Wow, I had no idea it was like that. All the Aussies I've ever met have been so laid back... now I'm starting to get an idea why they might want to go travelling. .. 
That's part of the problem as to why politicians get away with so much here. I'd go as far as to say we have a 'cultural apathy', as opposed to being laid back. Politicians make laws that take away freedoms, go against the will of the people, or make everyone worse off as a result, and most don't really care enough to fight or protest against it even though they complain. There's always a vocal minority that protests against these things, but the majority are pretty numb to it.
Sydney nightlife is dead. The Cross is a joke everything is shutting down and the Police are also fucking with Tobacconists and not letting them sell Meth Pipes or any types of pipes (point being cigarettes are hugely expensive due to huge taxes on them as the government just jacks it up when they can't balance their budget and tobacconists have to try and make money somewhere). Australia is highly corrupt the Politicians get away with an incredible amount of shit.
I haven't been to The Cross for about 15 years, but I remember it being pretty gnarly. Just walking down Darlinghurst Rd on the way to Oxford St at 3am was pretty surreal; half a dozen fist fights going on at one time just mere metres from each other, junkies sitting slumped over against the side walls of pubs with needles still stuck in their arms, guys lying passed out face down in pools of their own vomit, etc. I had heard from a mate who was there recently saying how quiet it was around 2am. Hardly anyone was around.
