My accent is just a mixture of UK regions but even within that range I can see what Alison is saying. People notice the differences in accents to what they are used to and pick up on what to them is the strongest difference or bit that doesn't belong.

I think it is only those who live in an area that pick some of this up, eg. Alison sounds pretty strong Belfast to me (most recongisable bit to me and I don't know the full Belfast accent) but people in Belfast notice the Australian influence that I can no detect...

I find the voice chat rooms interesting. Americans pick up that many UK people have Brittish accents but seem to think them all one accent. The same applies with me. I can tell that some people come fom Southern states in the US but beyond that, I haven't a clue and could not tell a Canadian accent from an American one or, thinking of Alison, an Australian accent from a New Zealand one but I bet there are ifferences an even noticable regional differences to those that live there.

Jon