Tut tut tut.... you should hear what we say about some of the more extreme English, Scottish and Irish accents. Much of the British view of our accent was (and still is) based on actors like Chips Rafferty, Paul Hogan, Kath and Kim, Barry Humphrey characters and others who exaggerated points of our vernacular. The average Australian of the 21st century does not speak like any of the aforementioned (unless we're in England!). One in every five Australians now speak an Asian language but we've got just about every other language and slanguage in the mix. They're all welcome to throw in their ten bob's worth. What we could do without is the Americanisation of our language, especially in our youth culture where many speak as if they were raised in Harlem or Detroit.

Where we do shine is in colloquial expressions. My favourite (and you Poms might need a translator). "He's so unlucky they could be showing free films up a sheep's arse and he'd still be some dag hanging 'round the back'

For more Australian colloquialisms visit my Australian Folklore Unit site at http://www.warrenfahey.com/colsayings.htm and go to the left hand panel 'lexicon'