

George:

Shout out to our Lebo community. But yeah, I mean, I couldn't agree more, because it's funny. Whenever because I'm a builder, it's like I'll get a great client, like, oh, you know, you know, you look after me because I'm great. No, I'll look after you because I'm a great builder, I'll look after you because we're the best person to build this property. Just because you and my dad came from the same village, like thus makes no difference to me whatsoever if you're a good person yes, but that was the old way, very much so.

George:

Look, there's cultural similarities that you can make assumptions on. You know, because they're Greek and they or a certain ethnicity. You can definitely have cultural similarities that you could make some decent assumptions on, but it doesn't make them a good person. There are plenty of Greeks that are horrible people.

Robby:

Yeah, I agree with that rule. It doesn't make them a good or bad person. Yeah, that's right. To judge them by that thing is the incorrect thing. Yeah, Okay, so everyone's racist yeah don't you reckon everyone has some level of racism?

George:

Yeah, without a doubt. Yes, I do.

Robby:

I think it's a like you shouldn't promote. It, don't get me wrong. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I think it is delusional to sit here and say I like everyone equally, all cultures, everything. It's like what, if I don't like Greek food? That?

George:

means you don't like it equally. Yeah, am.

Robby:

I racist now, yeah, am I racist because I don't like Greek food?

George:

Well, that comes down to what you were saying just before with the AFL, it don't like greek food. Well, that comes down to what you're saying, but just before with the afl, it's like you can't have an opinion. Yeah, in any of the matters, dude.

Robby:

Yeah, it's like someone said oh, you know, nice kick homo. Is that what he said? I've no idea. No idea, there's no. One said dude, there's been no idea mentions about homophobic slurs. That's right in the last six weeks, or whatever yeah, I don't necessarily think the guy's gonna miss, the guy's gonna miss finals he'll probably miss the grand final. He'll only make the grand final if his team loses the elimination final. Make the grand final. Oh sorry, I get what you're saying.

George:

So he has four games. Four games, yeah, so for him to make the-. So if they win, every game If they win every game that's Adelaide, isn't it?

Robby:

I think so, yeah, yeah, so, but if they lose the first game and then win the next games he'll get to play in the grand final. It's like that's pretty stupid. This is ridiculous, this is what they play for.

George:

Yeah, exactly. What a great way to put it. This is what they play for.

Robby:

Like this is the moment and you guys are saying, oh, you said a word, you said a word, a word, you said a word. Your face made a sound that we don't like.

George:

Okay, so can I change that now? What if it was a racial slur? Does that change it?

Robby:

What's the drop? Drop, drop, Do you want?

George:

me to say the N? Do you want me to say the N word? Never? Do you know what I mean? Or, or or. It was an Aboriginal player and he gave, he insulted their heritage, or something like that.

Robby:

Listen, I think you should be respectful to all humans.

George:

Yeah, so then is there a level of respect to the?

Robby:

gays? Yeah, you know what I mean. Yeah, I don't think you should knock off to someone because they're gay.

George:

Oh no, I'm just saying in this aspect of the AFL now. So what's the rule Like? Should the AFL have said, ah, you'll be right Just. Should the AFL have said, ah, you'll be right, Just don't do it again.

Robby:

No, I think it's. First of all, I think it's excessive. Second of all, I think the players have no, like they're pretty much saying hey, all you guys need to be robots. Yeah, what AFL player's personality who? Yeah, I actually Jason Ackermanis was the last one. Do you know what I mean? Like, who in?

George:

the AFL, maybe Ginnivan. At the moment he gets roasted for every single thing that happens, dude.

George:

Did you see? The other day he stuck his finger up at an Adelaide Crow supporter. Well, they did anyway. So he was walking off the bench. They lost the game Walking off. Someone was giving it to him. He just went like that and gave it to him and the AFL fined him. They'll find him at $1,000. That's what I'm saying. You know what he did? He tweeted best money ever spent. Good on him, yeah, good on him. At least he's got that personality about him to say well, fuck it, man, here's $1,000. Don't talk to me. So at least I rate that from him, at least.

Robby:

So I watch the UFC and then you get people in the UFC who can turn around and very extreme. Well, why I?

George:

don't know. It's like they're attacking from all those perspectives from a racial one, from a belief one, a view one everything and some of them they probably shouldn't say. Yeah.

Robby:

But Conor McGregor was notorious for that. He definitely crossed the line. Yeah, but I think the element of so is that what you want in the AFL?

George:

Is that what you would like to see? No, yeah, exactly so. Is there a rule? Is there a line? Where's the line that you shouldn't be crossing?

Robby:

Yeah, so I think it should be within reason. Do you know what I mean? I think that is too far left right now. Yeah, I agree with you. You said a homophobic slur which was said in songs and stuff like 20 years ago. Yeah, yeah, Do you know what I mean? And now you can't Dude. I watched a clip. I'm pretty sure it was said in a movie. You know what I mean. I'm thinking of the F.

George:

Faggot. Yeah, sure they said it on Step Brothers. I love that one.

George:

But, do you know what I mean? A perfect example like that. I can't remember the last time they had a movie where they said stuff like that. And that's again. Guys, I'm not trying to be mean or anything you said, it's just a word that's coming out of your mouth, it's a sound. I'm not targeting that to anyone or saying it in a way that's derogatory. I'm just saying that that's what he said and they would say it in a joking manner. Okay, so stepbrothers, for example, will. It was Will Ferrell's car, I think it was Will Ferrell or one of the other guys that were hugging. And then he's like, yeah, you'd like that faggot. And is he now homophobic because he said that in an acting role? Or is the producer or the writers? Are they now bad people because they put that in a comedy movie?

Robby:

That's what I'm saying. But that's the game that they've, the rules that they've kind of outlined. You know what I mean. And it's like now you cannot say that, and it's like they're setting a, they're putting everyone else on notice. Yeah, I think that's what it's more about.

George:

I think that's what it's more about. I think that's what it's more about Using those two guys that got four to five weeks off as an example.

Robby:

So can he call him anything else? Are they allowed to swear, like where do we draw the line To go the other way to what you said? Okay, we don't want racial slurs, that's a bit excessive. But where do we draw the line? Are you allowed to swear? Are you allowed to say, hey, idiot. Yeah, you called him an idiot four weeks, bro. Yeah, do you know what I mean?

George:

Like where do you stop the line? That's exactly right, yeah, does it get to that point eventually.

Robby:

I'm offended. You call me an idiot. That means you think I'm dumb, I think I'm smart. You call him a moron. Are you allowed to say hi, can you bump him? Yeah, if you bump him and he hurts you, you bump him because he's gay. Yeah, oh, hey, you bumped a gay guy. Yeah, four weeks, like where do you?

George:

draw the line. I don't know, yeah, exactly, but this is a great example of that. Yeah, and I think that's what's happening here, the far on one side, even in our politics now, yeah, I agree With the decision making, with the policies, with everything, and it's just not serving our country.

Robby:

I agree and I think we've done this well, but I think you need to. If you go to a new country, I think you need to assimilate. What do you mean To some degree Like fit in.

George:

Oh, without a doubt, you know what I mean You're in their country.

Robby:

You're in their country. I think that's the biggest mistake people make. Yeah, they come and they don't want to do and it's like hey, man, like if you want to do all things the way it was done in your country, go to your country. Yeah, like, there's nothing wrong with saying that, I believe.

George:

And I feel that that's where people are getting that level of frustration here is you're getting a whole group of people coming across, whatever nationality it is, and then them coming here and putting their views, their beliefs, their everything into the country and what they're doing here and don't want to follow the rules of this country.

George:

An example I could use is like okay, I don't know if this is still a thing anymore I think it might've sort of been brushed out, but it still might be Celebrating Christmas in schools. They don't celebrate Christmas in schools because there's some children there that aren't Christians, so they'll be like oh well, we can't celebrate Christmas, we can't put up Christmas decorations, we can't sing Christmas carols, we can't do any of that. We can't color in a Christmas tree on one of the days because this person doesn't believe in Christmas, and then they've stamped that out. So there's an example of that's the values of this country. We're a Christian society. Why wouldn't you celebrate that aspect of Christmas, and I find that silly. I don't know if they still do that in schools, though I do know a little while.

Robby:

It wouldn't surprise me if they did. I don't know, but you can, yeah. The other extreme is like why do you have to teach kids about gays? Like why do you have to teach an? Eight-year-old about that, no, yeah, without a doubt. Like, or a 10 year old, like why would you go and confuse a child? A child's mind is malleable. Why would you go? And yeah, and I like people say education, blah, blah, and it's like like that's not, they're not gonna know that's not education, that's.

George:

That's forcing a belief, that's brainwashing, that's right.

Robby:

I think people need to definitely assimilate more.

George:

Yeah, and you see, like okay, you go to Dubai, all right, you reckon they're going to be accepting of you whatever, disrespecting their culture in any way or imposing your beliefs on that country in any way? Of course not, or any of those Arab countries along there. They won't accept that for a moment. There's a clear line in the sand with that. We don't have that clear line no.

Robby:

I agree, maybe that's what we need. Did you see those videos from the people burning the Australian flag? No, I haven. Maybe that's what we need Videos of. Did you see those videos, that thing from the people burning the Australian flag? No, I haven't seen that. Oh, you didn't see it. No, in Sydney no, oh yeah, people burnt the Australian flag while protesting the Palestine.

George:

Yeah. So see, I find that that's too much. I find that highly disrespectful. And again, I'm a Greek-Australian. I feel more connection to this country than I do Greece. I speak Greek.

Robby:

Australia and Greece went to war. Yeah, which team would I be on? Who knows, which team would you be on?

George:

Stay in the middle. Let's be flags. What?

Robby:

I don't know. So they go stop, stop, let's be friends.

George:

What's his name? What was I saying? Yeah, like that's for me. There should be consequences for that. I look at that and go cool, you want to do that. Like Trump said, you want to burn the Australian flag, you get a year in jail, that's it. No fucking around you. You. You're come here, you're gone, lock them up.

Robby:

Yeah, I don't think that should be tolerated.

George:

You're burning a country's flag in the country, like that is one of the worst things you can do. I think the country that is hosting you whether you're a visitor or whether you are a resident and you come and do that here, that should be fucking good on him for doing that. We're too soft. Good on him. No, no, as in Trump, the same for that law that he put on.

Robby:

We're too laid back.

George:

Yeah.

Robby:

Ah, she'll be right. You know what I mean.

George:

Yeah Well, I mean, I didn't even know about that story until you told me.

Robby:

That was viral. There you go. Surprised, I didn't see it A few weeks back when they had the. Did you see the big when the harbour bridge whatever the what's the bridge they have in Sydney the Sydney harbour bridge is it? And it was covered in people.

George:

yeah, right, walking across um, but even then, what did that? What did that achieve? What did that? Exactly, I didn't even see yeah, you know what I mean. This is where the government just look at oh cool it's a day of interruption. I'm not driving down that side of town today.

Robby:

So what should people do?

George:

I reckon there needs to be unity, but are you going to get it? What else can you do? I don't know the answer. There has to be unity at either the voting booths or unity with, as I said, hurling shit at Parliament House, like there's got to be something there and it can't be just the 31st of August and then doesn't happen again.

Robby:

But isn't that what they're doing?

George:

It could be yeah, that could be the first step, and then maybe they go cool, we're going to be back here next week, next Sunday, we're all back here next Sunday, and then we're back here next Sunday, and we're back here next Saturday, and you know what, we'll do it on Wednesday too, for a while I don't know, will they have?

George:

weekly, no idea. I think I remember it being more prevalent during COVID, if anything, but not since then. And again, like I'm so focused on doing my own shit and trying to win the game and not worry about that too. So I think there's a level of that for me. I try and go well cool, I'm just going to try and rise above the rules that are here.

Robby:

So what has to happen for you to be like enough?

George:

That have to significantly personally affect me. It's not there now. I don't think it's there yet. No, yet I'm implying it's coming. No, I don't think it's there now. I don't think so. Still, like I said, so many good things about this country too. We sort of bash the policies, but it's safe. I walk outside and I feel safe. I don't know about you, but I'll go get a coffee and feel all right about it.

Robby:

You know, I don't watch the news at all, like at all at all. I don't watch the news at all, like at all at all. And people who do watch the news, like they have a whole different perspective on things. Yeah, yeah, interesting People are like I talk to people and they're like the world's out of control and I'm like what do you mean? Like all these robberies and blah? And I'm like what?

George:

are you talking about? I don't hear about it either, and they're like you haven't heard about all these robberies happening. I was actually speaking to Simon the other day in our office and he was saying because if you actually look at the stats, because our crime rate is down from this time five years ago or six years ago, whatever it is because there's less people committing crimes than there ever has been.

George:

And yet it's like you're hearing about these kids with machetes. It's a group of kids that have done this and now it's getting all the publicity. So, yeah, you're right in not listening to mainstream media.

Robby:

I think that news travels much faster now.

George:

I also think there's people who say to me like it wasn't like this 30 years ago.

Robby:

And I say, dude, you just didn't know about it.

George:

You just didn't know about it.

Robby:

Yeah, it wasn't like this 30 years ago. How old are you? 30. What the fuck Like? What are you? You were born 30 years ago, like you know, and everyone thinks, we. It's a human tendency to demonize the now and the future and praise the past. Yeah, like the good old days. The good old days. There's no one that hasn't heard that saying the good old days. What am I talking about? This is the good days now.

George:

Right now. This is sick. You'll be looking at this day in the future, going the good old days. You're living in the good old days right now, yeah. Whether you know it or not, you're living in it.

George:

Yeah, another way I would combat it is I would subscribe to this podcast. That's how I would do it. That would help everyone. Support the people. It would help everyone. That's it. Support this, support me. Send some donations our way. We'll put it to the fund to change people's lives. I'm going to change everyone's life through this podcast Me and you will change it. Make everyone understand the way that it is about giving us the money, not them.

Robby:

Well, we do have episode 100 coming up.

George:

We do. What an achievement Well done.

George:

Not there yet Not there yet. What could happen Might stop next week, who knows? But another way we could change things and make people better and the country better is when we do our live events. People could come to a live event and you guys could come to a live event and see both of us giving you a whole bunch of knowledge bombs, and that's the Builder Summit which is coming up on Tuesday, the 2nd of September. So by the time this airs, the next day we will have the Melbourne Builder Summit and then two days later in Sydney.

George:

So if you are in the construction industry and wanting to get the most out of your business and learn a few nuggets of gold that me and Robbie both know and will share, and go deep, buy a ticket or get one for free. I can even give you one for free. That's how much we want to get you there. All you have to do is figure it out. Go to one of our social pages, go to the website, go wherever you want to go and you will find a ticket. That's buildarelitecomau. Or you can visit me at any of the tags georgepassus, generally speaking, and same with Robbie. That's where you can find us. That's where we will be next week. We'll be there. What a life. Tuesday, melbourne, thursday, sydney that's where we will be next week We'll be there.

Robby:

What a life. Tuesday, melbourne, thursday.

George:

Sydney and then Friday, the world.

Robby:

If you're there, come and say hello and let us know you listen.

George:

Yes, let us know If you come up and let us know that you listen to the podcast at the event, we'll give you a million dollar days hat Jesus. Don't know if we might have to order some more, but we will give you one. Why don't we give you my one? Well, you heard it here first. All right, well, let's hopefully get some positive change in this country. Let's hope that there are a few people that when you ask them what are you going to do about it, they actually get up and do something about it. Be it politicians, be it an individual person, create. Create some change.

Robby:

Yeah.

George:

Because that would be great.

Robby:

I truly believe I don't follow it because it doesn't change my behavior. Just the same way you're saying it doesn't change your behavior, Like in the sound. What are you going to do about it? Nothing, Nothing. It's like well, what's the information? The purpose of information is to change what I'm doing. What's the purpose? Just get riled up I doing. What's the purpose? What? Just get riled up. I can't believe they did this and then go on with your day.

George:

Yeah, do something, do something. All right, guys. Thank you so much for tuning in once again, hoping you're having a million dollar day and we will see you next week. Thanks everyone.

People on this episode

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George Passas

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Robby Choucair

Host