Jaunted

OK you accept that there are lots of mining and exploration companies. Presumably you also accept that most of them have their mines, tenements and exploration licenses based in the Outback? 'Jaunted' then focus on the big mining companies which - yes - do have big glitzy city offices and flyin-flyout workers. What about the others, the multitude of small operators and prospecting companies that have small offices and staffs, whose feet are very firmly set on the ground (or red dust)? Whichever we're talking about there are thousands of people whose working lives are dominated by dirt and distance, by the nature of life in the distant corners of a vast state. They tend to be no-nonsense folk who call a spade a bloody great shovel (mechanical or otherwise), and who don't stand on ceremony, but have a refreshing and casual outlook. And they not only have dealings with an enormous number of personnel of other local companies, they are usually pretty gregarious - it goes with the patch. And, of course such people, many of whom are based in Perth, have an effect on the place. They bring their attitudes and habits, and they talk to people. Perth has always been a friendly city, arguably more so than any other Aussie capital and one of the reasons has been the link to the hinterland/Outback. That's our backyard - admittedly a bit bigger than most. And it's not really far away - everything is relative. But it's not (as Jaunted would have us believe) as far away as Uluru is from the ocean. That really is a furphy.

it all depends on what you do in Perth ... I've lived here on and off for 25 years and don't get the outback feel at all. Big swathes of Perth people have never driven far enough to see red dirt - though they've all been to Bali! (not me, I've seen the red dirt though!). I still reckon you have to work in the mining industry to get any sense of its influence, really, and tourists are really unlikely to notice it. Just my 2 cents worth!