bhutocracy

yeah thats part of it.... I mean we're a nation of officeworkers but every decade or so we get thrown back 50 years in international opinion by some uber-ocker guy... I mean we're still obsessed with the myth of the strong outback aussie.. but we don't like it forced on us. I think about 90% of us live in cities.. and as a bunch of white collar desk workers we like the "tough" aussie image.. but not at the expense of our pride... we value self deprecative humour and humility.. one of the worst things you can do socially is go on about how well you're doing, how much money you're making that sort of thing.. it's called being a "wanker"..
we (as a country) don't like excessive and showy displays.. we got behind croc dundee because he was quiet and reserved but tough.. and although he made us look ignorant at least he did it in a cool way.. i guess it's like clint eastwood vs jim carrey..
steve just goes over the top.. to be quite honest we've only really known about steve in our media for a year or so.. you see him on chat shows and the like but no-one watches the show.. in fact i don't even think it plays here except occasionally.
We're just sensitive about appearing backward i guess.
because every time we're in the international spotlight it's for the same cliches..
I guess it would be like if every time america was in the news it was for buck-toothed "hill billys" so you could never progress past the image.
(but we're also big fat hypocrites and we love when we lionise our working class our own way - like in "Two Hands")

I personally don't mind the guy he's made a fortune doing something he loves.. and he's entertaining.

forgive the long and rambling answer.