Wages in Australia and US

[JamesR]

i have mixed feeling about unions.
they do cause a lot of unnecessary ****, but i still pay my dues [even though i dont have to be in the union]because they're the reason i get paid $46 an hour, fortnightly RDOs and all the other unseen benefits.
to those that say 'stand up to your employer' how do you do that when you're employed as a casual, and are at times one of 400 people working on site?
being casual i only work a few months at a time, but last year worked 6months and earned $96k as a Fitter.
my last job as a machinist [same trade] full time i was earning $48k p.a. and that was more than enough for me. we had no union there, and fought for weeks to get a $1 an hr pay rise. even though we wanted more.

both of my parents are on a pension, own their home/cars, and they can still live happily, even with 3 of us at home.

$150k average income is a bit optimistic.
but those saying that anything less is unlivable, you have just set your standards too high.
also telling people to change careers? seriously?
if only it was so easy.